The spinal cord connections of the myofascial trigger spots⋆,⋆⋆

Kuan, Ta Shen; Hong, Chang Zern; Chen, Jo Tong; Chen, Shu Min; Chien, Chin-Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.ejpain.2006.10.001

Cited by 73 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Because the myofibers of a taut band were stiffer than the surrounding tissue, it was not difficult to identify the taut band (diameter of 2-3 mm) by careful palpation. Then, the muscle was squeezed along the trend of taut band with two figures until a vigorous LTR was elicited; when this occurred, an MTrS was determined and marked for further use (Cummings 2007;Kuan et al 2007;Meng et al 2015). Generally, there is only one spot (MTrS) that can induce an LTR in a taut band (Kuan et al 2007).…”

Section: Identification Of An Mtrs In Biceps Femoris Musclementioning

confidence: 98%

“…Then, the muscle was squeezed along the trend of taut band with two figures until a vigorous LTR was elicited; when this occurred, an MTrS was determined and marked for further use (Cummings 2007;Kuan et al 2007;Meng et al 2015). Generally, there is only one spot (MTrS) that can induce an LTR in a taut band (Kuan et al 2007). According to the integrated hypothesis, muscle contractions/cramps within taut bands induce decompensation of local metabolism and a crisis of energy, which leads to the formation of MTrSs.…”

Section: Identification Of An Mtrs In Biceps Femoris Musclementioning

confidence: 98%

“…If the control electrode did not record SEA at the same time, an MTrSs was reconfirmed as the spot the active needle electrode penetrated (Ge et al 2008;Li et al 2009;Meng et al 2015). This spot was used for the injection of CB-HRP and TTX via a microsyringe/syringe connected to the hollowneedle active electrode (Ge et al 2008;Kuan et al 2007;Li et al 2009;Meng et al 2015).…”

Section: Emg-guided Injection Of Chemical Solutions Into Mtrssmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The active needle electrode was inserted into the MTrS and advanced approximately 1 mm per step until there was spontaneous electrical activity [SEA, a combination of endplate noise and endplate spikes with action potentials (Kuan et al 2007;Simons 2004)] on the screen and the specific sound of electrical activity was heard. If the control electrode did not record SEA at the same time, an MTrSs was reconfirmed as the spot the active needle electrode penetrated (Ge et al 2008;Li et al 2009;Meng et al 2015).…”

Section: Emg-guided Injection Of Chemical Solutions Into Mtrssmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perhaps A fibers take part in the central sensitization of MTrPs as well. In addition, a previous study used cholera toxin B subunit-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (CB-HRP) to trace afferents of MTrSs in rats and showed that sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) as well as motor neurons in the spinal ventral horn associated with the MTrSs were smaller than normal, and they suggested these neurons were connected with large-caliber A fibers (Kuan et al 2007). Nevertheless, no such studies had been conducted regarding the neurons associated with MTrSs in the spinal dorsal horn.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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A afferent fibers are involved in the pathology of central changes in the spinal dorsal horn associated with myofascial trigger spots in rats

Meng

Wang

et al. 2015

Exp Brain Res

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A afferent fibers have been reported to participate in the development of the central sensitization induced by inflammation and injuries. Current evidence suggests that myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) induce central sensitization in the related spinal dorsal horn, and clinical studies indicate that A fibers are associated with pain behavior. Because most of these clinical studies applied behavioral indexes, objective evidence is needed. Additionally, MTrP-related neurons in dorsal root ganglia and the spinal ventral horn have been reported to be smaller than normal, and these neurons were considered to be related to A fibers. To confirm the role of A fibers in MTrP-related central changes in the spinal dorsal horn, we studied central sensitization as well as the size of neurons associated with myofascial trigger spots (MTrSs, equivalent to MTrPs in humans) in the biceps femoris muscle of rats and provided some objective morphological evidence. Cholera toxin B subunit-conjugated horseradish peroxidase was applied to label the MTrS-related neurons, and tetrodotoxin was used to block A fibers specifically. The results showed that in the spinal dorsal horn associated with MTrS, the expression of glutamate receptor (mGluR1α/mGluR5/NMDAR1) increased, while the mean size of MTrS-related neurons was smaller than normal. After blocking A fibers, these changes reversed to some extent. Therefore, we concluded that A fibers participated in the development and maintenance of the central sensitization induced by MTrPs and were related to the mean size of neurons associated with MTrPs in the spinal dorsal horn.

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