Myofascial Pain Dysfunction

Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder. In this condition, pressure on sensitive points in your muscles (trigger points) causes pain in the muscle and sometimes in seemingly unrelated parts of your body. This is called referred pain.

This syndrome typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. This can be caused by repetitive motions used in jobs or hobbies or by stress-related muscle tension.

While nearly everyone has experienced muscle tension pain, the discomfort associated with myofascial pain syndrome persists or worsens. Treatment options include physical therapy and trigger point injections. Pain medications and relaxation techniques also can help.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome may include:

• Deep, aching pain in a muscle
• Pain that persists or worsens
• A tender knot in a muscle
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain

Causes

Sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse. These sensitive areas are called trigger points. A trigger point in a muscle can cause strain and pain throughout the muscle. When this pain persists and worsens, doctors call it myofascial pain syndrome.

Risk factors

Myofascial pain syndrome is caused by a stimulus, such as muscle tightness, that sets off trigger points in your muscles. Factors that may increase your risk of muscle trigger points include:

• Muscle injury. An acute muscle injury or continual muscle stress may lead to the development of trigger points. For example, a spot within or near a strained muscle may become a trigger point. Repetitive motions and poor posture also may increase your risk.
• Stress and anxiety. People who frequently experience stress and anxiety may be more likely to develop trigger points in their muscles. One theory holds that these people may be more likely to clench their muscles, a form of repeated strain that leaves muscles susceptible to trigger points.

Complications

Complications associated with myofascial pain syndrome may include:

• Sleep problems. Signs and symptoms of myofascial pain syndrome may make it difficult to sleep at night. You may have trouble finding a comfortable sleep position. And if you move at night, you might hit a trigger point and awaken.
• Fibromyalgia. Some research suggests that myofascial pain syndrome may develop into fibromyalgia in some people. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that features widespread pain. It’s believed that the brains of people with fibromyalgia become more sensitive to pain signals over time. Some doctors believe myofascial pain syndrome may play a role in starting this process.

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Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Therapeutic Relief

The Myofascia is the body’s connective tissue and muscles. Besides giving the body shape and texture, it connects one part to the other and supplies motive power. When tissues are healthy and in their proper tension/compression relationships with each other (tensegrity), the body can handle a lot of compressive and tensile force. The elasticity of the myofascial and its role in tensegrity means that when one part shifts all the other parts flex and shift in compensation. Thus the body yields and adapts to changing forces and configurations without breaking.

But when habit or workplace demands introduce unnatural, fixed postures or repetitive motions, tissues can creep into new formations where they are less elastic and off-centered. This results in added stress and strain on joints and ligaments, which in turn leads to degeneration and pain. Restoring the movement system to its pre-injury stability requires a detailed understanding of the play of forces in the myofascial. Soft tissue massage and unwinding techniques have come a long way as effective tools in bringing the body back to full dynamic balance.

Tissue work is extremely effective in untying the knots that cause chronic pain, especially for longstanding non-resolving cases. This requires that one understand how to work with the direct and indirect influences in the tensile integrity of the bone or soft tissue in question.

Myofascial pain syndrome

Symptoms

Myofascial pain can occur in distinct, isolated areas of the body, and because any muscle or fascia may be affected, this may cause a variety of localized symptoms. More generally speaking, muscular pain is steady, aching, and deep. Depending on the case and location the intensity can range from mild discomfort to excruciating and “lightning-like”.^[2] Knots may be visible or felt beneath the skin. The pain does not resolve on its own, even after typical first-aid self-care such as ice, heat, and rest

Here’s the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myofascial_pain_syndrome

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*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
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