What Science ACTUALLY Says About Trigger Points & Myofascial Pain

Myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points are incredibly common and incredibly difficult to treat. They are a common cause of chronic and persistent pain and contribute greatly to mental and physical disability. The problem is that I’ve found many patients who have trigger points are often underdiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and undertreated. So the purpose of this video is to teach you why trigger points matter, what they are, and my current approach to treating them.

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► ABOUT ME

Jeffrey Peng MD is a nonoperative orthopedist and sports medicine specialist. He created a YouTube channel and blog to translate cutting edge medical knowledge and clinical research to benefit all those looking to live an active and healthy lifestyle. He focuses on maximizing non-surgical treatments for sports injuries and orthopedic conditions. He specializes in using orthobiologics and ultrasound guided minimally invasive techniques to treat osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Dr. Peng is board certified in sports medicine and family medicine. He completed residency with the Stanford family medicine residency program and completed his sports medicine training with the Stanford primary care sports medicine fellowship in San Jose. He is an active faculty member for both programs and is excited about training the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Peng’s sports medicine clinic is located in Campbell, California.

► Disclaimer

My content reflects my own opinion and does not represent the views or opinions of my employers or hospital systems I am affiliated with. They are meant for educational purposes only. They do not substitute for the medical advice of a physician. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding your health.

[ploomperera]

Hello Doctor, your information regarding this really can save a lot of lives! Although Myofascial pain isn't life threatening it really cost the quality of life & will have an heavy toll on one's mental health. I have unexplained pain for nearly 14yrs now & although I'm 35y.o my body feels like a 90y.o. When you're in a situation like this with nothing seemingly working & no proper help it really makes a person question whether it's worth living like this. Thank you for your information & keep up the great work. We need more doctors like you here in the UK.

[aradshah]

Mate, i'm in absolute tears... im 21 years old, and you just described the last 2 years of my life as if you were there every day. I've been suffering from this, and i've constantly been undermined by our shit british healthcare service. It's take over my life, taken over my will. When you started talking in the first 2 mins, i was shocked that you described every last thought on my brain. I have aspirations of being a professional athlete, and all this has made me be on standby for the last 2 years. I cannot describe what kind of impact it's had. Listen, I live in london but i'll drop everything to get rid of this, and be under the care of someone WHO GETS IT LIKE YOU. Please reccomend a way we can talk on the phone, ill he in Cali in a heartbeat if you can guarantee you''ll sort this out for me. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.... SAVING FUCKING LIVES ILL TELL YA

[lecorb]

Absolutely brilliant video. Grateful and thankful for posting this. Especially the hypothesis on cause.

[mikoliker]

Dear Dr Peng, thank you soooo much for this video, the most complete explanation of the dynamics of the myofacial pain and action of trigger points I've found so far. A true must-see for sufferers of common sports injuries and cronic pain. Again many, many thanks... 🙏

[laxmanbafna]

This is the most important video in my life as I am suffering from myofascial pain since past 1.5 yrs and got no improvement.
It was very helpful. Thank you so much.

[muysantos]

one of the best videos out there!!! adding this to my favorites.

[PrimaWhiteKitty]

Thank you times a thousand for getting this information out here on to YouTube so that patients like me can get insight on what might be an unknown cause of their pain. I had this chronic debilitating pain for 3 years and not one specialist I saw or even my general doctor told me about this subject I had to find it out on my own, and it's thanks to videos like this one!!! Please keep doing this👏👏👏

[MarjBatic]

This explained my situation so perfectly. I plan to share this with my physicians….i have been trying to get a correct diagnosis for 22 months. The pain affects my life so negatively. I either stay home sitting in ice, or am miserable during an activity. I just want to walk in the park with my dog without pain!!

[azeemali]

Wow amazing stuff! took me years to find this...Bravo Dr. Peng!

[poopshoot]

Thanks for the video! Really informative and well laid out. I’ve had chronic back pain for over a decade and forearm pain for almost 3 years, and it’s so tough to describe to people what the pain is like or why it’s there… People think I’m crazy for stretching all the time, but I’m just trying to get moments of relief from the tightness and the pain.. It’s hard to even picture it in my head, but this video does a great job. I’ve reached out to a A specialist who does dry needling in the Bay Area and hoping this will help.

I actually came across your video after discovering the specialist, but you gave me more belief that it’s something that can help.

Thank you!

[TheAuditore]

Incredible video. I understand so much more and will start looking for a clinician. I’m excited at Relieving my neck/shoulder pain!

[Sharonr]

This causes unbelievable pain and suffering. After 4 years, I'm at the point of disability from severe global pelvic pain. Just had an evalluation with a sports rehab PT which is probably who i should have seen in the first place since my pain began after becoming a marathon runner. I've also started seeing a myofascial release therapist. Praying they can reverse this and help me. I've spent around $30, 000 at this point and had 2 unnecessary pelvic surgeries. Smh

[coachcasey]

This video is FIRE!!! Thanks so much for posting this. 🙏

[BboyFever]

When Jeffrey started telling the story of the 16 yr old girl I literally started weeping. This has been literally my life for the last 3 years ... chronic pain between a 4 and 7 in my lower right back. 18 different physicians, MRIs, Ultrasounds, Xrays, Medication, nothing helps. I have no idea how I'm going to keep living my life.

[megeek]

This video is an excellent explaination of what happens to Myofascial patients. Dr. Peng could have used me as a case study. I was an amateur long-distance runner for years then switched to amateur bicycle road racing for over a decade followed by a few years of daily tennis matches. I developed some serious muscle overuse issues which were misdiagnosed and ineffectively treated for over a year. After spending an insane amount of money visiting orthopedic doctors and countless months in physical therapy and on the chiropractor's table, I was getting worse instead of better. Being totally frusted, I started researching Trigger Points and Myofascial pain on my own which led me to Yoga. It took some extremely long (2-3 hours) stretching sessions before I started seeing results. Two years later, I am pain-free unless performing a deep stretching session which can activate some of my remaining trigger points but that is part of my self-therapy. My most productive stretching sessions are not pain-free.

[ehzwznu]

As a soon to be licensed LMT, I have had many of my clients in clinicals tell me they have pain relief after my massage more than any other therapies they've received. They've had a long list of doctors both allopathic and alternative and the only thing they needed with myofascial release and trigger point therapy. I can palpate within minutes the hypotone or hypertone of the musculature and effectively treat most of these trigger points in a one-hour session and then work on the surrounding tissues and help the client to stretch and increase joint mobility where needed. I went into this profession because massage has change my life. I have spent 30 years thinking there was something really wrong with my body on a fundamental level. A combination of massage, chiropractic, PT and energy therapies has been the most effective treatment.

[Chasenhaws]

Such great info!! Thanks so much!! I was kind of surprised, though, that you didn't talk about how trigger points actually lead to even more trigger points and can eventually affect multiple areas all throughout the body.

[deborahhayes]

Been there, done that from age 16 to 50 for rhomboid TP. Finally I hit a knowledgable PT PhD. who was familiar with Travell and SImons. I'm surprised they didn't send her to a psychiatrist and tell her it's all in her mind. Glad she finally found you. I consider dry needling to be nothing short of a miracle.

[jenniferp]

I just had my first dry needling. Your message helped me get there. Thank you 🙏

[tammyo]

You have no idea how much I appreciate this video. Where I live, I’ve lost count of the tests I’ve had done, and the specialists I’ve seen… 28, 29, 30? I have been poked, prodded, dismissed, gaslit, and accused of exaggerating.
Every time that I’ve shown up at the ER, I’ve been written off as having a gynaecological issue, being a drug seeker, drama queen, but, ultimately, written off as having mental health problems. The way I’ve been treated in this Pharmacare system bracket (I don’t call it healthcare here anymore), is revolting, and it has certainly given me more stress than I could ever imagine. And somehow I’m to blame? I’m learning more about ACNES, which is likely very similar to what you are talking about. I’ve since learned I may also have an underlying syndrome called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The saddest part is that I am still suffering with 10/10 pain every day, and I have no hope that anything will change. I hope more doctors will be open to listening to what you have to say. You are changing lives. Please keep up the awesome work! 🙏❤️