Understanding the Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome - Myofascial Pain Syndrome - Chiropractic Treatment

Understanding the Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome - Myofascial Pain Syndrome
By John Zajaros

In order to understand the musculoskeletal pain syndrome, we must examine fibromyalgia, which we have already done. Now, we will examine the other half of this very complex pain syndrome, the myofascial pain syndrome or MPS. The myofascial pain syndrome describes and defines a condition characterized by chronic pain, often associated with neck pain and back pain, as well as sciatica. Myofascial pain syndrome is best known for pain caused by "trigger points" or TrPs. Trigger points are localized pain centers or points, at times expressed as painful knots or contractures found in any skeletal muscle, anywhere on the body. Researchers have visibly napped and identified these "knots" which may express pain as anything from referred pain to very specific and intense pain in other parts of the body. In other words, myofascial pain syndrome symptoms may vary from referred pain at various myofascial trigger point,s to specific and localized pain in other areas of the body.

As noted above, MPS is closely related to the complex musculoskeletal pain syndrome known as fibromyalgia. Whereas fibromyalgia pain is expressed generally and occurs above and below the waist, on the right and left sides of the body, MPS, with its associated pain syndrome, is often more localized and found in more circumscribed areas of the body. Myofascial pain is more frequently expressed around the neck and shoulders, and is usually found on only one side of the body.

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