Brain & Nervous System Headaches Causes & Risk Factors Myofascial Trigger Points and Tension Headaches By Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD, is a board-certified internist living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 20, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is board-certified in neurology and specializes in migraine and stroke. She co-founded the migraine and vascular section for the American Headache Society. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Is a tender knot in your upper back, neck, or shoulder the culprit behind your headaches? Let's take a closer look at this interesting phenomenon. Patrik Giardino / Getty Images Myofascial Trigger Point A myofascial trigger point—sometimes just called a trigger point—is a tight knot located within a taut muscular band. The knot or nodule can be distinctly felt underneath the skin and is tender when pressed or when external pressure is applied. A trigger point may also be painful at rest (this is called an active trigger point). A latent trigger point, on the other hand, does not produce spontaneous pain, but it may limit a person's range of motion in that area or cause muscle weakness. In addition, when pressure is applied to the knot, the taut muscular band which holds the knot contracts. This contraction or spasm creates a twitching of the muscle that can be felt or seen. The Formation of Myofascial Trigger Points It's not totally clear how trigger points develop, but experts guess that it's likely a result of injury to the muscle tissue. Sports injuries, post-surgical scars, and even workplace activities that place repetitive stress on certain muscles (for example, sitting at a desk with limited back support) may be potential culprits. While there is no specific laboratory or imaging test to diagnose trigger points, a healthcare provider can usually diagnose it with a thorough physical examination. That being said, imaging and blood tests may be required to rule out pain conditions that mimic myofascial trigger points in the neck, shoulder, and head muscles. While not an exhaustive list, some examples of these conditions include: Inflammatory arthritisA cervical disc problemShoulder tendonitis Fibromyalgia also causes tender points (not to be confused with trigger points), but there is no associated referred pain—a key distinction. Link Between Myofascial Trigger Points and Tension-Type Headaches When a trigger point is located in the neck, shoulder, and head muscles, it can cause referred or spreading pain that creates the same pain pattern as that of a tension-type headache. Moreover, some experts believe that prolonged pain input from myofascial trigger points can sensitize the central nervous system, making it more easily excitable or more vulnerable to pain nerves firing. This suggests that trigger points in the neck and shoulder area may lead to the transformation from episodic to chronic tension-type headache in some people. While the precise link between myofascial trigger points and tension headaches is still unknown, and somewhat debated within the medical community, hopefully, more scientific studies can tease out the connection in the future. Treatment of Myofascial Trigger Points One type of therapy sometimes used to treat headaches associated with myofascial trigger points is a type of massage called trigger point release massage. This massage focuses on easing the clenched, knotted muscle. A 2015 study explored the effectiveness of trigger point release massage in alleviating tension-type headaches. In this six-week study in The Clinical Journal of Pain, 56 participants with tension-tight headaches were randomized to undergo either 45-minute trigger-point release massages twice a week or 45-minute placebo massages twice weekly. The trigger-point release massage focused on major muscles in the upper back, neck, and lower head. For placebo, the participants underwent "detuned ultrasound," which means a sham procedure that provides no real treatment. The study was double-blinded meaning that both the participants and the ultrasound technicians were unaware that the ultrasound device used was not functional. Results Study results revealed that participants had a decrease in headache frequency from their baseline (before the study began) for both the trigger-point massage and placebo. There was no statistical difference between the two groups, though, so trigger-point massage was not found to be better than placebo. However, the participant's self-report of their perceived pain revealed a greater reduction in pain for the massage group versus the placebo group. Headache intensity and duration was not altered in either the massage group or the placebo group. Study results showed:Same decrease in headache frequency for both treatment and placeboGreater pain reduction for treatment groupNo change in headache intensity or duration for either treatment or placebo Implications What do these results mean? It's hard to say, as placebo worked just as well as the real massage. One could speculate that simply undergoing an intervention helps headaches, although the mechanisms are likely different between placebo and trigger point release massage. It also may be an individualized process, meaning massage may work for some and not for others. A person has to test out the massage for themselves until more is known about the link between headaches and myofascial trigger points. In the end, more studies examining the role of trigger point release massage in reducing headaches would be helpful. A Word From Verywell The precise connection between tension-type headaches and myofascial trigger points is still unclear. If you think a trigger point may be a culprit in your headaches, attempting trigger point release under the care of a healthcare provider may be a sensible approach. Talk with your healthcare provider though—headaches are complex, and it's likely that there is more than one contributing factor at play. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Shah JP, Thaker N, Heimur J, Aredo JV, Sikdar S, Gerber L. Myofascial Trigger Points Then and Now: A Historical and Scientific Perspective. PM R. 2015;7(7):746-761. doi:10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.01.024 Moraska AF, Stenerson L, Butryn N, Krutsch JP, Schmiege SJ, Mann JD. Myofascial trigger point-focused head and neck massage for recurrent tension-type headache: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin J Pain. 2015;31(2):159-68. doi:10.1097/AJP.0000000000000091 Additional Reading Alonso-Blanco C, De-la-Llave-Rincón AI, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C. Muscle Trigger Point Therapy in Tension-Type Headache. Expert Rev Neurother. 2012;12(3):315-22. doi: 10.1586/ern.11.138. Arendt-Nielsen L, Castaldo M, Mechelli F, Fernández-de-las-peñas C. Muscle Triggers as a Possible Source of Pain in a Subgroup of Tension-type Headache Patients?. Clin J Pain. 2016;32(8):711-8. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000318. Moraska AF, Stenerson L, Butryn N, Krutsch JP, Schmiege SJ, Mann JD. Myofascial Trigger Point-Focused Head and Neck Massage for Recurrent Tension-Type Headache: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Clin J Pain. 2015;31(2):159-68. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000091.