Ultrasonic tissue characterization of the upper trapezius muscle in patients with myofascial pain syndrome.
Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are palpable, tender nodules in skeletal muscle that produce symptomatic referred pain when palpated. MTrPs are characteristic findings in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The role of MTrPs in the pathophysiology of MPS is unknown. Objective characterization and quantitative measurement of the properties of MTrPs can improve their localization and diagnosis, as well as lead to clinical outcome measures. MTrPs associated with soft tissue neck pain are often found in the upper trapezius muscle. We have previously demonstrated that MTrPs can be visualized using ultrasound imaging. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether texture-based image analysis can differentiate structural heterogeneity of symptomatic MTrPs and normal muscle.
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA. dturo@gmu.edu
Diego
D
Turo
Paul
P
Otto
Jay P
JP
Shah
Juliana
J
Heimur
Tadesse
T
Gebreab
Katherine
K
Armstrong
Lynn H
LH
Gerber
Siddhartha
S
Sikdar
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*