Muscles

Multifidus

Deep spinal stabilizer at every segmental level; key for low back resilience.

Referred pain map

Multifidus — Multifidi and rotatores — deep segmental spinal trigger points at T4–T5, L2 and S1/S4 with local paraspinal pain and referred pain to the buttock and, from lumbar levels, wrapping to the lower abdomen — a common source of pinpoint 'spot' low back pain.

Overview

Deep spinal stabilizer at every segmental level; key for low back resilience. Trigger points here are common in everyday and athletic populations and frequently contribute to the referred pain patterns described below.

Trigger point locations

Deep alongside the spinous processes.

Referred pain pattern

Local segmental pain, often felt as a 'spot' the patient can point to.

Palpation & testing

Palpate the muscle belly along its accessible course. Reproduction of the patient's familiar pain on palpation supports involvement.

Common causes

Acute low back episodes, disuse atrophy, chronic guarding.

Self-care & clinical treatment

Segmental motor control work, breathing retraining. Clinically: needling and graded loading.

Symptoms commonly linked

Low back pain
Sacroiliac pain

References

• Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction