Trigger Points vs Tender Points

Trigger Points

  • Local tenderness, taut band, local twitch response
  • Singular or multiple
  • May occur in any skeletal muscle
  • May cause a specific referred pain pattern

mappa trigger points

Tender Points

  • Local tenderness
  • Multiple
  • Occur in specific locations that are symmetrically located
  • Do not cause referred pain, but often cause a total body increase in pain sensitivitymappa tender point