Persistent muscle pain with specific tender knots, trigger points, that ache locally or refer pain elsewhere in the body is the hallmark of myofascial pain syndrome.
Override specializes in chronic pain. Our virtual care team looks at the physical, neurological, and emotional factors that can influence ongoing muscle pain, then builds a personalized care plan around your needs, goals, and life.
of appointments are fully virtual. In-network with most insurance plans in select states.
of patients report improved pain management after working with Override*
satisfaction with Override providers*
*Source: Internal Override Health patient-reported outcomes data
Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition centered on trigger points, tight, sensitive knots within a muscle or its surrounding tissue, that cause localized pain and can also refer pain to other areas of the body when pressed or aggravated. Unlike fibromyalgia’s widespread pattern, myofascial pain syndrome tends to be more regional, often centered around the neck, shoulders, or back.
Common symptoms:
A deep, aching pain in a specific muscle, often with a palpable tight band or knot
Pain that can refer to a different area when the trigger point is pressed
Muscle stiffness and reduced range of motion in the affected area
Trigger points that feel like a tender, ropy nodule under the skin
Common contributors include muscle overuse, injury, poor posture, repetitive strain, and stress-related muscle tension. Trigger points often develop where a muscle has been chronically overworked or held in a tense position.
Chronic myofascial pain is also a nervous system story. When trigger points persist for months, the nervous system can become more sensitized, which can keep pain patterns active even after the original muscle strain has settled.
Myofascial pain syndrome vs. fibromyalgia. These two conditions are often confused, but they’re distinct. Myofascial pain syndrome centers on specific, identifiable trigger points and tends to be more regional, like the neck or shoulders. Fibromyalgia involves widespread pain across the body along with fatigue and other systemic symptoms. Some people have both conditions at once.
When a trigger point won’t resolve for months, it can start affecting much more than that one spot.
Pain can change how you sit at a desk, how you sleep, and how you turn your head or reach. How frustrated you feel with a knot that nothing seems to touch.
That’s why Override doesn’t treat myofascial pain syndrome as only a localized muscle problem.
We look at the whole pain experience and build a personalized plan around your symptoms, history, goals, and the factors that may be contributing to your pain.
You may have already tried a foam roller, massage, or stretching. Maybe something helped for a while. Maybe nothing did.
Override isn’t about asking one more treatment to solve every part of a complex pain experience.
It’s about bringing the right care together.
Depending on your needs, your personalized care plan may include:
Pain specialists trained in pain neuroscience and non-opioid chronic pain management who can oversee your care plan and adjust medications when appropriate.
Movement specialists trained in chronic pain who provide hands-on trigger point release and address the posture or movement patterns keeping trigger points active.
Pain-focused therapists who help address stress-related muscle tension patterns that can keep trigger points active.
Certified pain coaches help you build sustainable habits, like posture and self-release routines, and stay supported between visits.
Your care is personalized to you. You may not need every service. The difference is that your providers can work together as one team, with one shared understanding of your pain and your goals.
Lexi L.
Override patient
Most trigger points respond well to direct manual release techniques.
Treatment can include physical therapy with hands-on trigger point release, targeted stretching, and posture correction.
We’ve created a complete guide to myofascial pain syndrome treatment options, including how different approaches work and when they may be considered.
Your trigger point pain has lasted three months or longer, or keeps recurring
Your pain is affecting your movement, sleep, work, mood, or the things you want to do
You’ve tried self-release tools or massage without lasting relief
You’re looking for a more comprehensive approach to managing persistent muscle pain
Override isn’t emergency or acute injury care. If you have a sudden, significant muscle injury, seek appropriate in-person medical care.
Trigger points typically feel like a distinct, tender, rope-like knot within the muscle, and pressing on them often reproduces or refers your pain. A physical assessment can confirm this pattern versus other causes of muscle pain.
Mild cases sometimes ease with rest and self-care, but persistent or recurring trigger points usually need direct treatment, since the underlying muscle tension pattern often doesn’t resolve on its own.
It’s related. Myofascial pain syndrome describes a pattern of persistent, clinically significant trigger points causing ongoing pain, rather than a single, temporary muscle knot from a workout.
Stress-related muscle tension is a common contributor, particularly in the neck and shoulders, which is why addressing both the physical trigger points and contributing tension patterns matters for lasting relief.
Schedule your free consultation today to learn more.
