Unicorns Aren’t Real And Neither Are Trigger Points.
I’ll take “Unpopular Opinions” for $1000 please, Alex.
Real, adjective
• Having objective independent existence, not artificial, fraudulent, or illusory
• Occurring or existing in actuality
• Of or relating to fixed, permanent, or immovable things
• Capable of being detected
The trigger point is defined as a hyperirritable knot or nodule or tight band within the myofascial tissues, and the cause of myofascial pain. Currently, there is no credible scientific evidence of anatomic pathology associated with myofascial trigger points. They can not be accurately and reliably identified. There is no magical entity lurking within the tissues as previously theorized.
This isn’t to say that humans don’t experience the phenomenon of sensitivity and sore spots, nor is it to discredit, devalue, or gaslight those sufferers. Of course not, nobody is saying that. The lived experience of the person isn’t the thing that is under dispute.
Therapists and patients alike are capable of understanding the distinction between “we don’t believe your pain experience is real” vs “We don’t believe that old theory/explanation of why you’re experiencing pain is real”.
There is a phenomenon characterized by pain and soreness.
The pain is real and it sucks, everyone agrees.
I think it’s dishonest, misleading, unethical, unhelpful, and potentially harmful to patients to perpetuate the notion that there is an identifiable entity in their tissues known as a trigger point that is the cause of their pain experience. Partly because it’s factually and scientifically incorrect, and somewhat because it takes the focus away from exploring all the other potential contributing factors. It also uses language that pathologizes a group of tissues that may be completely healthy and normal. This can lead to a false impression that “there’s something wrong” when there isn’t and contributes to fear and fear avoidance behaviours.
I’ve moved off the fence, and sit with “John ‘triggered by trigger points’ Quintner” (painscience.com), and I feel comfortable discarding the theory of trigger points altogether.
For worthwhile reading on the topic that is well cited with a flare of dramatic comedy - please check out the trigger point index of expert research journalism of Paul Ingraham here: https://www.painscience.com/index-trigger-points.php