TY - JOUR
T1 - The number of active but not latent trigger points associated with widespread pressure pain hypersensitivity in women with episodic migraines
AU - Palacios-Ceña, María
AU - Ferracini, Gabriela N.
AU - Florencio, Lidiane L.
AU - Ruíz, Marina
AU - Guerrero, Ángel L
AU - Arendt-Nielsen, Lars
AU - Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Objective: Previous studies suggest that trigger points (TrPs) contribute to migraine pain, but no data is available on the effects of TrPs on pressure pain sensitivity. Our objective was to investigate the association between the number of TrPs and widespread pressure hypersensitivity in women with episodic migraines.Methods: Ninety-five women with episodic migraines participated. Clinical features of migraines, that is, intensity, duration, frequency, and onset, were collected. Active and latent TrPs were bilaterally explored in the temporalis, masseter, suboccipital, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and splenius capitis musculature. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed over the trigeminal area (i.e., temporalis muscle), extratrigeminal (i.e., C5/C6 zygapophyseal joint), and a distant pain-free point (i.e., tibialis anterior muscle).Results: Active TrPs in the temporalis and upper trapezius muscles were the most prevalent. The number of active but not latent TrPs was significantly and negatively associated with PPTs: the higher the number of active TrPs, the lower the widespread PPT and the more generalized sensitization.Conclusions: This study found that the number of active but not latent TrPs in head and neck and shoulder muscles was associated with widespread pressure hypersensitivity in women with episodic migraines, suggesting a potential contribution of active TrPs as contributors for sensitization processes in migraines.
AB - Objective: Previous studies suggest that trigger points (TrPs) contribute to migraine pain, but no data is available on the effects of TrPs on pressure pain sensitivity. Our objective was to investigate the association between the number of TrPs and widespread pressure hypersensitivity in women with episodic migraines.Methods: Ninety-five women with episodic migraines participated. Clinical features of migraines, that is, intensity, duration, frequency, and onset, were collected. Active and latent TrPs were bilaterally explored in the temporalis, masseter, suboccipital, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and splenius capitis musculature. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed over the trigeminal area (i.e., temporalis muscle), extratrigeminal (i.e., C5/C6 zygapophyseal joint), and a distant pain-free point (i.e., tibialis anterior muscle).Results: Active TrPs in the temporalis and upper trapezius muscles were the most prevalent. The number of active but not latent TrPs was significantly and negatively associated with PPTs: the higher the number of active TrPs, the lower the widespread PPT and the more generalized sensitization.Conclusions: This study found that the number of active but not latent TrPs in head and neck and shoulder muscles was associated with widespread pressure hypersensitivity in women with episodic migraines, suggesting a potential contribution of active TrPs as contributors for sensitization processes in migraines.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1093/pm/pnx130
DO - 10.1093/pm/pnx130
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29016874
SN - 1526-2375
VL - 18
SP - 2485
EP - 2491
JO - Pain Medicine
JF - Pain Medicine
IS - 12
ER -