The Natural History of Upper Trapezius Myofascial Trigger Points: Comparison of Local and Remote Tissue Milieu in Normal Muscle, Latent and Active Myofascial Trigger Points Over Time

Overview

This study will use microdialysis to investigate myofascial pain. This pain is characterized by "trigger points" (exquisitely tender spots) in a group of tense muscle fibers that extend from the trigger point to the muscle attachments. Trigger points in the trapezius, a large muscle lying between the neck and shoulder, are typically caused by emotional stress, postures such as hunching shoulders, certain activities like using a telephone receiver without elbow support, or by wearing certain articles such as a heavy coat or heavy purse. Microdialysis uses a very thin needle probe (about the size and shape of an acupuncture needle) to collect and measure chemicals directly from soft tissue. Analysis of these chemicals will show whether changes in the tissue around a muscle with trigger points are confined to that muscle, or if these changes also occur in more distant muscles. The study will examine two types of trigger points. An "active" trigger point causes pain or other abnormal symptoms and often causes problems with movement. A "latent" trigger point often causes movement problems without causing pain. Many healthy adults have latent trigger points. People between 21 and 65 years of age with the following characteristics may be eligible for this study: 1) no neck pain or trigger points in either upper trapezius muscle; 2) no neck pain but a latent trigger point in at least one upper trapezius muscle; or 3) neck pain of less than 3 months' duration and an active trigger point in at least one upper trapezius muscle. Participants undergo the following procedures: * Physical examination of the muscles of the neck and shoulder area, testing strength and range of motion, and response to palpation to find trigger points. * Pain inventory. Subjects complete a questionnaire for measuring pain and its intensity, location, quality, causes, relievers, and associated symptoms. The questionnaire is filled in before and after each microdialysis procedure. * Microdialysis in upper trapezius muscle. An electrode patch is placed on either side of the site for insertion of the microdialysis probe and another electrode is placed on the outer edge of the shoulder. The electrodes are used to measure any electrical activity that occurs with insertion or movement of the probe. The subject lies face down and the probe is inserted in the upper trapezius muscle. It remains in place for 5 minutes while chemical substances are collected from the muscle. It is then advanced about 1.5 cm deeper into the muscle until a twitch response is obtained and remains in place for 10 more minutes while substances are collected. * Microdialysis in the gastrocnemius muscle (large muscle of the calf). The same procedure for the upper trapezius muscle is done in the calf muscle.

Preliminary data suggest that patients with active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) have a significantly different biochemical profile within the local milieu of the MTrPs compared to those without MTrPs or those with a latent (non-symptomatic) MTrP. An important question to answer is whether anatomical loci, remote from active or latent MTrPs have similar biochemical profiles to the MTrP itself. These remote sites should be evaluated to help distinguish whether MTrPs have local biochemical profiles or are associated with a more widespread phenomenon. We will select three groups of subjects based on the following characteristics \[1, 2, 3 below\]. We will sample GB-21 in the upper trapezius muscle and LV-7 (posterior and inferior to the medial condyle of the tibia in the upper portion of the medial gastrocnemius) standardized sites for pH, muscle metabolites, inflammatory mediators, arachidonic acid derivatives, neuropeptides, etc. The goal of this study is to determine whether the local biochemical milieu of an active MTrP is the same as the biochemical milieu at anatomical sites remote from the MTrP. The acupuncture points GB-21 and LV-7 are selected specifically to standardize the locations of a sampling point in three carefully selected groups: 1. healthy subjects without neck pain and who have no MTrPs identified by palpation bilaterally in GB-21, and who have no MTrPs identified by palpation bilaterally in LV-7, 2. healthy subjects without neck pain in whom latent MTrPs are identified by palpation in GB-21 in one of the upper trapezius muscles, and who have no MTrPs indentified by palpation bilaterally in LV-7, 3. healthy subjects complaining of neck pain of less than 3 months duration with active MTrPs identified by palpation in GB-21 in one of the upper trapezius muscles, and who have no MTrPs identified by palpation bilaterally in LV-7.