Prevalence of myofascial trigger points and diagnostic criteria of different muscles in function of the medial longitudinal arch.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the reliability of the used diagnostic criteria of latent trigger points (LTrPs) and pressure pain thresholds and to evaluate the prevalence of LTrPs in several muscles of the lower limb in subjects with a lower medial longitudinal arch (MLA) compared with controls.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University campus.


METHODS
Subjects with a lower limb MLA (n=82) and controls (n=82) (N=164).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The navicular drop test was used to classify subjects with a lower MLA (≥10mm) and controls (5-9mm). The Simons et al recommended specific diagnostic criteria and pressure pain thresholds were used to evaluate the prevalence of LTrPs in several muscles of the lower limb, which was compared between the 2 groups. The reliability was evaluated using Cohen's kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient. The unpaired Student t test and chi-square test were used to evaluate the difference in the LTrP prevalence between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
The intrarater reliability of the navicular drop test and the diagnosis of LTrPs was excellent, with the taut band and tender spot being the most reliable diagnostic criteria. In the lower MLA group, 60 subjects (73%) presented at least 1 LTrP whereas 57 controls (70%) presented at least 1 LTrP. The lower MLA group showed more LTrPs (4.46±4.10) than did controls (3.32±3.24) (P<.05). There were significantly (P<.05) more subjects with LTrPs in the flexor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior, and vastus medialis in the lower MLA group than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
LTrPs are common in the lower limb muscles in both controls and subjects with a lower MLA. A lower MLA is associated with a higher prevalence of LTrPs, which are significant in the flexor digitorum longus, tibialis anterior, and vastus medialis.
Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Centro de Estudios Universitarios (CEU)-San Pablo University, San Pablo, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: jczuil@ceu.es.
Juan C
JC
Zuil-Escobar
Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Centro de Estudios Universitarios (CEU)-San Pablo University, San Pablo, Madrid, Spain.
Carmen B
CB
Martínez-Cepa
Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Centro de Estudios Universitarios (CEU)-San Pablo University, San Pablo, Madrid, Spain.
Jose A
JA
Martín-Urrialde
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Antonia
A
Gómez-Conesa
D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
Lower extremity; Prevalence; Rehabilitation; Trigger points