Understanding the Myofascial Pain Cycle
Every move you make depends on the health of your soft tissues---especially your muscles. Muscles lift the corners of your mouth so you can smile, raise your arm and move your wrists so you can wave, and lift your legs so you can walk. Healthy muscles move parts of your body by contracting (shortening) and relaxing (lengthening). But with myofascial pain syndrome, damaged muscles become "knotted up," unable to contract and relax. Moving may become uncomfortable, and then muscle may be tender to touch.
Healthy Soft Tissue
With the help of ligaments and tendons, muscles power movement and give you strength. Muscles (myo) are made of many strong, elastic fibers banded together by a protective covering called fascia. The individual fibers, also covered by fascia, are aligned so they can easily contract and relax.
Understanding the Anatomy & Physiology
Muscles are bands of strong, elastic fibers that shorten and lengthen during movement.
Fascia is the protective tissues that surrounds the muscle and its fibers.
Ligaments hold bones in place at the joint.
Joints connect the bones everywhere in your body. Smooth movement of a joint depends on the alignment of the bones.
Nerve endings pass through muscle tissue, stimulating muscles to contract.
Tendons attach muscles to bones.
Myofascial Damage
Soft tissue damage may be caused by overuse, misuse, or injury. Even if the initial damage is in a ligament or tendon or in a joint, nearby muscles may be affected. When myofascial (muscle) tissues is damaged, it will repair itself, but often a cycle of poor healing and pain is set up.
Joints May Misalign
The bones at a nearby joint can misalign because of the limited mobility of the damaged or shortened muscle. Or, if nearby ligaments are damaged, the joint may misalign, making movement difficult and painful.