Trigger Points by Muscle

The muscle index groups all 111 reference muscles by body region. Compare their anatomy, referral maps and related symptom pages before interpreting a tender area.

Trigger points are tender spots within taut bands of skeletal muscle. Pressure can produce local discomfort or referred pain in a different area. An active trigger point reproduces a familiar complaint; a latent one is tender without the same spontaneous symptom. “Muscle knots” is the everyday expression, but a painful spot alone does not establish a diagnosis.

Referred pain explains why the place that hurts is not always the muscle being assessed. Different muscles can have overlapping patterns, and similar symptoms can also arise from joints, nerves or other conditions. The maps here describe associations from the reference set, not a guarantee that a particular muscle is responsible for an individual problem.

Compare the exact location of your complaint with the available maps, then read the linked muscle and symptom descriptions together. Primary, secondary and tertiary labels preserve the reference ordering. They do not replace examination or rule out other causes. The introductory guides explain the terminology and distinctions; muscle pages provide existing palpation landmarks, loading factors, self-care precautions and source references. Seek professional assessment for persistent, unexplained or worsening symptoms.

• What are trigger points?
• Primary vs secondary trigger points
• How to read referred pain maps