The Use and Benefits of Focused Shockwaves for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Pain Syndrome by Examining Myofascial Trigger Points in Low Back Pain

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Low back pain (LBP) is a widespread public health issue, with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) being a common cause, affecting 67-100% of patients. However, there are significant challenges in the diagnostic process due to the subjective and unreliable nature of manual palpation. Focused Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (F-ESWT), traditionally used for MPS treatment, offers a reproducible and non-invasive mechanical stimulus, making it a potential diagnostic tool. This study evaluated F-ESWT's diagnostic efficiency in chronic LBP patients by focusing on "recognition" and "referral" of pain. <b>Methods</b>: twenty-eight participants were screened for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the lumbar, gluteal, and thigh regions. Identified MTrPs were stimulated using F-ESWT, and patient feedback was recorded. <b>Results</b>: data showed high diagnostic accuracy for muscles such as the quadratus lumborum, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus muscles, achieving "referral" rates of 96%, 95%, and 92% and "recognition" rates of 84%, 86%, and 85%, respectively. Other structures like adductors, iliopsoas, erector spinae, and biceps femoris muscle showed consistent but lower diagnostic rates. <b>Conclusions</b>: the study's findings indicate that F-ESWT effectively reproduces pain patterns, offering a precise, reproducible, and non-invasive diagnostic approach for MPS in chronic LBP. However, they also highlight the necessity for detailed diagnostic criteria in managing myofascial pain.