Background: Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a common, overlooked, and underdiagnosed condition and has significant burden. MPS is often dismissed by clinicians while patients remain in pain for years. MPS can evolve into fibromyalgia, however, effective treatments for both are lacking due to absence of a clear mechanism. Many studies focus on central sensitization. Therefore, the purpose of this scoping review is to systematically search cross-disciplinary empirical studies of MPS, focusing on mechanical aspects, and suggest an organic mechanism explaining how it might evolve into fibromyalgia. Hopefully, it will advance our understanding of this disease.
Methods: Systematically searched multiple phrases in MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE, PEDro, and medRxiv, majority with no time limit. Inclusion/exclusion based on title and abstract, then full text inspection. Additional literature added on relevant side topics. Review follows PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PROSPERO yet to adapt registration for scoping reviews.
Findings: 799 records included. Fascia can adapt to various states by reversibly changing biomechanical and physical properties. Trigger points, tension, and pain are a hallmark of MPS. Myofibroblasts play a role in sustained myofascial tension. Tension can propagate in fascia, possibly supporting a tensegrity framework. Movement and mechanical interventions treat and prevent MPS, while living sedentarily predisposes to MPS and recurrence.
Conclusions: MPS can be seen as a pathological state of imbalance in a natural process; manifesting from the inherent properties of the fascia, triggered by a disrupted biomechanical interplay. MPS might evolve into fibromyalgia through deranged myofibroblasts in connective tissue ("fascial armoring"). Movement is an underemployed requisite in modern lifestyle. Lifestyle is linked to pain and suffering. The mechanism of needling is suggested to be more mechanical than currently thought. A "global percutaneous needle fasciotomy" that respects tensegrity principles may treat MPS/fibromyalgia more effectively. "Functional-somatic syndromes" can be seen as one entity (myofibroblast-generated-tensegrity-tension), sharing a common rheuma-psycho-neurological mechanism.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8849503 | PMC |
| http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263087 | PLOS |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Allergic comorbidities in fibromyalgia.
Allergy Asthma Proc
March 2025
From the Division of Research and Innovation, Leumit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
The relationship between fibromyalgia (FM) and allergic diseases remains poorly understood, despite emerging evidence that suggests a possible association. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of allergic comorbidities in patients with FM compared with a matched control group. We conducted a retrospective, population-based case-control study within Leumit Health Services, which caters to ∼750,000 members.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEntangled Illnesses: Embodied Experiences of Managing Multimorbidity.
Sociol Health Illn
February 2025
Tampere Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
Article Synopsis
- Multimorbidity, or the presence of multiple long-term health conditions, is increasingly significant in public health discussions.
- This study examines the experiences and management strategies of individuals in Finland dealing with conditions like endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and hormonal migraines, highlighting how they navigate overlapping symptoms.
- The findings suggest that the current healthcare model, which often focuses on treating single diseases, does not adequately meet the needs of those with multiple chronic conditions, emphasizing the need for a more integrated approach.
Current update on the neurological manifestations of long COVID: more questions than answers.
EXCLI J
November 2024
Second Department of Neurology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global surge in patients presenting with prolonged or late-onset debilitating sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, colloquially termed long COVID. This narrative review provides an updated synthesis of the latest evidence on the neurological manifestations of long COVID, discussing its clinical phenotypes, underlying pathophysiology, while also presenting the current state of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Approximately one-third of COVID-19 survivors experience prolonged neurological sequelae that persist for at least 12-months post-infection, adversely affecting patients' quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation as a pain modulator in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
BMC Musculoskelet Disord
January 2025
Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, faculty of medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.
Background: Our understanding of osteoarthritis (OA) has evolved from a degenerative disease to one in which low-grade, chronic inflammation plays a central role. In addition, evidence suggests that OA is accompanied by both peripheral and central nervous system sensitization that can cause pain. It has been demonstrated that transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) can relieve pain, inflammation, and central sensitization in other conditions including fibromyalgia, pelvic pain, and headaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly diagnostics of fibromyalgia: an overview of the challenges and opportunities.
Expert Rev Mol Diagn
March 2025
Chief of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA.
Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a common pain disorder with features of widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, disrupted sleep, cognitive dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, and mood disorders. Despite its high prevalence and significant impact on quality of life, the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia remain challenging. Advancements in classification and diagnostics in broad areas have improved our understanding and treatment approach for this condition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!