Research
Peer-reviewed studies on trigger point therapy and myofascial pain, graded by evidence strength.
How we grade evidence
We use a three-tier evidence scale. Strong: multiple well-designed randomized trials or systematic reviews converging on the same conclusion. Moderate: consistent results from observational studies or a small number of trials. Weak: expert consensus, case series, or mechanistic reasoning without controlled trials.
Evidence grades appear inline where claims are made. The same grade is applied consistently across related articles.
What we don’t do
We do not provide medical advice. We do not rank specific clinicians or clinics. We do not accept pharmaceutical or device industry funding. We do not publish primary research — we synthesize and contextualize the existing literature for patients and clinicians.
Recent research articles
- ModerateDry needling for myofascial painSystematic review of 27 trials across 11 muscle groups.
- ModerateBotulinum toxin injections for chronic trigger pointsWhere the evidence supports use — and where it doesn’t.
- WeakGabapentin in myofascial pain syndromesOff-label use: what three RCTs actually showed.
- ModerateTricyclic antidepressants for chronic musculoskeletal painLow-dose amitriptyline: the most-studied non-opioid pharmacologic.
- StrongShoulder pain: trigger-point referral patternsEvidence synthesis: which muscles drive which patterns.
- ModerateTrigger Points 101: mechanism and pathophysiologyThe energy-crisis hypothesis and what the current data support.