Rebecca L. Paulekas, DVM, MPT

Anyone who has suffered from tension headaches, tennis elbow or recurrent back pain has experienced some form of myofascial pain.

There are no laboratory or imaging tests available that can confirm the presence of trigger points or myofascial pain disorders, although new studies into the identification of taut bands with magnetic resonance elastography are promising.

There are a number of special considerations that must be addressed when treating equine patients with myofascial pain and dysfunction.