Summaries of the Padua symposium on myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, and fascial pain disorders, June 2023, at the Human Anatomy Institute of the University of Padova, Italy.

The International Symposium on Myofascial Pain, Fibromyalgia, and Fascial Pain Disorders was held at the University of Padua, Padua, Italy in June of 2023. This report presents a summary of the presentations from scientists and clinicians from around the world who presented to the symposium. The purpose of this symposium and resultant paper is improve health professional's recognition and understanding of the clinical characteristics, co-morbidities, mechanisms, and treatment strategies for these common conditions to better understand and manage their pain, dysfunction, and quality life.

A New Unified Theory of Trigger Point Formation: Failure of Pre- and Post-Synaptic Feedback Control Mechanisms.

The origin of the myofascial trigger point (TrP), an anomalous locus in muscle, has never been well-described. A new trigger point hypothesis (the new hypothesis) presented here addresses this lack. The new hypothesis is based on the concept that existing myoprotective feedback mechanisms that respond to muscle overactivity, low levels of adenosine triphosphate, (ATP) or a low pH, fail to protect muscle in certain circumstances, such as intense muscle activity, resulting in an abnormal accumulation of intracellular Ca, persistent actin-myosin cross bridging, and then activation of the nociceptive system, resulting in the formation of a trigger point.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Nociceptive Condition Comorbid with Neuropathic or Nociplastic Pain.

Myofascial pain syndrome is featured by the presence of myofascial trigger points (TrPs). Whether TrPs are primary or secondary phenomena or if they relate to central or peripheral nervous system disorders is controversial. Referred pain, a cardinal sign of TrPs, is a central phenomenon driven by peripheral input.

Contracture Knots vs. Trigger Points. Comment on Ball et al. Ultrasound Confirmation of the Multiple Loci Hypothesis of the Myofascial Trigger Point and the Diagnostic Importance of Specificity in the Elicitation of the Local Twitch Response. 2022, , 321.

A recent study published in attempted to visualize trigger points and contracture knots with high-definition ultrasound. Based on their findings, the authors reversed the commonly understood meaning of the two terms. However, they did so without providing any convincing evidence.

Chronic Facial Pain: Trigeminal Neuralgia, Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain, and Myofascial Pain Syndrome-An Evidence-Based Narrative Review and Etiological Hypothesis.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), the most common form of severe facial pain, may be confused with an ill-defined persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP). Facial pain is reviewed and a detailed discussion of TN and PIFP is presented. A possible cause for PIFP is proposed.

Foci of Segmentally Contracted Sarcomeres in Trapezius Muscle Biopsy Specimens in Myalgic and Nonmyalgic Human Subjects: Preliminary Results.

Objective: The myofascial trigger point hypothesis postulates that there are small foci of contracted sarcomeres in resting skeletal muscle. Only one example, in canine muscle, has been published previously. This study evaluated human muscle biopsies for foci of contracted sarcomeres.

Parental perceptions of neonatal therapeutic hypothermia; emotional and healing experiences.

Parents of infants who undergo therapeutic hypothermia experience emotional challenges that have not been fully characterized. Comprehensive understanding of the parental experience of hypothermia is needed to provide better care to the family of the infant. This study aimed to improve the understanding of the parental emotional experience of therapeutic hypothermia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

N 164 - Directive clinique de consensus pour la prise en charge de la douleur pelvienne chronique.

Objectif: Améliorer La compréhension de la douleur pelvienne chronique (DPC) et fournir des directives cliniques factuelles qui bénéficieront aux fournisseurs de soins de santé primaires, aux obstétriciens-gynécologues et aux spécialistes de la douleur chronique.

Fardeau De La Souffrance: La DPC est une pathologie débilitante courante qui affecte les femmes. Elle est à l'origine d'importantes souffrances personnelles et de dépenses de santé considérables associées aux interventions, dont de multiples consultations et un grand nombre de traitements médicaux et chirurgicaux.

No. 164-Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain.

Objective: To improve the understanding of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and to provide evidence-based guidelines of value to primary care health professionals, general obstetricians and gynaecologists, and those who specialize in chronic pain.

Burden Of Suffering: CPP is a common, debilitating condition affecting women. It accounts for substantial personal suffering and health care expenditure for interventions, including multiple consultations and medical and surgical therapies.

Post-needling soreness after myofascial trigger point dry needling: Current status and future research.

Post-dry needling soreness is a common complication of myofascial trigger point (MTrP) dry needling treatment. The prevention, management and relevance of this complication remain uncertain. This paper examines the current state of knowledge and suggests directions for further studies in this area.

Exploring parent expectations of neonatal therapeutic hypothermia.

Objective: We aimed to assess the parent experience of therapeutic hypothermia (TH), specifically focusing on unmet expectations.

Study Design: Open-ended questions were used in a focus group setting. We employed an inductive approach to develop thematic content from the transcribed recordings.

Exploring Parent Experience of Communication About Therapeutic Hypothermia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background: The unique communication challenges faced by parents of infants undergoing therapeutic hypothermia have not been well characterized.

Purpose: To develop awareness of communication challenges experienced by families of infants treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted in a group setting with parents matched into groups according to the severity of the infant's presenting encephalopathy.

The Interplay Between Digital Media Use and Development.

Today's youth develop immersed in a digital media world and the effects are specific to their developmental stage. Clinicians and caretakers should be mindful regarding digital media use patterns; however, this complex and reciprocal relationship defies simple linear descriptions. The impacts of digital media can be powerful.

The local and referred pain patterns of the longus colli muscle.

The longus colli muscle is a neck flexor believed to play an important role in pain originating in the neck region, including pain resulting from whiplash injuries. Despite the clinical importance attributed to it, the pain referral pattern of the longus colli has previously been described only in a small cohort of subjects. Here, we aim to delineate the pain referral pattern of the longus colli muscle.