Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points in Clinical Trials on Physical Therapy: Updated Systematic Review

Li，Lihui1,2,3; Stoop，Rahel4,5; Clijsen，Ron4,5,6; Hohenauer，Erich4,5,6,7; Fernández-De-Las-Peñas，César8,9; Huang，Qiangmin3; Barbero，Marco1

2020

10.1097/AJP.0000000000000875

CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN   影响因子和分区

0749-8047

1536-5409

Objective: To conduct an updated systematic review of diagnostic criteria for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) used in clinical trials of physical therapy interventions from 2007 to 2019. Methods: MEDLINE and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched using the following MeSH keywords: "trigger points", "trigger point", "myofascial trigger point", "myofascial trigger points", "myofascial pain"and "myofascial pain syndrome". The MeSH keywords were combined by using Boolean operators "OR"/"AND". All physiotherapy clinical trials including patients with musculoskeletal conditions characterized by at least one active MTrP or latent MTrP in any body area were selected. We pooled data from an individual criterion and criteria combinations used to diagnose MTrPs. The protocol was developed in accordance with the PRISMA-P guidelines. Results: Of 478 possibly relevant publications, 198 met our inclusion criteria. Of these 198 studies, 129 studies (65.1%) stated specifically the diagnostic criteria used for MTrPs in the main text, 56 studies (28.3%) failed to report any method whereby MTrP was diagnosed, and 13 studies (6.6%) adopted expert-based definitions for MTrPs without specification. Of 129 studies, the six criteria applied most commonly were: "spot tenderness"(n=125, 96.9%), "referred pain"(95, 73.6%), "local twitch response"(63, 48.8%), pain recognition (59, 45.7%), limited range of motion"(29, 22.5%), and "jump sign"(10, 7.8%). Twenty-three combinations of diagnostic criteria were identified. The most frequently used combination was "spot tenderness", "referred pain"and "local twitch response"(n=28 studies, 22%). Conclusions: A noteworthy number of the included studies failed in properly reporting the MTrP diagnostic criteria. Moreover, high variability in the use of MTrP diagnostic was also observed. Spot tenderness, referred pain and local twitch response were the three most popular criteria (and the most frequently used combination). A lack of transparency in the reporting of MTrP diagnostic criteria is present in the literature. Registry: This systematic review was registered under the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, PROSPERO number: CRD42018087420.

clinical trial diagnostic criteria review trigger point

SCI ; SSCI

英语

其他

National Natural Science Foundation of China, China[81470105]

Anesthesiology ; Neurosciences & Neurology

Anesthesiology ; Clinical Neurology

WOS:000591397900008

LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS

NEUROSCIENCE & BEHAVIOR

2-s2.0-85091275518

Scopus

1.Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab,Department of Business Economics Health and Social Care,University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland,Manno,Switzerland
2.School of Medicine,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,China
3.Department of Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation Center,Shanghai University of Sport,Shanghai,China
4.Rehabilitation Research Laboratory 2rLab,Department of Business Economics,Health and Social Care,University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland,Landquart,Switzerland
5.International University of Applied Sciences Thim,Landquart,Switzerland
6.Department of Movement and Sport Sciences,Vrije Universiteit Brussel,Brussels,Belgium
7.Department of Sport and Exercise Science,University of Portsmouth,Portsmouth,United Kingdom
8.Department of Physical Therapy,Occupational Therapy,Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC),Alcorcón, Madrid,Spain
9.Catedra Institucional en Docencia,Clin. e Invest. en Fisioterapia: Terap. Manual,Puncion Seca y Ejercicio Terap.,Universidad Rey Juan Carlos,Alcorcón, Madrid,Spain

Li，Lihui,Stoop，Rahel,Clijsen，Ron,et al. Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points in Clinical Trials on Physical Therapy: Updated Systematic Review[J]. CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN,2020,36(12):955-967.

Li，Lihui.,Stoop，Rahel.,Clijsen，Ron.,Hohenauer，Erich.,Fernández-De-Las-Peñas，César.,...&Barbero，Marco.(2020).Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points in Clinical Trials on Physical Therapy: Updated Systematic Review.CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN,36(12),955-967.

Li，Lihui,et al."Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points in Clinical Trials on Physical Therapy: Updated Systematic Review".CLINICAL JOURNAL OF PAIN 36.12(2020):955-967.