Faculty Collaboration Database

Targeting myofascial taut bands by ultrasound. Curr Pain Headache Rep 2013 Jul;17(7):349

Date

06/26/2013

Pubmed ID

23793988

DOI

10.1007/s11916-013-0349-4

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84891654499 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   37 Citations

Abstract

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a frequent diagnosis in chronic pain and is characterized by tender, taut bands known as trigger points. The trigger points are painful areas in skeletal muscle that are associated with a palpable nodule within a taut band of muscle fibers. Despite the prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome, diagnosis is based on clinical criteria alone. A growing body of evidence that suggests that taut bands are readily visualized under ultrasound-guided exam, especially when results are correlated with elastography, multidimensional imaging, and physical exam findings such as local twitch response. The actual image characteristic in B mode appears to be controversial. Ultrasonography provides an objective modality to assist with diagnosis and treatment of trigger points in the future.

Author List

Thomas K, Shankar H

Author

Hariharan Shankar MBBS Professor in the Anesthesiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Chronic Pain
Elasticity Imaging Techniques
Humans
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Muscle, Skeletal
Myofascial Pain Syndromes
Physical Examination
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Trigger Points