Virginia Physical Therapy Ebook Continuing Education

Trigger Point Therapy for Headaches, Migraines, and TMJD: Summary

Table 4: Muscle Anatomy and Trigger Point Charts of Head and Face (Continued) Muscle & Image # for TP Origin (Lease Moveable) Insertion (Most Moveable) Signs and Symptoms Action Trigger Point Activation

Lateral Pterygoid

• Infratemporal surface • Sphenoid bone • Lateral pterygoid plate

• Disc and capsule of TMJ • Mandible

• Cheek pain • Difficulty swallowing • Drooling in sleep • Earaches/ tinnitus • TMJD • Sore throat • Throat and front of neck pain • Runny nose • Postnasal drip • Traveling night sinus stiffness

• Forward head posture • Thumb sucking • Gum chewing • Emotional tension • Anxiety • Clenching

Unilateral: Lateral deviation to opposite side

Bilateral: Protracts mandible

Frontalis

• Galea

• Skin

• HA and

• Raises

• Work overload; anxious or tense

aponeurotica

superior to eyebrows

Migraines • Frontal HA

eyebrows • Wrinkles forehead

Occipitalis

• Galea

• Superior

• HA and

• Anchors

• Decreased

aponeurotica

nuchal line of occiput

Migraines • Frontal HA

and retracts the galea posteriorly

visual acuity, squinting

Suboccipitals (8 muscles)

• C1 superiorly

• Inferior

• HA and

• Rocks

• Forward head posture • Chilling of neck when muscles are fatigued

nuchal line of occiput inferiorly

Migraines • Temporal HA • Eyebrow pain

and tilts head into extension

• Rotates head to

same side

• Laterally

flexes head to same side