Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study
ObjectiveAlthough manual pressure, such as that used during a massage, is often associated with pain, it can simultaneously be perceived as pleasant when applied to certain body areas. We hypothesized that stimulation of myofascial trigger points (TPs) leads to simultaneous pain and pleasure. TPs ar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1197302/full |
| _version_ | 1797785321680666624 |
|---|---|
| author | Seoyoung Lee Heeyoung Moon Yeonhee Ryu In-Seon Lee Younbyoung Chae |
| author_facet | Seoyoung Lee Heeyoung Moon Yeonhee Ryu In-Seon Lee Younbyoung Chae |
| author_sort | Seoyoung Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveAlthough manual pressure, such as that used during a massage, is often associated with pain, it can simultaneously be perceived as pleasant when applied to certain body areas. We hypothesized that stimulation of myofascial trigger points (TPs) leads to simultaneous pain and pleasure. TPs are hyperirritable points located in the taut band of the skeletal muscle.MethodIn this study, we measured the muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and pressure pain threshold of TPs and control points in the left brachioradialis muscle of 48 healthy participants. We also applied deep compression to the two points and collected subjective data on pain, pleasantness, unpleasantness, and relief.ResultGreater muscle stiffness was observed in the TPs versus control points (t = 6.55, p < 0.001), and the pain threshold was significantly lower in the TPs (t = −6.21, p < 0.001). Unpleasantness ratings after deep compression were significantly lower in the TPs compared with control points (t = −2.68, p < 0.05). Participants experienced greater relief at the TPs compared with control points (t = 2.01, p < 0.05), although the perceived pain did not differ between the two types of points.ConclusionWe compared the properties of TPs and control points, and found that deep compression at TPs was associated with higher muscle tone and stiffness, lower unpleasantness ratings, and higher relief ratings compared with the control points. These findings suggest that, at least for some TPs, pain and pleasantness are simultaneously elicited by deep pressure stimulation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:52:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9e5180aa783a47069fff7b462d1b5099 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:52:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e5180aa783a47069fff7b462d1b50992023-07-07T11:34:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2023-07-011710.3389/fnins.2023.11973021197302Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot studySeoyoung Lee0Heeyoung Moon1Yeonhee Ryu2In-Seon Lee3Younbyoung Chae4Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaKM Science Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of KoreaAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaObjectiveAlthough manual pressure, such as that used during a massage, is often associated with pain, it can simultaneously be perceived as pleasant when applied to certain body areas. We hypothesized that stimulation of myofascial trigger points (TPs) leads to simultaneous pain and pleasure. TPs are hyperirritable points located in the taut band of the skeletal muscle.MethodIn this study, we measured the muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and pressure pain threshold of TPs and control points in the left brachioradialis muscle of 48 healthy participants. We also applied deep compression to the two points and collected subjective data on pain, pleasantness, unpleasantness, and relief.ResultGreater muscle stiffness was observed in the TPs versus control points (t = 6.55, p < 0.001), and the pain threshold was significantly lower in the TPs (t = −6.21, p < 0.001). Unpleasantness ratings after deep compression were significantly lower in the TPs compared with control points (t = −2.68, p < 0.05). Participants experienced greater relief at the TPs compared with control points (t = 2.01, p < 0.05), although the perceived pain did not differ between the two types of points.ConclusionWe compared the properties of TPs and control points, and found that deep compression at TPs was associated with higher muscle tone and stiffness, lower unpleasantness ratings, and higher relief ratings compared with the control points. These findings suggest that, at least for some TPs, pain and pleasantness are simultaneously elicited by deep pressure stimulation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1197302/fulldeep pressurepainpleasantnesstrigger pointmuscle properties |
| spellingShingle | Seoyoung Lee Heeyoung Moon Yeonhee Ryu In-Seon Lee Younbyoung Chae Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study Frontiers in Neuroscience deep pressure pain pleasantness trigger point muscle properties |
| title | Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study |
| title_full | Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study |
| title_short | Sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points: a pilot study |
| title_sort | sensory and emotional responses to deep pressure stimulation at myofascial trigger points a pilot study |
| topic | deep pressure pain pleasantness trigger point muscle properties |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1197302/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seoyounglee sensoryandemotionalresponsestodeeppressurestimulationatmyofascialtriggerpointsapilotstudy AT heeyoungmoon sensoryandemotionalresponsestodeeppressurestimulationatmyofascialtriggerpointsapilotstudy AT yeonheeryu sensoryandemotionalresponsestodeeppressurestimulationatmyofascialtriggerpointsapilotstudy AT inseonlee sensoryandemotionalresponsestodeeppressurestimulationatmyofascialtriggerpointsapilotstudy AT younbyoungchae sensoryandemotionalresponsestodeeppressurestimulationatmyofascialtriggerpointsapilotstudy |