Muscles
External oblique
Side-bends and rotates the trunk; flexes the trunk.
Overview
Side-bends and rotates the trunk; flexes the trunk. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Lateral abdominal wall.
Referred pain pattern
Heartburn-like upper abdominal pain, groin pain.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Asymmetric loading, sit-ups overload, prolonged rotation.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Rotational mobility, breathing retraining. Clinically: needling, manual release.
Symptoms commonly linked
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction