Are you wondering about myofascial syndrome because you think you have it, or have been diagnosed with it?
Here I summarise scientific research about the evolution of this syndrome and what to do.
Happy reading!😀 and feel free to ask questions in the comments or share your own experience.🙏
Last updated: August, 2025. Written by Juliet S, a diagnostic radiographer.
▶️What is Myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome is a regional pain disorder caused by taut bands of muscle Fibers in our body muscles called myofascial trigger points
The pain often is felt as shoulder pain, back pain, tension headaches and face pain. Sometimes, the pain is felt in other parts of the body. This is called referred pain.
This syndrome can happen after a muscle has been tensed over and over leading to stress muscle tension causing pain that persists until you get treatment.
Myofascial pain syndrome can be classified into acute and chronic forms.
Acute myofascial pain syndrome frequently resolves spontaneously or after simple treatments. While if you have chronic pain, it can persist for 6 months or longer and have a worse prognosis.
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▶️What are the common symptoms people normally complain about?
🔴Deep, aching pain in a muscle.
🔴Pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse.
🔴A tender knot in a muscle.
🔴Trouble sleeping due to pain.
🔴A general feeling of being not well, called malaise.
🔴Tiredness.
Having these symptoms should not scare you, many people have their symptoms disappear within a few weeks, even without treatment.
▶️ There are different types of myofascial syndrome.
These are different ways to categorise this syndrome, although the management remains the same.
The most common locations are the cervical, shoulder and trapezius muscle, pelvic and pelvic floor muscles and perineum muscle, glutes and internal obturator muscle
♦️The main location of pain: even if the pain is sometimes generalized, there is often one area more sensitive than another, especially in the acute phase.
♦️How long the symptoms have lasted: only a few weeks (acute syndrome) or several months (chronic).
▶️What causes Myofascial pain syndrome?
The exact cause remains unclear, although muscle overload due to overuse or disuse is a key factor (Borg-Stein,2014).
The exact frequency of myofascial pain syndrome in the general population is rarely mentioned in the existing literature, likely due to the lack of uniform diagnostic criteria.
30% to 93% of patients seeking care for musculoskeletal pain are aged 27 to 50, the disorder can also affect older and high-risk populations, such as those with sedentary lifestyles, athletes, or workers who have physically demanding jobs.
Risk factors include:
♦️Trauma injury to the muscles
♦️Poor posture and overuse activities
♦️Structural abnormalities such as spondylosis, scoliosis, and osteoarthritis.
♦️Systemic conditions such as vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency or hypothyroidism.
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▶️How do you know the pain you are having is myofascial syndrome?
When you see a doctor, he will assess and examine the source of your pain by asking you questions and carrying out specific tests.
Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on the presence of trigger points, specific pain referral patterns, and local twitch responses.
Imaging, electrophysiological and blood tests will only be done to help rule out other musculoskeletal conditions and identify any deficiencies.
♦️Ultrasound scan enables direct visualization of trigger points as areas of hypo echogenicity compared to the surrounding muscles. Ultrasound can exclude bursitis and tendinopathy.
♦️X-ray can evaluate structural bony defects, including spondylosis, scoliosis, and foraminal stenosis.
♦️ Laboratory tests can reveal potential hormone and nutritional deficiencies relevant to myofascial pain syndrome.
▶️Several treatments are offered regardless of the type of syndrome.
Treatment aims to relieve pain and address underlying causes through both pharmacologic and nonpharmacological approaches.
There are dozens of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of proposed treatments for this syndrome. whether against each other or against the natural course or control.
Here is a non-exhaustive list although none of them stands out significantly in terms of efficacy. Their clinical efficacy has not been proven in this syndrome.
However effective management often requires a multimodal approach to prevent symptom recurrence Including ergonomic, Psychological and nutritional interventions
Pharmacological Therapies
⚪Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
However, their effectiveness in treating myofascial pain syndrome still needs to be evaluated because there is currently a lack of randomized controlled trials for its use.
⚪Muscle relaxants are recommended for myofascial pain syndrome with muscle spasms when NSAISs do not work.
⚪Antidepressants help to alleviate psychological symptoms.
⚪Lidocaine patch is a promising therapy for myofascial pain syndrome.
⚪For these with vitamin D deficiency, may have poor or short-lasting responses to conventional therapies so vitamin D supplementation may be required.
For nonpharmacological interventions:
Physical therapy may be recommended.
⚪Dry needling is a therapeutic treatment involving the insertion of thin, solid needles into the skin and muscle, targeting myofascial trigger points to relieve pain and improve muscle function. It’s used to address musculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.
⚪Acupuncture helps with mental health factors which may impact myofascial pain syndrome symptoms, such as depression, which may lower the pain threshold or augment the pain level.
⚪Shockwave and low-power lasers significantly reduce pain in patients with myofascial pain syndrome (Ramon,2015)
⚪Laser therapy, manual therapy, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy can help reduce pain intensity and disability related to myofascial pain (Liu,2024)
⚪Educating yourself about the importance of stretching exercises and ergonomic modifications to prevent symptoms.
⚪Psychological interventions such as biofeedback and cognitive behavioural therapy may be beneficial, particularly for patients with concurrent depression or anxiety.
▶️Having symptoms for a long time is not a sign of seriousness, even if it can be annoying.
When you have got symptoms for a long time you may find it annoying, but it is not necessarily a sign of seriousness.
I have seen people with myofascial syndrome continue enjoying their normal activities such as sports, work and other hobbies.
Yes, leaving with such kind of pain can be restrained. And some people become disabled because of the condition.
▶️How long does myofascial pain last? In some people, the syndrome lasts only a few weeks.
How long your pain will last differ significantly from person to person and myofascial pain syndrome can have varying durations.
If you have acute myofascial pain, this often resolves with simple conservative treatments or even spontaneously.
Often a shorter duration, with symptoms potentially disappearing within a few days or weeks.
while chronic myofascial pain can last for 6 months or longer. The duration can differ significantly from person to person.
I have seen some people with myofascial pain have relief from pain after a day or a few weeks, while others may require more extensive treatment and longer periods for improvement.
The duration can be influenced by underlying causes and the effectiveness of treatment interventions.
▶️What happens if I ignore Myofascial pain syndrome
If you leave myofascial pain syndrome untreated it can lead to several complications such as:
🟣Chronic myofascial pain syndrome may result in persistent pain.
🟣Significantly reducing your quality of life which could lead to functional impairment, decreased range of motion, and muscle weakness.
🟣The condition can also contribute to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, as ongoing pain disrupts daily activities and rest.
🟣Prolonged muscle tension and dysfunction may cause postural imbalances, increasing the risk of secondary musculoskeletal issues such as joint dysfunction and referred pain syndromes.
So effective management is crucial to prevent these complications and improve a good outcome.
If myofascial pain is persistent or interferes with daily activities, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional, such as a physical therapist or pain specialist.
▶️Can myofascial pain syndrome be cured
Myofascial pain syndrome is generally not considered curable, but its symptoms can be effectively managed with various treatments according to medical sources.
While some individuals may experience a complete resolution of symptoms, others may require ongoing management to control pain and prevent flare-ups.
While myofascial pain may not be fully curable, we have discussed a variety of treatment options and lifestyle adjustments that can help you manage pain, improve quality of life, and minimize the impact of this condition.
| It is very important to understand the importance of maintaining proper posture, engaging in regular stretching and strengthening exercises, and avoiding repetitive strain or muscle overuse. This will help prevent recurrence of myofascial pain syndrome and pain. |
We have come to the end of this article, any question, let us meet in the comments section. Wishing you a quick recovery.🙋
📚Sources:
Borg-Stein J, Iaccarino MA. Myofascial pain syndrome treatments. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2014 May;25(2):357-74. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.01.012. Epub 2014 Mar 17. PMID: 24787338.
Dua A, Chang KV. Myofascial Pain Syndrome. [Updated 2025 Apr 13]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499882/
Liu C, Wang Y, Yu W, Xiang J, Ding G, Liu W. Comparative effectiveness of noninvasive therapeutic interventions for myofascial pain syndrome: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Surg. 2024 Feb 01;110(2):1099-1112.
Ramon S, Gleitz M, Hernandez L, Romero LD. Update on the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave treatment for myofascial pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Int J Surg. 2015 Dec;24(Pt B):201-6