Study index

Research Library

281 peer-reviewed studies on trigger points and myofascial pain, ranked by relevance.

281

Studies indexed

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Reviews & Meta-analyses

2026

Effectiveness of Percutaneous Needle Electrolysis (PNE) and Intramuscular Electrical Stimulation (IMES) in the Management of Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Tendinopathies: A Systematic Review

This systematic review found that PNE and IMES may improve pain and function in myofascial pain syndrome and tendinopathies, but evidence quality was limited by high risk of bias. Both techniques appear safe with only minor, self-limiting adverse events.

Trybulski et al.Journal of Clinical MedicineSystematic ReviewDOI

Study index

Showing 281 of 281 studies

2026Meta-analysis

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Liu et al.Frontiers in Psychology

Pain ScienceDOI

2025Systematic Review

Deep Versus Superficial Dry Needling for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomised Clinical Trials

Alhakami et al.Medicina

Dry NeedlingDOI

2025Systematic Review

Dry Needling in Sports and Sport Recovery: A Systematic Review with an Evidence Gap Map

Kużdżał et al.Sports Medicine

Reviews & Meta-analysesDOI

2025Meta-analysis

Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education in Reducing Pain, Disability, Kinesiophobia, and Catastrophizing in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Medina-Viedma et al.Medical Sciences (Basel)

Pain ScienceDOI

2025Meta-analysis

Efficacy of Acupuncture in Treating Nape Back Myofascial Pain Syndrome: a Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Zhang et al.Journal of Pain Research

AcupunctureDOI

2025Narrative Review

Myofascial Pain Syndrome: An Update on Clinical Characteristics, Etiopathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Steen et al.Muscle & Nerve

Guidelines & Best PracticeDOI

2025Systematic Review

Pain science education and exercise interventions for people with knee or hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review, content and meta-analysis

Hurley-Wallace et al.BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Pain ScienceDOI

2025Narrative Review

Pharmacologic treatment of fibromyalgia: an update

Li et al.Frontiers in Pharmacology

MedicationDOI

2025Systematic Review

The State of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Myofascial Pain Syndrome—A Scoping Review and a Call for Standardized Protocols

This scoping review identifies significant methodological inconsistencies in ESWT research for myofascial pain syndrome. Despite evidence suggesting effectiveness, poor study standardization prevents definitive conclusions about therapeutic potential.

Müller-Ehrenberg et al.Life

Physical ModalitiesDOI

2025Meta-analysis

Treatments for enhancing sleep quality in fibromyalgia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Pathak et al.Rheumatology (Oxford)

Related ConditionsDOI

2024Meta-analysis

Comparative effectiveness of noninvasive therapeutic interventions for myofascial pain syndrome: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Liu et al.International Journal of Surgery

Reviews & Meta-analysesDOI

2024Narrative Review

Myofascial pain – A major player in musculoskeletal pain

Lam et al.Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology

Guidelines & Best PracticeDOI

2024Narrative Review

Pharmacological Treatment of Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Practice-Based Review

Giorgi et al.Current Pain and Headache Reports

MedicationDOI

2024Narrative Review

Relationship Between Sleep Disturbances and Chronic Pain: A Narrative Review

Jain et al.Clinics and Practice (Clin Pract)

Related ConditionsDOI

2023Systematic Review

Clinical Effectiveness of Dry Needling in Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain—An Umbrella Review

Chys et al.Journal of Clinical Medicine

Reviews & Meta-analysesDOI

2023Systematic Review

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation on Pain-related Quantitative Sensory Tests in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Acute Experimental Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

DeJesus et al.The Journal of Pain

TENS & Electrical Stim.DOI

2023Systematic Review

Effectiveness of Pain Neuroscience Education in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Central Sensitization: A Systematic Review

Lepri et al.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Pain ScienceDOI

2023Systematic Review

Pain neuroscience education in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain: an umbrella review

An umbrella review of 16 systematic reviews finding that pain neuroscience education added to exercise or multimodal care may improve chronic musculoskeletal pain outcomes—especially psychosocial ones—but PNE alone showed no consistent benefit, and all included reviews were critically low quality.

Cuenca-Martínez et al.Frontiers in Neuroscience

Pain ScienceDOI

2023Systematic Review

Summarizing the effects of different exercise types in chronic neck pain – a systematic review and meta-analysis of systematic reviews

Rasmussen-Barr et al.BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Exercise & MovementDOI

2023Narrative Review

The effect and mechanism of motor control exercise on low back pain: a narrative review

Xu et al.EFORT Open Reviews

Exercise & MovementDOI

2023Meta-analysis

Trigger Point Injections Versus Medical Management for Acute Myofascial Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Hamzoian & ZograbyanCureus

Trigger Point InjectionDOI

2022Narrative Review

Chronic primary musculoskeletal pain: a new concept of nonstructural regional pain

Fitzcharles et al.PAIN Reports

Pain ScienceDOI

2022Systematic Review

Effectiveness of Photobiomodulation Therapy in the Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Upper Trapezius Muscle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Alayat et al.Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery

Physical ModalitiesDOI

2022Meta-analysis

Efficacy of extracorporeal shock waves in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical studies

Wu et al.Annals of Translational Medicine

Physical ModalitiesDOI

2022Meta-analysis

On the superiority of a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise for fibromyalgia syndrome: A network meta-analysis

Chen et al.Frontiers in Psychology

Exercise & MovementDOI

2022Narrative Review

The Path to Discovery of Windup and Central Sensitization

MendellFrontiers in Pain Research

Pain ScienceDOI

2022Systematic Review

The effectiveness of non-pharmacological sleep interventions for people with chronic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In 42 randomised trials of people with chronic pain, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia improved sleep quality post-treatment, though long-term and pain benefits were limited.

Whale et al.BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Related ConditionsDOI

2021Systematic Review

Does TENS Reduce the Intensity of Acute and Chronic Pain? A Comprehensive Appraisal of the Characteristics and Outcomes of 169 Reviews and 49 Meta-Analyses

Paley et al.Medicina

Reviews & Meta-analysesDOI

2021Randomized Controlled Trial

Pain Neuroscience Education Combined with Therapeutic Exercises Provides Added Benefit in the Treatment of Chronic Neck Pain

Javdaneh et al.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Pain ScienceDOI

2020Systematic Review

Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points in Clinical Trials on Physical Therapy: Updated Systematic Review

Li et al.Clinical Journal of Pain

Diagnosis & AssessmentDOI

2020Narrative Review

Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia: Critical Review and Future Perspectives

Galvez-Sánchez & PasoJournal of Clinical Medicine

Diagnosis & AssessmentDOI

2020Narrative Review

Treatment and management of myofascial pain syndrome

Urits et al.Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology

Guidelines & Best PracticeDOI

2019Meta-analysis

Effect of Local Anesthetic Versus Botulinum Toxin-A Injections for Myofascial Pain Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ahmed et al.Clinical Journal of Pain

Reviews & Meta-analysesDOI

2019Meta-analysis

Local Anesthetic Injections for the Short-Term Treatment of Head and Neck Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Nouged et al.Journal of Oral & Facial Pain and Headache

Trigger Point InjectionDOI

2019Narrative Review

Trigger point dry needling for the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: current perspectives within a pain neuroscience paradigm

Fernández-de-Las-Peñas & NijsJournal of Pain Research

Guidelines & Best PracticeDOI

2017Meta-analysis

Acupuncture for Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Network Meta-Analysis of 33 Randomized Controlled Trials

A network meta-analysis of 33 RCTs found that most acupuncture therapies effectively reduce pain in myofascial pain syndrome, with scraping combined with warming acupuncture and moxibustion showing the strongest pain relief.

Li et al.Pain Physician

Reviews & Meta-analysesDOI

2017Meta-analysis