Below are are few interesting quotes and comments by some of the leading specialists and experts in the field of physiology, biomechanics, anatomy and medical research regarding trigger points.
"The mechanism of the sustained involuntary contraction of a spasm has not been explained to (my) complete satisfaction even in experimental animals."
"Trigger points have been inadvertently discovered by patients, their spouses, therapists, non-medical practitioners; yet . . . Failure to achieve success has resulted in the assumption that patients in their noncompliance are the cause of failure, rather than therapeutic misguidance. The speciality of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, in fact, all medical orthopaedics and therapeutic neurology will benefit from the clarification of this previously neglected modality and from this neurophysiological concept of musculoskeletal pain."
The best basis for treatment from Dr. Travell is: "Acute myofascial
pain due to TPs caused by clearly identifiable strain of one muscle is, as
a rule, easily relieved. If the patient's pain has increased as the range
of motion decreased, the therapeutic results are still likely to be good.
If the pain has decreased as the range of motion also decreased, which may
indicate increasing fibrosis, achieving relief of pain and return of function
becomes more challenging. Patients who have had a stable pattern of referred
TP pain for months or longer, without extension to other muscles, are likely
to respond well to treatment. When the pain has spread and is gaining momentum
with successively more muscles becoming involved, multiple perpetuating factors
must be eliminated before specific myofascial therapy will give sustained
relief."
A layman's translation is: "The longer it took to develop and the worse
it is, the longer it will take to recover."