Symptoms
Find which muscles are commonly involved in your symptom and explore referred pain patterns.
121 results
Torso
Abdominal Cramps
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Torso
Abdominal Pain
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Lower Torso
Anal Pain and Painful Bowel Movements
Tail-bone pain with sitting often has a contributing trigger point in gluteus maximus, obturator internus and pelvic floor.
Forearm and Hand
Antecubital Pain
Medial elbow pain with gripping often involves wrist flexors and pronator teres trigger points.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Anterior Ankle Pain
Lateral and posterior ankle pain frequently refers from peroneals, tibialis posterior and soleus.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Anterior Knee Pain
Front-of-knee pain with stairs and prolonged sitting commonly involves quadriceps trigger points.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Anterior Leg Pain
Anterior shin pain in runners often refers from tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus trigger points.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Anterior Thigh Pain
Anterior hip pain with stairs and prolonged sitting frequently involves iliopsoas, rectus femoris and pectineus.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Anteromedial Knee Pain
Pain on the inner knee commonly refers from vastus medialis, sartorius, gracilis and adductor longus.
Torso
Appendicitis-like Pains
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Upper Back, Shoulder and Arm
Back of Arm Pain
Posterior arm pain that often refers to the lateral elbow and posterior shoulder.
Head and Neck
Back of Head Pain
A bilateral or unilateral 'band-like' headache that often originates from trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Head and Neck
Back of Neck Pain
Stiffness, limited rotation and aching at the base of the neck — most often non-specific and muscular in origin.
Upper Back, Shoulder and Arm
Back of Shoulder Pain
Localized pain behind the shoulder often referring from teres minor, posterior deltoid, latissimus and triceps.
Torso
Bloating/Nausea/Abdominal cramps
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Buckling Knee
Pain from patellar mistracking improves substantially with vastus medialis re-education and vastus lateralis release.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Bunion
Pain at the big toe in runners commonly refers from FHL, EHL and tibialis anterior.
Lower Torso
Buttock Pain
Deep gluteal pain with sitting frequently involves piriformis, obturator internus and quadratus femoris.
Forearm and Hand
Carpal Tunnel-like Pain in Wrist (watchband area)
Numbness and tingling in the hand can be reproduced by pronator teres and scalene trigger points, in addition to true median compression.
Head and Neck
Cheek Pain (like Sinusitis)
Cheek, forehead and behind-the-eye pressure without infectious sinusitis often reflects masseter and SCM referral.
Lower Torso
Colic
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Torso
Diarrhea
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Head and Neck
Difficulty Swallowing
Feeling of a 'lump in the throat' can have a myofascial component from suprahyoids and longus colli.
Head and Neck
Dizziness When Turning Head or Changing Field of View
Non-vestibular dizziness and ringing in the ears can be associated with trigger points in the SCM and masseter.
Forearm and Hand
Dorsal Finger Pain
Tingling and numbness in fingers without clear nerve root signs commonly involves scalenes, pec minor and forearm trigger points.
Forearm and Hand
Dorsal Forearm Pain
Diffuse forearm pain in keyboard and tool users, from multiple flexor/extensor trigger points.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Dorsal Forefoot Pain
Pain across the ball of the foot commonly refers from interossei, FDL and quadratus plantae.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Dorsal Great Toe Pain
Pain at the big toe in runners commonly refers from FHL, EHL and tibialis anterior.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Dorsal Lesser Toe Pain
Pain across the ball of the foot commonly refers from interossei, FDL and quadratus plantae.
Forearm and Hand
Dorsal Wrist & Hand Pain
Wrist pain in office and manual workers often refers from forearm muscle trigger points.
Head and Neck
Double/Blurry/Jumpy Print Vision
Pain behind or around the eye without ophthalmic pathology often refers from SCM, suboccipitals, occipitalis and temporalis.
Head and Neck
Drooling in Sleep
Clicking, deviation and limited mouth opening often improve when masticatory muscle trigger points are addressed.
Torso
Dry Cough
Persistent dry cough sometimes has a contributing trigger point in longus colli or anterior SCM.
Lower Torso
Dysmenorrhea
Menstrual pain can be aggravated by abdominal wall and pelvic muscle trigger points.
Head and Neck
Ear Pain
Deep ear pain without otologic findings is frequently myofascial in origin, particularly from masseter, medial pterygoid and SCM.
Head and Neck
Earaches/Tinnitus (Ringing)/Itch
Non-vestibular dizziness and ringing in the ears can be associated with trigger points in the SCM and masseter.
Forearm and Hand
Elbow Pain
Lateral elbow pain with gripping often involves wrist extensors, supinator and triceps trigger points.
Head and Neck
Feeling Continued Movement in Car After Stopping
Non-vestibular dizziness and ringing in the ears can be associated with trigger points in the SCM and masseter.
Head and Neck
Feeling Tilted When Cornering in Car
Non-vestibular dizziness and ringing in the ears can be associated with trigger points in the SCM and masseter.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
First Steps in the Morning Feel as if Walking on Nails
Heel and arch pain on first steps in the morning commonly involves soleus, tibialis posterior and intrinsic foot muscle trigger points.
Upper Back, Shoulder and Arm
Front of Arm Pain
Anterior arm pain along the biceps groove, often referring from biceps and brachialis trigger points.
Torso
Front of Chest Pain
Chest pain with normal cardiac workup often refers from pectoralis major, serratus anterior, intercostals and SCM.
Upper Back, Shoulder and Arm
Front of Shoulder Pain
Painful arc with overhead motion often improves substantially when rotator cuff trigger points are deactivated.
Head and Neck
Frontal Headache
A bilateral or unilateral 'band-like' headache that often originates from trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Lower Torso
Groin Pain
Groin pain in athletes commonly involves adductors, iliopsoas, pectineus and oblique trigger points.
Forearm and Hand
Handwriting Difficulties
Functional grip weakness often improves dramatically once forearm extensor and thenar trigger points are addressed.
Head and Neck
Headaches or Migraines
Cervical and masticatory trigger points can lower the migraine threshold and trigger attacks in susceptible patients.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Heel Pain
Posterior and plantar heel pain often refers from soleus, abductor hallucis and quadratus plantae.
Torso
Hypersensitive Nipples/Breast Pain
Local rib pain with breathing or rotation often refers from intercostals, serratus posterior inferior and obliques.
Lower Torso
Iliosacral Pain
Pain over the sacroiliac joint often refers from gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, multifidus and soleus.
Lower Torso
Impotence due to Nerve Entrapments
Persistent pelvic pain frequently involves obturator internus, adductor magnus and pelvic floor muscle trigger points.
Torso
Irritable Bowel
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Lateral Ankle Pain
Lateral and posterior ankle pain frequently refers from peroneals, tibialis posterior and soleus.
Forearm and Hand
Lateral Epicondylar Pain
Lateral elbow pain with gripping often involves wrist extensors, supinator and triceps trigger points.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Lateral Knee Pain
Pain on the outer knee in runners and cyclists, often referring from vastus lateralis, TFL and gluteus minimus.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Lateral Leg Pain
Calf pain in runners commonly involves gastrocnemius and soleus trigger points.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Lateral Thigh & Hip Pain
Lateral hip pain over the greater trochanter, commonly from gluteus medius, minimus and TFL — often labeled 'bursitis'.
Torso
Lax, Pendulus Abdomen
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Torso
Low Back Pain
Non-specific low back pain commonly involves trigger points in the quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius.
Lower Torso
Lower Abdominal Pain
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Torso
Lumbar Pain
Non-specific low back pain commonly involves trigger points in the quadratus lumborum and gluteus medius.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Medial Ankle Pain
Lateral and posterior ankle pain frequently refers from peroneals, tibialis posterior and soleus.
Forearm and Hand
Medial Epicondylar Pain
Medial elbow pain with gripping often involves wrist flexors and pronator teres trigger points.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Medial Thigh Pain
Anterior hip pain with stairs and prolonged sitting frequently involves iliopsoas, rectus femoris and pectineus.
Torso
Menstrual Problems, Pelvic Pain
Menstrual pain can be aggravated by abdominal wall and pelvic muscle trigger points.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Metatarsal Head Pain
Pain across the ball of the foot commonly refers from interossei, FDL and quadratus plantae.
Upper Back, Shoulder and Arm
Mid-Thoracic Back Pain
Aching between the shoulder blades commonly referring from rotator cuff, scalenes and rhomboid trigger points.
Torso
Nausea & Vomiting
Persistent abdominal pain without GI pathology can refer from rectus abdominis, obliques and iliopsoas.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Numbness/Tingling on the Outer Thigh (Meralgia Paresthetica)
Buttock and leg pain that mimics nerve root compression — frequently muscular in origin, especially from piriformis and gluteus medius.
Forearm and Hand
Olecranon Pain
Posterior arm pain that often refers to the lateral elbow and posterior shoulder.
Lower Torso
Painful Intercourse
Persistent pelvic pain frequently involves obturator internus, adductor magnus and pelvic floor muscle trigger points.
Forearm and Hand
Painful Weak Grip
Functional grip weakness often improves dramatically once forearm extensor and thenar trigger points are addressed.
Lower Torso
Pelvic Pain
Persistent pelvic pain frequently involves obturator internus, adductor magnus and pelvic floor muscle trigger points.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Plantar Great Toe Pain
Pain at the big toe in runners commonly refers from FHL, EHL and tibialis anterior.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Plantar Lesser Toe Pain
Pain across the ball of the foot commonly refers from interossei, FDL and quadratus plantae.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Plantar Midfoot Pain
Pain along the medial arch frequently refers from tibialis posterior, FDL and intrinsic foot muscles.
Head and Neck
Post Nasal Drip
Cheek, forehead and behind-the-eye pressure without infectious sinusitis often reflects masseter and SCM referral.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Posterior Ankle Pain
Lateral and posterior ankle pain frequently refers from peroneals, tibialis posterior and soleus.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Posterior Knee Pain
Pain behind the knee commonly refers from gastrocnemius, popliteus and the hamstrings.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Posterior Leg (Calf) Pain
Calf pain in runners commonly involves gastrocnemius and soleus trigger points.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Posterior Thigh Pain
Pain down the back of the thigh, often mistaken for sciatica, commonly refers from gluteus minimus, semitendinosus and semimembranosus.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Problems Climbing Stairs
Front-of-knee pain with stairs and prolonged sitting commonly involves quadriceps trigger points.
Hip, Thigh and Knee
Problems Going Down Stairs
Pain from patellar mistracking improves substantially with vastus medialis re-education and vastus lateralis release.
Forearm and Hand
Problems Holding Arms Up (as when folding sheets)
Functional weakness without nerve injury can result from severe inhibition by active trigger points in the cuff and deltoids.
Forearm and Hand
Radial Forearm Pain
Diffuse forearm pain in keyboard and tool users, from multiple flexor/extensor trigger points.
Torso
Rapid/Fluttery/Irregular Heartbeat/Heart Attack-like Pain
Chest pain with normal cardiac workup often refers from pectoralis major, serratus anterior, intercostals and SCM.
Torso
Reflux Esophagitis
Chest pain with normal cardiac workup often refers from pectoralis major, serratus anterior, intercostals and SCM.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Restless Leg Syndrome
Some restless-legs presentations have a contributing myofascial component in calf and gluteal muscles.
Head and Neck
Runny Nose
Cheek, forehead and behind-the-eye pressure without infectious sinusitis often reflects masseter and SCM referral.
Torso
Sacral & Gluteal Pain
Deep gluteal pain with sitting frequently involves piriformis, obturator internus and quadratus femoris.
Lower Torso
Sciatica
Buttock and leg pain that mimics nerve root compression — frequently muscular in origin, especially from piriformis and gluteus medius.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Shin Splint-Type Pain
Anterior shin pain in runners often refers from tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus trigger points.
Torso
Shortness of Breath/Stitch-in-the-side
Sense of incomplete breath with normal pulmonary tests often reflects diaphragm, intercostal and scalene restriction.
Torso
Side of Chest Pain
Chest pain with normal cardiac workup often refers from pectoralis major, serratus anterior, intercostals and SCM.
Head and Neck
Sore throat
Persistent throat soreness without infection or reflux may refer from longus colli, digastric and SCM.
Head and Neck
Stiff Neck
Stiffness on waking or after sustained postures, commonly from upper trapezius, levator scapulae and splenii.
Lower Torso
Stress Incontinence or Anal/Genital/Perineal pain
Persistent pelvic pain frequently involves obturator internus, adductor magnus and pelvic floor muscle trigger points.
Head and Neck
Swollen Glands
Persistent throat soreness without infection or reflux may refer from longus colli, digastric and SCM.
Head and Neck
Tearing/Reddening of Eye, Drooping of Eyelid
Pain behind or around the eye without ophthalmic pathology often refers from SCM, suboccipitals, occipitalis and temporalis.
Head and Neck
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Clicking, deviation and limited mouth opening often improve when masticatory muscle trigger points are addressed.
Head and Neck
Temple and Eyebrow Pain
A bilateral or unilateral 'band-like' headache that often originates from trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Head and Neck
Temporal Headache (Temples)
A bilateral or unilateral 'band-like' headache that often originates from trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Head and Neck
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain
Pain in the jaw joint, ear or temple with chewing or clenching — often myofascial rather than purely articular.
Head and Neck
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ)
Clicking, deviation and limited mouth opening often improve when masticatory muscle trigger points are addressed.
Torso
Thoracic Back Pain
Aching between the shoulder blades commonly referring from rotator cuff, scalenes and rhomboid trigger points.
Head and Neck
Throat & Front of Neck Pain
Persistent throat soreness without infection or reflux may refer from longus colli, digastric and SCM.
Forearm and Hand
Thumb & Radial Hand Pain
Pain at the base or tip of the thumb often refers from brachialis, brachioradialis, supinator and thenar muscles.
Forearm and Hand
Thumb Pain and Tingling Numbness (Dysesthesia)
Pain at the base or tip of the thumb often refers from brachialis, brachioradialis, supinator and thenar muscles.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Tight Achilles Tendons
Lateral and posterior ankle pain frequently refers from peroneals, tibialis posterior and soleus.
Head and Neck
Traveling Nocturnal Sinus Stuffiness
Cheek, forehead and behind-the-eye pressure without infectious sinusitis often reflects masseter and SCM referral.
Forearm and Hand
Ulnar Forearm Pain
Diffuse forearm pain in keyboard and tool users, from multiple flexor/extensor trigger points.
Head and Neck
Upper and Lower Molar Tooth Pain (Toothache)
Persistent tooth pain with normal dental imaging frequently refers from masseter, temporalis and digastric.
Upper Back, Shoulder and Arm
Upper Thoracic Back Pain
Burning pain between the shoulder blades, commonly from rhomboids, middle trapezius, scalenes and infraspinatus.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Upper/Lower Leg Cramps
Night-time calf cramps frequently involve gastrocnemius and soleus trigger points.
Torso
Urinary Frequency, Urine Retention, "Kidney" Pain
Persistent pelvic pain frequently involves obturator internus, adductor magnus and pelvic floor muscle trigger points.
Head and Neck
Vertex Pain
A bilateral or unilateral 'band-like' headache that often originates from trigger points in the neck and shoulder muscles.
Head and Neck
Visual Perception Problems
Pain behind or around the eye without ophthalmic pathology often refers from SCM, suboccipitals, occipitalis and temporalis.
Forearm and Hand
Volar Finger Pain
Tingling and numbness in fingers without clear nerve root signs commonly involves scalenes, pec minor and forearm trigger points.
Forearm and Hand
Volar Forearm Pain
Diffuse forearm pain in keyboard and tool users, from multiple flexor/extensor trigger points.
Forearm and Hand
Volar Wrist & Palmar Pain
Wrist pain in office and manual workers often refers from forearm muscle trigger points.
Leg, Ankle and Foot
Weak Ankles
Lateral and posterior ankle pain frequently refers from peroneals, tibialis posterior and soleus.