title: Targeting myofascial taut bands by ultrasound.
abstract: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a frequent diagnosis in chronic pain and is characterized by tender, taut bands known as trigger points. The trigger points are painful areas in skeletal muscle that are associated with a palpable nodule within a taut band of muscle fibers. Despite the prevalence of myofascial pain syndrome, diagnosis is based on clinical criteria alone. A growing body of evidence that suggests that taut bands are readily visualized under ultrasound-guided exam, especially when results are correlated with elastography, multidimensional imaging, and physical exam findings such as local twitch response. The actual image characteristic in B mode appears to be controversial. Ultrasonography provides an objective modality to assist with diagnosis and treatment of trigger points in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. kthomas@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Kisha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Hariharan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shankar
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*