title: Myofascial pain syndrome. Primary care strategies for early intervention.
abstract: Diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome may become less challenging as clinical criteria become better defined. The mechanisms are not well known, and the syndrome occurs in a wide variety of settings. Trigger points with referred pain are the most common feature. Treatment consists of physical modalities (spray-and-stretch techniques and trigger point block) combined with a program of graded muscle stretching and strengthening. Early, aggressive treatment yields an improved prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Sioux Falls Family Practice Residency, University of South Dakota School of Medicine.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: McClaflin
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis