The other mechanism of muscular referred pain: The “connective tissue” theory

SummaryMuscular referred pain, that is, pain perceived in a somatic area other than the site of the noxious stimulation, takes place on a specific place to each muscle in constant and predictable pattern. The central hyperexcitability theory focused on spinal cord, the most proper theory at present, can explain well the segmental pattern of referred pain showing delayed onset. But it is hard to explain the non segmental pattern of referred pain areas of superficial-seated or limb girdle and limb muscles. Referred pain areas of limb girdle and limb muscles appear on the skin above a belt of synergistic muscles beyond the segmental areas. In the case of forearm and calf muscles, referred pain shows up on the palm and sole, the point of force application to the outer object. This finding reflects biomechanical relationship between muscle and its referred pain area. From the phylogenetic perspective, aquatic vertebrated animals (e.g. fish) use myoseptum surrounding myomere, connected to skin to keep tensile strength with it for effective swimming. Likewise, in terrestrial vertebrated animals, there are skin parts weakly interconnected with muscles, though the tensile property of nearly all the skin devolutes except the points of action with the outside. These points are dynamic maximal skin tension areas connected with muscles through superficial fascia, in other words, referred pain areas. Referred pain of deep-seated or truncal muscles appears on the trunk segmentally via spinal cord (the central hyperexcitability theory), but superficial-seated or limb girdle and limb muscles elicit referred pain on dynamic maximal skin tension area through connective tissue (the “connective tissue” theory).