REFERRED PAIN ELICITED BY PALPATION AND BY NEEDLING OF MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINTS - A COMPARISON

Objective: To investigate the occurrence of referred pain (ReP) elicit ed by palpation (Pal-ReP) or by needle injection (Inj-ReP) of myofasci al trigger point (MTrP), and to assess the correlated factors, includi ng the pain intensity of an active MTrP and the occurrence of local tw itch response (LTR). Design: Correlational study. Patients: Ninety-fiv e patients who were treated with MTrP injections. Intervention: MTrP i njections. Main Outcome Measure: Pain intensity of MTrP and occurrence of Pal-ReP, Inj-ReP, and LTR. Results: Both Pal-ReP and Inj-ReP were elicited in 53.9% of MTrPs. Inj-ReP, but net Pal-ReP, was elicited in 33.7% of MTrPs. Both Pal-ReP and Inj-ReP were unobtainable in 12.3% of MTrPs. The occurrence of ReP was significantly correlated to the pain intensity of active MTrP and the occurrence of LTR. Conclusion: ReP c ould be elicited more frequently by needling than by palpation. The fr equency of occurrence in ReP mainly depends on pain intensity of an ac tive MTrP. (C) 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicin e and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.