Muscles
Longissimus Thoracis Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Lower Torso
Longissimus Thoracis Trigger Points are explored here through their location and referred pain pattern. Muscle knots is an everyday term used for tender muscular spots; myofascial pain describes pain involving muscle and its surrounding connective tissue. Erector spinae extending the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Where you feel it
When the Longissimus Thoracis holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as bloating/nausea/abdominal cramps, buttock pain, low back pain and si joint pain (base of the spine). Where the pain spreads: Buttock and lateral lower back pain, mimicking 'sciatica' but staying above the knee. What often sets it off: Prolonged seated posture, repetitive bending.
Overview
Erector spinae extending the thoracic and lumbar spine. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.
Trigger point locations
Medial to iliocostalis along the thoracic and lumbar paraspinals.
Referred pain pattern
Buttock and lateral lower back pain, mimicking 'sciatica' but staying above the knee.
Palpation & testing
Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.
Common causes
Prolonged seated posture, repetitive bending.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Hip hinge retraining, mobility. Clinically: needling.
Treatment protocol
For Longissimus Thoracis, the general protocol applies: sustained pressure release on the taut band, then stretch and active movement in the newly gained range.
Position and palpation: Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course.
Regional precaution for clinicians: In the flank and abdominal wall the kidney (behind the twelfth rib and the quadratus lumborum), the abdominal viscera and the lower lung fields are the structures at risk.
Primary Symptoms
Often confused with
These muscles cause the same primary symptoms, so they are checked together:
Related muscles in this region
Related articles
- Low back pain that flares when you stand: a step-by-step quadratus lumborum treatment plan
- Buttock Pain: which trigger points cause it and how to treat them
- SI joint pain (base of the spine): which trigger points cause it and how to treat them
- Bloating/Nausea/Abdominal cramps: which trigger points cause it and how to treat them
- Low Back Pain: which trigger points cause it and how to treat them
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
