MUSCLES &
TRIGGER POINTS.
Every muscle can develop trigger points — hyperirritable nodules that produce local and referred pain in predictable patterns. Clinical guides by anatomical region, with dry needling and medical acupuncture.
Taut bands with hyperirritable nodules that reproduce symptoms when pressed.
Pain rarely occurs where the muscle is — it is projected in predictable patterns.
Each muscle has unique referred-pain patterns. Knowing each one is essential to treatment.
Head and Neck
Upper trapezius, SCM, scalenes — refer headache, tinnitus, and facial pain.
Levator Scapulae: Neck Pain and Pain Between the Shoulder Blades
Levator scapulae: trigger points, neck and shoulder blade pain, and treatment with acupuncture
Scalenes: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and Arm Pain
Scalene muscles and their trigger points: referred pain in the arm, hands, chest, and thoracic outlet syndrome
Sternocleidomastoid: The Muscle of Headache and Vertigo
Trigger points in the SCM: frontal headache, dizziness, facial pain, and myofascial torticollis
Suboccipital Muscles: Occipital Headache and Upper Cervical Tension
Suboccipitals (RCPmin, RCPmaj, OCS, OCI): tension-type headaches, sensation of cranial tightness, and acupuncture
Upper Trapezius: Trigger Points and Cervical Pain
Tension in the upper trapezius: causes, trigger points, referred pain, and treatment with medical acupuncture
Shoulder and Trunk
Rotator cuff, pectoralis minor, diaphragm — refer chest pain and frozen shoulder.
Infraspinatus: Trigger Points and Anterior Shoulder Pain
Trigger points in the infraspinatus: the posterior cause of anterior shoulder pain — diagnosis, referred pain, and treatment with medical acupuncture
Pectoralis Minor: Trigger Points and Anterior Chest Pain
Trigger points in the pectoralis minor: chest pain that mimics a heart attack, neurovascular compression, and treatment with medical acupuncture
Rhomboids: Trigger Points and Interscapular Pain
Pain between the shoulder blades: trigger points in the rhomboids, referred pain pattern, protracted posture, and treatment with medical acupuncture
Supraspinatus: Trigger Points and Shoulder Pain
Lateral shoulder pain, painful arc, and trigger points of the supraspinatus: differential diagnosis with tendinopathy and treatment with medical acupuncture
Lumbar and Hip
Psoas, quadratus lumborum, gluteals — refer low back pain, sciatica, and sacroiliac pain.
Gluteus Medius: Trigger Points and Hip Pain
Lateral hip pain, Trendelenburg gait, and trigger points in the gluteus medius: causes, diagnosis, and treatment with medical acupuncture
Gluteus Minimus: Trigger Points and Pseudo-sciatica
Trigger points in the gluteus minimus: the most common myofascial cause of pain that mimics sciatica — differential diagnosis, referred pain, and treatment with medical acupuncture
Piriformis: Gluteal Pain and Myofascial Sciatica
Piriformis syndrome: deep gluteal pain, pseudosciatica, and dry needling — complete clinical guide
Psoas Major: The Muscle of Posture, Low Back Pain, and Stress
Psoas major: anatomy, trigger points, low back pain, hip-flexion posture, and medical acupuncture
Quadratus Lumborum: The Hidden Cause of Low Back Pain
Trigger points in the quadratus lumborum: deep low back pain, flank and hip pain, diagnosis and treatment with medical acupuncture