Myofascial trigger points in early life.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether latent myofascial trigger points (MTPs) can be identified in healthy infants and in healthy adult subjects.


METHODS
Blind comparison.


METHODS
Ambulatory.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 60 healthy adults and 60 infants (age range, 0-12mo).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
An algometer was used to measure the pressure pain threshold (PPT) on 3 different sites, including a midpoint (assumed to be the MTP site) in the brachioradialis muscle.


RESULTS
The mean PPT values at the MTP site were significantly lower than the other sites in the adult muscles. However, no significant differences in PPT values among these 3 sites were found in the infants. Taut bands were found in all the adult muscles but none in the infants.


CONCLUSIONS
In the adult subjects, the midpoint of brachioradialis muscle was significantly more irritable than other sites and the midpoint was probably a latent MTP. However, in the infants younger than 1 year old, such a phenomenon could not be observed in this study. It is very likely that the latent MTPs might not exist in early life, but develop in later life.
Kao
Mu-Jung
MJ
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Han
Ting-I
TI
Kuan
Ta-Shen
TS
Hsieh
Yueh-Ling
YL
Su
Bai-Horng
BH
Hong
Chang-Zern
CZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D012494:Sampling Studies