Background The first part of this study demonstrated 95% anatomic and > 97% pain indication correspondences between the 262 “most common” myofascial trigger point (mTrP) locations of the Trigger Point Manual and those of classical acupoints, evidencing that those trigger and acupuncture points represent the same underlying clinical phenomenon in treating pain conditions. Over 25% of the most common mTrP locations also have non-pain clinical effects documented, including tinnitus, arrhythmias, diarrhea, and dysmenorrhea. Our 2008 trigger and acupuncture point study first examined the relationships of myofascial referred pain patterns to acupuncture principal meridians, finding a nearly 91% correlation of the referred pain and meridian distributions of anatomically corresponding mTrP–acupoint pairs. Over 45,000 acupuncture and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) articles have been published since then. Providing new data relevant to examining the clinical and physiologic relationships of mTrPs and acupoints. Objective This study aimed to examine whether the 248 anatomically corresponding mTrP–acupoint pairs found in the first part of this study have similarities in terms of both their non-pain indications and the distributions of their myofascial referred pain patterns and principal meridians. Methods The non-pain indications of anatomically corresponding mTrP–acupoint pairs as described in MPS and acupuncture references were examined for clinical similarities. Semiquantitative visual analysis compared the overlaps of the distributions of referred pain patterns and meridians based on the 3D graphics generated for this study. Results Of the 248 most common mTrP regions, 68 (27.4%) have non-pain indications which are similar to those of their anatomically corresponding classical acupoints in 93% of comparisons. 231 of the most common mTrP regions have documented referred pain patterns, which overlapped in 80% of comparisons the principal meridians of their classical acupoints completely (or nearly so), with another 10% showing substantial (50%–75%) distribution overlaps. Conclusion The 93% non-pain indication and > 90% referred pain–meridian distribution correspondences of anatomically proximate (corresponding) most common mTrP and classical acupoint locations provide additional compelling clinical and physiologic evidence that these points are describing the same underlying clinical phenomenon.

The “most common” myofascial trigger points and classical acupuncture points. Part 2

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年5月15日

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Peter T. Dorsher,
Oskar Schmid,
Johannes Fleckenstein

摘要

Background

The first part of this study demonstrated 95% anatomic and > 97% pain indication correspondences between the 262 “most common” myofascial trigger point (mTrP) locations of the Trigger Point Manual and those of classical acupoints, evidencing that those trigger and acupuncture points represent the same underlying clinical phenomenon in treating pain conditions. Over 25% of the most common mTrP locations also have non-pain clinical effects documented, including tinnitus, arrhythmias, diarrhea, and dysmenorrhea. Our 2008 trigger and acupuncture point study first examined the relationships of myofascial referred pain patterns to acupuncture principal meridians, finding a nearly 91% correlation of the referred pain and meridian distributions of anatomically corresponding mTrP–acupoint pairs. Over 45,000 acupuncture and myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) articles have been published since then. Providing new data relevant to examining the clinical and physiologic relationships of mTrPs and acupoints.

Objective

This study aimed to examine whether the 248 anatomically corresponding mTrP–acupoint pairs found in the first part of this study have similarities in terms of both their non-pain indications and the distributions of their myofascial referred pain patterns and principal meridians.

Methods

The non-pain indications of anatomically corresponding mTrP–acupoint pairs as described in MPS and acupuncture references were examined for clinical similarities. Semiquantitative visual analysis compared the overlaps of the distributions of referred pain patterns and meridians based on the 3D graphics generated for this study.

Results

Of the 248 most common mTrP regions, 68 (27.4%) have non-pain indications which are similar to those of their anatomically corresponding classical acupoints in 93% of comparisons. 231 of the most common mTrP regions have documented referred pain patterns, which overlapped in 80% of comparisons the principal meridians of their classical acupoints completely (or nearly so), with another 10% showing substantial (50%–75%) distribution overlaps.

Conclusion

The 93% non-pain indication and > 90% referred pain–meridian distribution correspondences of anatomically proximate (corresponding) most common mTrP and classical acupoint locations provide additional compelling clinical and physiologic evidence that these points are describing the same underlying clinical phenomenon.