A blinded pilot study investigating the use of diagnostic ultrasound for detecting active myofascial trigger points.

Myofascial trigger points (MFTPs) have been cited by numerous authors as the cause of local and referred pain which arises from muscle and its surrounding fascia. At present there is no reliable objective test which is capable of determining their presence. It was the purpose of this pilot study to assess the use of diagnostic ultrasound in determining any soft tissue changes in the region of clinically identified active MFTPs. Eleven subjects with clinically identified, unilateral, active MFTPs were examined with diagnostic ultrasound at the site of the trigger point as well as the asymptomatic, contralateral side. The analysis of the results of this pilot study found no correlation between the clinical identification of active MFTPs and diagnostic ultrasound.