Muscular Pain Syndromes Including Muscle Tension Headaches
The muscles of the jaw, face, neck and shoulders are critically involved
in movements directly responsible for eating, speaking, facial expression,
head posture and balance. When these muscles become fatigued, strained,
traumatized, and/over overused, normal function often becomes altered. In addition, these muscles often develop nodules which have been termed
trigger points. Once activated, these trigger points have the ability
to produce local and/or referral symptoms. These symptoms may be pain
and/or altered sensation.
In the head and neck region, the complaints of specific were diffuse
zones of pain may be accompanied by sensations such as clogged, itching
or ringing ears, loss of balance, puffy/swollen cheeks and eyelids, facial
warmth or burning, and sinus fullness. Often there is no specific pattern
with regard to frequency, duration and/or intensity. Despite the presence
of these specific complaints, comprehensive medical evaluation of the
ears, eyes, nose, throat and glands are negative.
Clinical research over the years has helped define the specific area
in each muscle where these trigger points develop. Trigger point therapy,
local anesthetic injections, or electrotherapy is designed to render these
trigger points inactive. Subsequently, muscle rehabilitation is pursued. Once these trigger points are inactive, the corresponding symptoms disappear. Continued success is reliant on the identification of all potential reactivating
factors.
Muscle Tension Type Headaches may well be a subset of what we have termed
"Trigger Point Induced Syndromes". Despite the fact that stress
may have induced muscles to develop active trigger points, the resultant
pain complaints may persist well beyond the period of emotional tension
due to tissue injury. These injured tissues may require a physical component
to therapy rather than "behavioral relaxation" therapy alone.
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