Taut Band

Taut Band - Tense Muscle Fibers

A palpable nodule and associated taut band (tense muscle fibers) are characteristics of a trigger point.

The first step in identifying a trigger point is learning how to recognize the nodule and taut band of muscle fibers by palpation.

A taut band restricts range of motion and increases muscle tension.

It extends from a trigger point to muscle attachments.

The cause of the tension of the muscle fibers is contraction knots ("micro-cramps") which are in the site of the trigger point. Reflex contraction of the fibers in the taut band gives rise to the local twitch response (LTR).

The taut band always respond with a twitch response when the trigger point is penetrated by a needle.

The taut band can be identified by gently rubbing across the muscle fibers of a superficial muscle. If it is present, one can feel a nodule at the trigger point and a rope-like thickening that runs from this nodule to the attachment of the taut muscle fibers at each end of the muscle.

It can be snapped or rolled under the finger in palpated muscles. When the TrP is deactivated, the taut band becomes less tense, often (but not necessarily) disappears, sometimes instantaneously, and range of motion returns to normal.

However, the presence of a palpable taut band alone, by itself, cannot be a reliable sign of the TrP because it can occasionally be observed in pain-free individuals without evidence of trigger point phenomena.*

*Simons, D. G., Travell, J. G., & Simons, L. S. (1999). Travell & Simons' myofascial pain and dysfunction: The trigger point manual. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Volume 1. P.34