Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Muscle tissues are a common source of symptoms related to low back pain (LBP), with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) being a significant contributor. Since previous meta-analyses support interventions targeting MTrPs for reducing pain and improving function...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Germán Monclús-Díez María José Díaz-Arribas César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Dariusz Kosson Marcin Kołacz Mateusz D. Kobylarz Sandra Sánchez-Jorge Juan Antonio Valera-Calero |
| author_facet | Germán Monclús-Díez María José Díaz-Arribas César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Dariusz Kosson Marcin Kołacz Mateusz D. Kobylarz Sandra Sánchez-Jorge Juan Antonio Valera-Calero |
| author_sort | Germán Monclús-Díez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Muscle tissues are a common source of symptoms related to low back pain (LBP), with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) being a significant contributor. Since previous meta-analyses support interventions targeting MTrPs for reducing pain and improving functional disability in patients with LBP, this review aimed to synthesize current knowledge on the prevalence of MTrPs in LBP patients. <b>Methods</b>: To conduct this systematic review, data were collected from PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Published articles at any time up to February 2025 that comprised descriptive, observational, or experimental studies in English/Spanish language reporting the prevalence of active or latent MTrPs in patients with LBP were eligible. After assessing the methodological quality, a structured and qualitative synthesis was conducted using a standardized form that captured participant characteristics, evaluated muscles, the number or percentage of active and latent MTrPs in each group, clinical features, summarized results, and conclusions. <b>Results</b>: Nine articles with acceptable methodological quality were included. The prevalence of active MTrPs in patients with LBP was quadratus lumborum (ranging from 30% to 55%), gluteus medius (from 34% to 45%), piriformis (42%), psoas (from 5% to 10%), and lumbar iliocostalis (from 33% to 38%). Latent MTrPs were most common in the gluteus medius (74%) and quadratus lumborum (14–17%), with the piriformis, psoas, and lumbar iliocostalis also affected. <b>Conclusions</b>: Active and latent MTrPs are common in muscles such as the quadratus lumborum, gluteus medius, and iliocostalis in individuals with LBP, with prevalence varying by pain chronicity and etiology. MTrPs in the gluteal region are more frequent in lumbosacral radiculopathy, suggesting a neurogenic-like component. Since the subjectivity of manual palpation and study heterogeneity limit generalizability of the results, future research should standardize diagnostic criteria of MTrPs to ensure the consistency of results. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a29c873a22f848b198ae9d0cf781b95d2025-06-25T13:32:03ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-06-01136145310.3390/biomedicines13061453Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic ReviewGermán Monclús-Díez0María José Díaz-Arribas1César Fernández-de-las-Peñas2Dariusz Kosson3Marcin Kołacz4Mateusz D. Kobylarz5Sandra Sánchez-Jorge6Juan Antonio Valera-Calero7Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainDepartment of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Division of Teaching, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland1st Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005 Warsaw, PolandEscuela Internacional de Doctorado, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28922 Alcorcón, SpainFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Nursery, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Muscle tissues are a common source of symptoms related to low back pain (LBP), with myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) being a significant contributor. Since previous meta-analyses support interventions targeting MTrPs for reducing pain and improving functional disability in patients with LBP, this review aimed to synthesize current knowledge on the prevalence of MTrPs in LBP patients. <b>Methods</b>: To conduct this systematic review, data were collected from PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Published articles at any time up to February 2025 that comprised descriptive, observational, or experimental studies in English/Spanish language reporting the prevalence of active or latent MTrPs in patients with LBP were eligible. After assessing the methodological quality, a structured and qualitative synthesis was conducted using a standardized form that captured participant characteristics, evaluated muscles, the number or percentage of active and latent MTrPs in each group, clinical features, summarized results, and conclusions. <b>Results</b>: Nine articles with acceptable methodological quality were included. The prevalence of active MTrPs in patients with LBP was quadratus lumborum (ranging from 30% to 55%), gluteus medius (from 34% to 45%), piriformis (42%), psoas (from 5% to 10%), and lumbar iliocostalis (from 33% to 38%). Latent MTrPs were most common in the gluteus medius (74%) and quadratus lumborum (14–17%), with the piriformis, psoas, and lumbar iliocostalis also affected. <b>Conclusions</b>: Active and latent MTrPs are common in muscles such as the quadratus lumborum, gluteus medius, and iliocostalis in individuals with LBP, with prevalence varying by pain chronicity and etiology. MTrPs in the gluteal region are more frequent in lumbosacral radiculopathy, suggesting a neurogenic-like component. Since the subjectivity of manual palpation and study heterogeneity limit generalizability of the results, future research should standardize diagnostic criteria of MTrPs to ensure the consistency of results.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1453low back painmyofascial trigger pointsprevalence |
| spellingShingle | Germán Monclús-Díez María José Díaz-Arribas César Fernández-de-las-Peñas Dariusz Kosson Marcin Kołacz Mateusz D. Kobylarz Sandra Sánchez-Jorge Juan Antonio Valera-Calero Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review Biomedicines low back pain myofascial trigger points prevalence |
| title | Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Prevalence of Myofascial Trigger Points in Patients with Radiating and Non-Radiating Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | prevalence of myofascial trigger points in patients with radiating and non radiating low back pain a systematic review |
| topic | low back pain myofascial trigger points prevalence |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1453 |
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