Table 3 Characteristics of included studies
Study | Study design | Disorder(s) | Healthy Controls Group | Diagnostic Criteria Active MTrPs | Diagnostic Criteria Latent MTrPs | Assessed Muscles | Country, Setting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alonso-Blanco et al., 2011 | Cross-sectional | CTTH | No | 1) Presence of a palpable taut band in a skeletal muscle. 2) Presence of a hyperirritable sensitive spot within the taut band. 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band. 4) Presence of referred pain in response to MTrP compression. | Not assessed | Upper Trapezius Sternocleidomastoid Temporalis Suboccipital | Spain, hospital |
Bron et al., 2011 | Cross-sectional | SP | No | 1) A nodule in a taut band of skeletal muscle. 2) Painful on compression 3) May produce referred pain or sensations 4) Pain recognised by patient as “familiar” | 1) A nodule in a taut band of skeletal muscle. 2) Painful on compression 3) May produce referred pain or sensations 4) Pain not recognizable to patient | Upper/middle/lower trapezius Infraspinatus Supraspinatus Subscapularis Teres minor and major Anterior/middle/posterior deltoids Pectoralis major and minor Biceps brachii Triceps brachii Scalene Subclavius | Spain, primary care practice. |
Fernandez-Perez et al., 2012 | Cross-sectional cohort | Acute WAD | Yes | 1) Palpable taut band within a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of a hypersensitive spot in the taut band 3) Local twitch re-sponse elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Production of referred pain in response to MTrP manual compression. 5) If referred pain of symptoms reported by the patient is recognized as familiar | 1) Palpable taut band within a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of a hypersensitive spot in the taut band 3) Local twitch re-sponse elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Production of referred pain in response to MTrP manual compression. 5) Symptoms produced are not familiar to the patient | Temporalis Masseter Upper trapezius Levator scapulae Sternocleidomastoid Scalene | Spain, primary care |
Fernández-De-Las-Peñas, 2012 | Cross-sectional | Non-specific pain | No | 1) Presence of a palpable taut band within a skeletal muscle. 2) Presence of a hyperirritable spot in the taut band. 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band (when possible). 4) Presence of referred pain in response to compression. MTrPs were considered active when the local and referred pains evoked by compression reproduced clinical pain symptoms and also the participant recognized the pain as familiar. | MTrPs were considered latent when the local and the referred pain elicited by digital compression did not reproduce symptoms familiar to the participant. | Temporalis Masseter Upper trapezius Sternocleidomastoid Splenius capitis Oblique capitis inferior Levator scapulae Scalene Pectoralis major Deltoid Infraspinatus Extensor carpi radialis brevis Extensor carpi radialis longus Eetensor digitorum communis Supinator | Spain, Department of PT, OT, rehab and physical medicine. |
Hidalgo-Lozano et al., 2010 | Case-control | Unilateral shoulder impingement | Yes | 1) Presence of a palpable taut band in a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of a hyperirritable tender spot within the taut band 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Presence of referred pain in response to MTrP compression. 5) Local and the referred pain evoked by digital compression reproduced the pain symptoms (both in location and pain sensation) and the subject recognized the pain as familiar pain | 1) Presence of a palpable taut band in a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of a hyperirritable tender spot within the taut band 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Presence of referred pain in response to MTrP compression. 5) Local and referred pain elicited by digital compression did not reproduce symptoms familiar to the subjects | Levator scapulae Supraspinatus Infraspinatus Subscapularis Pectoralis major Biceps brachii | Spain, setting unclear |
Sari et al., 2012 | Case-control | Cervical Radiculopathy | Yes | 1) Presence of a palpable taut band in a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of hypersensible tender spot in the taut band 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Reproduction of the typical referred pain pattern of the MTrP in response to compression; and 5) Spontaneous presence of the typical referred pain pattern and/or patient recognition of the referred pain as familiar. If all of the aforementioned criteria were present the MTrP was considered active | 1) Presence of a palpable taut band in a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of hypersensible tender spot in the taut band 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Reproduction of the typical referred pain pattern of the MTrP in response to compression | Trapezius, multifidus, splenius capitis, levator scapulae, rhomboid major, and rhomboid minor | Turkey, Outpatient clinic |
Tali et al., 2014 | Case-control | Episodic migraines | Yes | 1) Palpable taut band within a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of a hypersensitive spot in the taut band 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Production of referred pain in response to MTrP manual compression. 5) If the MTrP were palpated and produced a headache, familiar or not, it was referred to as an “active MTrP”. | 1) Palpable taut band within a skeletal muscle 2) Presence of a hypersensitive spot in the taut band 3) Local twitch response elicited by the snapping palpation of the taut band 4) Production of referred pain in response to MTrP manual compression. 5) If the MTrP were palpated and produced local or radiated pain it was referred to as a “latent MTrP”. | Sternocleidomastoid Upper trapezius | Israel, Physiotherapy Department |