Illustration of muscle fibers untangling, symbolizing myofascial pain release.

Muscle Knots Got You Down? How to Finally Ease Myofascial Pain

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the secrets to relieving myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with trigger point injections and physiotherapy. Learn what really works to release those stubborn muscle knots!"

If you've ever felt a nagging ache or a tight band in your muscles that just won't quit, you might be experiencing myofascial pain syndrome, or MPS. It's a condition characterized by sensitive areas in your muscles called trigger points, which can cause localized pain or radiate to other parts of your body. Imagine a constant, dull ache in your shoulder that actually stems from a knot in your neck – that's the kind of confusing pain MPS can bring.

While there are many ways to tackle MPS, from medication to stretching, finding the right approach can feel like navigating a maze. Two common treatments are trigger point injections (TPIs), where a healthcare provider injects medication directly into the trigger point, and physiotherapy, which includes techniques like stretching and massage.

But how effective are these treatments, really? And what's actually happening in your muscles when you get a TPI or undergo physiotherapy? A study published in the Journal of Oral Science sheds some light on these questions, exploring how muscle hardness changes with these interventions and offering insights into lasting pain relief.

Decoding Myofascial Pain Syndrome: More Than Just Muscle Tension

Illustration of muscle fibers untangling, symbolizing myofascial pain release.

MTrPs are present in palpable nodules of muscle fibers, i.e., a taut band (TB). The TB is a contracted or shortened muscle fiber band that has increased muscle tone (13) and develops a hard consistency during palpa-tion (14). Muscle with a TB is likely harder than muscle without a TB; however, to our knowledge, no study has quantitatively assessed muscle, including TB hardness, in patients with masticatory MPS.

MPS isn't just a case of simple muscle tension; it involves complex interactions within your muscles and nervous system. Think of your muscles as being wrapped in a protective layer of tissue called fascia. When you develop trigger points, these areas of muscle fibers become tight and contracted, forming what are known as 'taut bands'. These bands are often more sensitive and harder than the surrounding muscle tissue.

Trigger Points: Sensitive spots in muscles causing local or referred pain.
Taut Bands: Tight, contracted muscle fibers forming hardened areas.
Muscle Hardness: Increased stiffness in muscles affected by MPS.

Researchers often use muscle hardness as a way to evaluate MPS, alongside subjective pain scales. By measuring how stiff a muscle is, they can get an objective sense of the severity of the condition and track how it responds to treatment.

The Road to Relief: What the Study Means for You

This study sheds light on the effectiveness of both trigger point injections and physiotherapy for managing myofascial pain. It confirms that interventions like stretching and massage can indeed reduce muscle hardness and ease pain. While TPIs may primarily target pain pathways, physiotherapy appears to offer the added benefit of improving muscle function by directly addressing those stubborn knots.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2334/josnusd.17-0453, Alternate LINK

Title: Change In Muscle Hardness After Trigger Point Injection And Physiotherapy For Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Subject: General Dentistry

Journal: Journal of Oral Science

Publisher: Nihon University School of Dentistry

Authors: Akiko Okada-Ogawa, Naohiko Sekine, Kosuke Watanabe, Ryutaro Kohashi, Sayaka Asano, Koich Iwata, Yoshiki Imamura

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS), and how does it manifest?

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) is a condition characterized by the presence of Trigger Points in muscles. These Trigger Points are sensitive spots that can cause localized pain or refer pain to other areas of the body. The article explains that MPS involves complex interactions within muscles and the nervous system, often resulting in Taut Bands, which are tight, contracted muscle fibers that become hardened. This can lead to increased Muscle Hardness and a constant ache or a tight band sensation in the affected muscles.

What are Trigger Points and Taut Bands, and how do they relate to MPS?

Trigger Points are sensitive spots within muscles that are a key characteristic of MPS. These points can cause pain locally or in other areas of the body. Taut Bands, on the other hand, are tight, contracted muscle fibers that form hardened areas within the muscle, often containing these Trigger Points. The article mentions that muscles with Taut Bands exhibit increased muscle tone and hardness. This increased Muscle Hardness is often assessed to understand the severity of the MPS.

How do Trigger Point Injections (TPIs) and physiotherapy help in managing MPS?

Trigger Point Injections (TPIs) involve injecting medication directly into the Trigger Points, which primarily targets pain pathways. Physiotherapy, including techniques like stretching and massage, addresses the root cause by improving muscle function and reducing Muscle Hardness. The study suggests that physiotherapy is effective in improving muscle function by directly addressing the Taut Bands and the associated muscle knots, while TPIs mainly alleviate pain.

Why is Muscle Hardness a significant factor in understanding and treating MPS?

Muscle Hardness is a crucial aspect of MPS because it provides an objective measure of the condition's severity and response to treatment. Measuring Muscle Hardness allows healthcare providers to assess the effectiveness of interventions like Trigger Point Injections and physiotherapy. Increased muscle stiffness is associated with the presence of Taut Bands, a characteristic of MPS, making it a valuable indicator in both diagnosis and treatment evaluation. The study explores how interventions affect Muscle Hardness, offering insights into the process of pain relief.

What are the key takeaways regarding the effectiveness of Trigger Point Injections and physiotherapy for MPS?

The key takeaways are that both Trigger Point Injections (TPIs) and physiotherapy can be effective in managing Myofascial Pain Syndrome. TPIs primarily target pain pathways by injecting medication directly into the Trigger Points. Physiotherapy appears to offer an added benefit by directly addressing the Taut Bands and reducing Muscle Hardness, which leads to the improvement of muscle function. This highlights that a combined approach may provide more comprehensive relief, with physiotherapy potentially addressing the underlying issues and TPIs offering immediate pain management.