Back Pain Glossary » Trigger Points

Trigger Points and Back Pain

Trigger points are isolated focal points located in a taut band of skeletal muscle.  When touched, these trigger point produce pain.  Trigger point pain often accompanies chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Acute trauma or repetitive trauma to the muscles may lead to the development of stress on muscle fibers and the formation of trigger points.  As a result people may develop persistent regional pain that results in a decreased range of motion in the affected area.

Trigger points are often found in the muscles used to maintain body posture, such as those in the neck, shoulders, and pelvic girdle. Trigger points may also manifest as tension headache, tinnitus, jaw pain, and low back pain.

Various treatments, such as ultrasonography, manipulative therapy and injection, are used to inactivate trigger points. Trigger-point injection has been shown to be one of the most effective treatment modalities to inactivate trigger points and provide prompt relief of symptoms.