Muscles
Obliquus Externus Abdominis Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Torso
Obliquus Externus Abdominis 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. Side-bends and rotates the trunk; flexes the trunk.
Where you feel it
When the Obliquus Externus Abdominis holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as abdominal pain. Where the pain spreads: Heartburn-like upper abdominal pain, groin pain. What often sets it off: Asymmetric loading, sit-ups overload, prolonged rotation.
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.
Treatment protocol
For Obliquus Externus Abdominis, 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: Over the rib cage the only safe needling direction is tangential or onto a rib; perpendicular needling of an intercostal space risks pneumothorax.
Primary Symptoms
Often confused with
These muscles cause the same primary symptoms, so they are checked together:
Related muscles in this region
Related articles
References
- • Travell & Simons — Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
