Common Myofascial Trigger Points Found in Sports: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: This study emphasises the development of connections between various sites of Myofascial Trigger Points (MTrPs) in sports personnel. MTrPs are major contributors that can negatively impact an individual's performance. Sportspersons who engage in rigorous training are more susceptible to developing MTrPs, which can subsequently hinder their performance. Despite increasing research in this area, there remains limited synthesis focusing specifically on their distribution and management in athletic populations.
Objective: The aim of this research was to systematically review the literature on the prevalence, distribution and treatment approaches of MTrPs in sportspersons.
Methods: A comprehensive systematic search of the MEDLINE, PubMed and ResearchGate databases was conducted for the studies published between 2002 to 2023. To locate relevant studies, MeSH keywords such as "Myofascial Trigger Points," "Myofascial Pain Syndrome," "athletes," "players," and "sportsperson" were used in various sets of combinations. A total of 204 sport-related articles retrieved, of which only 28 met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in this review.
Results: Studies involving athletes with MTrPs across various sports disciplines were included and analysed descriptively. The majority of research on MTrPs associated with athletes focused on the gastrocnemius (17%), followed by the upper trapezius (13%), and various shoulder joint and scapular muscle groups. Many researchers examined the infraspinatus (10%), while the rotator cuff as a whole was the focus in 8.6% of studies. A majority of studies focused on overhead and lower limb dominant sports, with dry needling being the most frequently investigated intervention. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed across studies in terms of sports type, athlete level and intervention protocols. Additionally, many studies demonstrated methodological limitations, including small sample sizes and limited reporting of randomisation and blinding procedures.
Conclusion: MTrPs are prevalent in key muscle groups relevant to athletic performance; however, current evidence is limited by methodological variability and heterogeneity among studies. There is a need for high-quality, standardised research with larger sample sizes and more diverse athletic populations to strengthen the evidence base and improve clinical applicability in sports rehabilitation. Existing studies often concentrate on individual muscles, specific injuries, or particular movements, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to fully understand the impact of MTrPs on athletic performance across different sports and skill levels.