Proprioception
= a sense of where our body and its appendages are located in relationship to
the space around us.
Proprioception
in Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascialtrigger points (MTrPs) are knotted up pieces of muscle fiber that
shorten the muscle, cause pain locally and in a pain referral pattern. They also cause muscle weakness,
and joint dysfunction. A temporary problem experienced by those with an athletic
or other muscle injury becomes myofascial pain syndrome in others. (Learn more here.) Most people
have experienced the pain and stiffness of “sleeping on their neck wrong,” as
an example, and they respond well to usual treatments, i.e. massage or in
more severe injury, trigger point injections. But in
those of us with chronic myofascial pain a simple injury, or a slight breeze
can activate trigger points and trigger points develop in other
compensating and opposing muscle fibers.
So How is Proprioception Affected by Myofascial Pain
Syndrome?
A very important muscle in the neck, the sternocleidomastoid
(SCM), functions to keep our head where it belongs and provide range of motion.
Among other things, it also keeps an eye on where our head is located in space
(proprioception) and provides feedback to the brain to help us maintain balance
and interpret visual information. When trigger points develop in the
sternocleidomastoid, they shorten the muscle placing its job in jeopardy. When
this happens we walk into things, drop things without warning, become dizzy,
have visual disturbances, experience headaches, and more.
Trigger points in the legs can also affect gait and cause
imbalance—another blog for
another day.
Proprioception in Fibromyalgia
Proprioception and balance problems have been studied
in relationship to fibromyalgia and sleep, posture problems, and neuro
regulation. This suggests that fibromyalgia does affects our brain’s
ability to orchestrate important information correctly. A Great deal of
research suggests this “neuro dysregulation,” is at play, but it is still
unclear as to which came first, the cart or the horse. Does the dysregulation
that affects proprioception also affect the brains ability to lead the band for
immune regulation? Some think yes it does, but that is another story for
another day. You can read more about this and the role of myofascial trigger
points in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-body Connection.
What
is the Difference between FM and MPS, What Sets Them Apart and Links Them Together?
Fibromyalgia is accompanied by certain specific symptoms and
particular conditions, such as: gastrointestinal
disorders, TMJ, Raynaud’s, migraine, restless leg syndrome, hypothyroidism,
SICCA, bladder and pelvic difficulties
and sexual dysfunction (male and female), chronic fatigue syndrome,
hypothyroidism, ankylosing spondylitis, Sjögren’s, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid
arthritis, multiple chemical sensitivities,
and autonomic dysfunction. Many of these conditions also share a
myofascial component and is why some believe myofascial pain syndrome is a
common comorbid disorder to fibromyalgia that explains many symptoms we
experience. There are however, some who believe the symptoms we experience are
nothing more than random complaints. The later is unfortunate because it impedes
important research that might lend better information for why we have such
difficulty with our proprioception.
Watch
for Part II – Proprioception in FM and MPS: Are you a bull in the china
cabinet? What can we do?
Five Safety Tips for the Holidays for Persons Living with
Fibromyalgia and Myofascial Pain Syndrome by Celeste Cooper
Resources:
Alonso-Blanco
C1, Fernández-de-las-Peñas C, Morales-Cabezas M, Zarco-Moreno P, Ge HY,
Florez-García M. Multiple active myofascial trigger points reproduce the
overall spontaneous pain pattern in women with fibromyalgia and are related to
widespread mechanical hypersensitivity. Clin J Pain. 2011 Jun;27(5):405-13.
doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e318210110a.
Cooper,
C and Miller, J. Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-body Connection. Healing Arts Press:
Vermont. 2010.
Cooper,
C. Questioning the Preliminary Proposed Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia.
The Pain Practitioner. 21(2):24-25.
Starlanyl,
DJ and Sharkey, J Healing through Trigger Point Therapy: A Guide to
Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction. North Atlantic Books (September
11, 2013).
Wolfe F, Brähler E, Hinz A, Häuser W.Arthritis Care Res
(Hoboken).Fibromyalgia prevalence, somatic symptom reporting, and the
dimensionality of polysymptomatic distress: Results from a survey of the
general population. 2013 Feb 19. doi: 10.1002/acr.21931. [Epub ahead of print]
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"Adversity is only an obstacle if we fail to see
opportunity."
Celeste Cooper, RN
http://CelesteCooper.com
All
answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not
meant to replace medical advice.
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