Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs / मायोफेशियल ट्रिगर पॉइंट्स) छोटे, hyperirritable spots होते हैं जो skeletal muscles या fascia में बनते हैं।
- Trigger points आमतौर पर muscle tightness और pain का कारण बनते हैं।
- यह condition myofascial pain syndrome का मुख्य हिस्सा है।
- Pain localized या referred हो सकता है और daily activities प्रभावित कर सकता है।
Myofascial Trigger Points क्या हैं (What are Myofascial Trigger Points)
- Small, firm, tender nodules in skeletal muscles
- Palpation पर twitch response और referred pain होता है
- Commonly affected muscles: trapezius, levator scapulae, gluteus medius, quadratus lumborum
- Can be active (painful spontaneously) or latent (painful on pressure only)
Myofascial Trigger Points कारण (Causes of Myofascial Trigger Points)
1. Muscle Overuse / Strain
- Repetitive motion (typing, lifting)
- Poor posture for long periods
2. Trauma / Injury
- Sprains, accidents, or direct blow to muscle
3. Stress / Psychological Factors
- Chronic stress leads to muscle tension and trigger points
4. Nutritional / Metabolic Factors
- Vitamin D deficiency, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance
5. Secondary to Other Conditions
- Fibromyalgia, arthritis, or chronic musculoskeletal disorders
Myofascial Trigger Points लक्षण (Symptoms of Myofascial Trigger Points)
- Localized muscle pain and tenderness
- Referred pain in another area of the body
- Muscle stiffness and restricted range of motion
- Muscle weakness without atrophy
- Headache or neck pain (if neck muscles affected)
- Tingling or numbness in severe cases
Symptoms may worsen with stress, activity, or poor posture।
Myofascial Trigger Points कैसे पहचाने (Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points)
- Physical Examination – palpation of muscle identifies tender nodules
- Referred Pain Mapping – noting pain patterns triggered by specific points
- Patient History – muscle overuse, repetitive strain, posture issues
- Ultrasound / EMG (rarely) – to rule out other muscular or nerve disorders
- Exclusion of systemic causes – thyroid, electrolyte imbalances, or fibromyalgia
Diagnosis is mainly clinical based on palpation and pain patterns।
Myofascial Trigger Points इलाज (Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points)
1. Manual Therapy / Physical Therapy
- Trigger point massage, stretching, and myofascial release
- Posture correction and ergonomics
2. Dry Needling / Injection Therapy
- Dry needling or local anesthetic injections reduce muscle tightness
- Often combined with stretching
3. Medications
- NSAIDs for pain relief
- Muscle relaxants (short-term)
4. Heat / Cold Therapy
- Heat improves blood flow, reduces stiffness
- Cold may reduce inflammation and pain
5. Lifestyle Modifications
- Regular stretching and exercise
- Ergonomic workstation setup
- Stress management techniques (yoga, meditation)
Early treatment prevents chronic pain and functional limitation।
रोकथाम (Prevention)
- Maintain good posture at work and home
- Avoid repetitive strain; take frequent breaks
- Regular strengthening and stretching exercises
- Stay hydrated and maintain balanced nutrition
- Stress management through relaxation techniques
सावधानियाँ (Precautions)
- Avoid overstretching or aggressive massage which may worsen pain
- Seek professional guidance before dry needling or injections
- Monitor for persistent pain, numbness, or weakness which may indicate nerve involvement
- Gradual progression in exercise and therapy
FAQs (अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न)
Q1. क्या Myofascial Trigger Points permanent होते हैं?
नहीं, अगर proper therapy और lifestyle changes अपनाएँ जाएँ तो pain-free recovery संभव है।
Q2. क्या ये केवल adults में होते हैं?
Commonly adults में होते हैं, लेकिन teenagers और athletes में भी हो सकते हैं।
Q3. क्या stretching alone मदद करेगा?
हाँ, लेकिन manual therapy और trigger point release combined करने से बेहतर results मिलते हैं।
Q4. क्या ये nerve damage cause करते हैं?
Usually नहीं, लेकिन chronic untreated trigger points occasionally nerve irritation कर सकते हैं।
निष्कर्ष (Conclusion)
Myofascial Trigger Points (मायोफेशियल ट्रिगर पॉइंट्स) musculoskeletal pain का मुख्य कारण हैं।
Early recognition, manual therapy, dry needling, medications और lifestyle modifications से symptoms significantly improve होते हैं।
अगर किसी को muscle stiffness, localized tenderness, या referred pain महसूस हो, तो physiotherapist या pain specialist से consultation जरूरी है।