Active Myofascial Trigger Point

Active Trigger Point

This type of a trigger point causes a clinical pain complaint.

Characteristics of an active trigger point:

• tenderness;
• it prevents full lengthening and weakens the muscle;
• refers a patient-recognized pain on direct compression;
• mediates a local twitch response of muscle fibers when adequately stimulated;
• when compressed within the patient's pain tolerance, produces referred motor phenomena and often autonomic phenomena, generally in its pain reference zone;
• causes tenderness in the pain reference zone.

To be distinguished from a latent myofascial trigger point.