Trigger points and myofascial pain: toward understanding how they affect headaches

Myofascial pain, referred from hyperalgesic trigger points located in skeletal muscle and its associated fascia, is a common cause of persistent regional pain. Clinical and experimental literature on manifestations, pathophysiology, and management of pain from myofascial trigger points is reviewed with priority given to how pain referred from trigger points generates, triggers, and maintains headaches--especially chronic and recurrent ones. Because treating myofascial problems may be the only way to offer complete relief from certain types of headache, clinicians must learn to diagnose and manage trigger points in neck, shoulder, and head muscles.