Trigger Point Concepts
This document is a an excerpt from Neuromuscular Assessment.
referral patterns
Band of Pain Across the Mid-back
Pain Across Ribs These people complain of a broad band of pain across the mid back. So they reach back and trace a band across their mid-back. At this point, I have them stroke an ice cube over the arch of the ribs in the front. They usually have a look of disbelief but comply. Then,
Aching and Burning in the mid back
Want to skip ahead?Here’s a link to my post about getting relief on your own. These people complain of aching or burning pain over the kidneys. The pain is often associated with chronic coughing or recent illness with nausea and vomiting. Many of them have already had their kidneys checked but have not found any problems.
Pain in the upper back, index finger, and thumb
Pain around Thumb Pad People complain about pain just inside the shoulder blade, thumb, and index finger. Notably, it doesn’t always create pain in the hand; sometimes, it tingles like it is “falling asleep” or “going numb.” Sometimes, they have pain or tingling when reaching out with the hands near shoulder level, like when you’re driving
Stiff back, Pain on the Side of the Hip
Pain around the Crest Most often, people complain of pain just under the crest of the hip. However, they sometimes complain of pain that arcs in front of the hip and into the groin. If they are comfortable doing so, they will complain of pain in the groin and genitalia. Infrequently, they complain of pain
Wide Band of Pain Across the Top of the Hips
Band over Hips These people complain of a band of pain across the top of their hips. As usual, I ask them to be specific. Is it all the way across your hips? Is it a small strip in the middle? Several patterns in this area produce similar pain patterns. They open their fingers a few
Stiff Low Back with Pain in the Lower Buttock
Overview This is one of several posts about a stiff, fragile low back. This particular pattern also involves pain in the lower buttock. A stiff low back is usually a combination of a binding intervertebral joint with more than one muscle involved. If you have a stiff low back, you should compare these posts. These people
Fragile Low Back with SI Joint Pain
These people complain of sharp pain in the low back, as well as pain in the sacroiliac joint. This combination makes the low back feel fragile and unstable. This pattern is a combination of trigger points in two different muscles that become activated together. On the one hand, multifidi creates an intense, fragile feeling in the vertebrae.
Pain Along One Side of the Sacrum
These people complain of pain up and down their sacrum on one side. When I ask where it hurts, they straighten their fingers and place their index and thumb along their sacrum, slightly to one side. They complain of pain when bending forward. It may be dull or sharp, depending on how long they have let it
Sharp Pain Across Top of Hips
Want to skip ahead?Here’s a link to my post about getting relief on your own. Tough Getting Up These patients complain of sharp pain across the low back when getting out of bed, out of a car, or standing up from a chair. They may also be slow to rise from a seated position. Stooped Walk People with this condition also tend