C. Fernández-de-las-Peñas, C. Alonso-Blanco and J.C. Miangolarra
The aim of this study was to describe the differences in the presence of myofascial trigger points (TrPs) in the upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, levator scapulae and suboccipital muscles between patients presenting with mechanical neck pain and control healthy subjects. Twenty subjects with mechanical neck pain and 20 matched healthy controls participated in this study. TrPs were identified, by an assessor blinded to the subjects’ condition, when there was a hypersensible tender spot in a palpable taut band, local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band, and reproduction of the referred pain typical of each TrP. The results showed that all the examined muscles evoked referred pain patterns contributing to patients’ symptoms. Active TrPs were more frequent in patients presenting with mechanical neck pain than in healthy subjects.
Manual Therapy, Volume 12, Issue 1,