Trigger points--ultrasound and thermal findings.
BACKGROUND
Muscle pain can be elicited by any irritation of the nociceptors in the muscle or central sensitization in the central nervous system. The most frequently described muscle pain syndromes are myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome. Myofascial pain syndrome has a more localized manifestation, the trigger points.


OBJECTIVE
If there is a correlation between the clinical findings, the ultrasound examination and the thermal pattern of trigger points exist.


METHODS
The presence of trigger points can be identified by using clinical criteria. An ultrasound examination was performed to evaluate the trigger point dimensions. The ultrasound showed an ellipsoidal hypoechogenic area in the muscle. A thermography of the low back region was performed in order to observe the thermal pattern of the area.


RESULTS
Trigger points are represented by a higher temperature area surrounded by a cooler area, probably caused by a deficit in the blood flow around those points.


CONCLUSIONS
Infrared thermography could be a great asset for the monitoring of neuromusculoskeletal disorders and their dynamics, as well as an important aid for the initial diagnosis of conditions associated with tissue temperature alterations.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
M C
MC
Cojocaru
Department of Dermatology, Elias University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
I M
IM
Cojocaru
Department of Dermatology, Elias University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
V M
VM
Voiculescu
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
N A
NA
Cojan-Carlea
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
V L
VL
Dumitru
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Elias University Hospital, Bucharest, Romania ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
M
M
Berteanu
D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007267:Injections; D013817:Thermography; D061028:Trigger Points / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
muscle pain; muscle ultrasound; myofascial pain syndrome; thermography; trigger points