Documentation of myofascial pain syndrome with infrared imaging Marcos

Abstract

The myofascial trigger points (TP) are involved as much pathologies of hyperextension/hyperflexion cervical injuries, disc injuries, and overuse injuries. One of the basic indications and clinical uses of infrared (IR) imaging is documentation of soft tissue pathology, particularly in conditions which cannot be demonstrated on radiologic tests, electroneuromyography or laboratory workup. The authors review the literature regarding IR imaging in the documentation of myofascial pain syndrome. The IR imaging is a diagnostic test which objectively documents TP in the form of hyperradiant hot spots. These hyperradiant spots corresponding to areas of pain usually represent active TP in clinical examination. They can be corroborated by local tenderness in the region, thus confirming the patient’s complaint. The areas of pain are presented as thermal asymmetry between corresponding areas of opposite sides of the body. Latent TP, not subject to patient complaints at the time of IR imaging examination, are detected in the form of hyperradiant spots. The presence of these latent TP can be documented by abnormal pressure threshold measurement in these areas. There was an alteration of the skin thermal profile after TP local anesthesia/dry needling demonstrating an immediate neurovegetative sympathetic response. The IR imaging findings represent an objective mean to document TP, thus corroborating with the subjective patient’s complaints. The documentation of TP by IR imaging is important to introduce the most adequate treatment directed the pain cause as well as to evaluate its response.