An evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of medical thermography for the documentation of myofascial trigger points

Abstract

This investigation evaluated the diagnostic value of medical thermology for the documentation of myofascial trigger points. Previous investigators have suggested that circumscribed 'hot spots' reflect the thermal activity of trigger points. A total of 365 patients participated in the four separate experiments. Upper back trigger points were isolated via palpation. A separate thermographic examination, specific to that experiment, was conducted by a technologist who was blind to the presence or absence of trigger points. The first experiment examined the Swerdlow-Dieter protocol. Fifty percent of the subjects with trigger points demonstrated hot spots. Over 60% of patients without trigger points exhibited hot spots. Chi-square analysis determined that there was no significant difference between these two groups. The majority of hot spots were unrelated to trigger point location. The second experiment evaluated the protocol suggested by Fisher. Hot spots were evident in the majority of subjects, regardless of whether they possessed trigger points. The third experiment investigated hot spot persistence by adapting the Weinstein-Weinstein alcohol spray protocol. Chi-square analysis found no significant difference between the effect which spray had on the hot spots of patients with or without trigger points. Following a post-spray machine adjustment, the majority of pre-spray hot spots could be reproduced. The final experiment used a pressure threshold meter (PTM) to evaluate the number of kilograms pressure a patient's hot spot could comfortably sustain in comparison to the opposite location on the back. Using the t test, no significant difference was found between the kilograms pressure withstood by hot spot and non-hot spot regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thermographic and clinical correlation of myofascial trigger points in the masticatory muscles

“…[2][3][4]7,18,30,32 A single study also found no relationship between hyper-radiant points and active MTPs when studying the upper trapezius muscle. 33 In the present study, an inverse behaviour of the vasomotor response was observed in the ROIs, corresponding to the MTP of the masseter and temporal muscles. That is, they were cooler than the corresponding contralateral region with no MTP.…”

Assessment of the Upper Trapezius Muscle Temperature in Women With and Without Neck Pain

“…14 It has been shown to be useful in different health areas, including the evaluation of the musculoskeletal disorders. [15][16][17] The skin surface temperature of individuals with temporomandibular disorder is best described in literature, in which a decrease was observed in symptomatic individuals when compared with a control group. In addition, individuals without temporomandibular disorder exhibit high levels of temperature asymmetry.…”

Myofascial pain syndromes in the maxillofacial area: a common but underdiagnosed cause of head and neck pain

“…Temperature measurements of the skin overlying the upper trapezius muscle, using liquid crystal thermography, in patients with TMD have showed increased temperature on the symptomatic side 78 . The diagnostic value of this method has not been well documented 92 .…”