Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Where myofascial trigger points occur in dogs with osteoarthritis
By Formenton, Maira Rezende et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and location of myofascial trigger points in dogs with osteoarthritis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 35 dogs with osteoarthritis was examined for painful spots in their muscles, known as myofascial trigger points (MTPs). It turned out that 30 of the dogs (about 86%) had at least one of these painful spots, with the most common locations being along the back and thighs. Interestingly, older dogs tended to have more muscles affected by these trigger points, but there wasn't a direct link between the number of osteoarthritic joints and the number of trigger points. This suggests that many dogs with arthritis may also suffer from muscle pain, which could complicate their treatment.
People also search for: dog osteoarthritis symptoms · myofascial pain in dogs · treatment for dog muscle pain · older dog joint pain · dog trigger points treatment
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of myofascial pain and the location of myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in dogs with osteoarthritis. METHODS: Thirty-five dogs were selected and examined for the presence of MTPs using palpation. Assessments were performed independently by two examiners. Correlations between age, MTP number and location, and the site of osteoarthritis were also investigated. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Thirty out of 35 dogs (86%) had at least one MTP and only 5 (14%) had none. A total of 177 MTPs were identified in dogs in this sample. The prevalence of MTPs was higher in the longissimus thoracicae (40% and 43%; left and right side respectively), followed by the quadriceps femoris (40% and 31%), longissimus lumborum (20% and 23%), gluteus medius and deltoid muscles (14%; left side only), and the pectineus muscle (11%; right side only). The number of osteoarthritic joints was not correlated with the number of MTPs or age. However, age was positively correlated with the number of muscles affected by MTPs. Correlations between the presence of MTPs in muscles surrounding and the affected joints were also lacking. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MTPs in dogs with osteoarthritis is high. Myofascial TPs are positively correlated with age in these patients. The subjective nature of palpation is a major limitation in myofascial pain assessment. Appropriate training and use of standardized diagnostic criteria are recommended.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39886026/