Comparative study on trigger points and acupuncture points

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

For the past several decades, there has been steadily growing interest in the condition known as myofascial pain syndrome.
A myofascial syndrome is characterized by referred pain, local and referred tenderness, and a tense shortened muscle with resultant stiffness and limitation of motion, weakness, and sometimes autonomic dysfunction. This condition has been described as muscle callouses by Froried (1843), muscular rheumatism by Virchow(1852), Fibrositis by Gowers (1904), myalgic spot by Gutstein(1938), and as a nodule by Kelly (1941). However most important study was by Travell (1942) who introduced the concept of trigger point and referred pain. Some features in common between trigger points and acupuncture points are as follows :
1.They are irritable locus within a taut band of skeletal muscle, located in the muscular tissue and/or its associated fascia.
2.May by found in a palpable band as a shatrply circumscribed spot of exquisite tenderness.
3.Digital pressure applied on the locus may elicit a "jump sign".
4.Routine laboratory tests sow no abnormalities or significant changes.
5.A small region of increased skin conductance (reduced skin resistance) may be observed over the area.
6. Needling or ischemic compression may relieve pain.
Total of 165 trigger points including 46 points on head and neck 45 on trunk, 52 on upper extremity, and 22 on lower extremity were reviewed and compared with acupuncture points. 142 trigger points (86% ) were localized on same or close vicinity of so-called traditional acupuncture points. Since all the "ouch points" are conventionally considered as acupuncture points, all the known trigger points may be considered as acupuncture points. In this deinition all the trigger points are acupunctrue points, but not all the acupuncture points are trigger points.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Introducuon
• Material and Metodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion