Cervical myofascial pain is a very common clinical condition in the daily practice of musculoskeletal physicians. Physical examination is currently the cornerstone for evaluating the cervical muscles and identifying the eventual presence of myofascial trigger points. Herein, the role of ultrasound assessment in precisely localizing them is progressively mounting in the pertinent literature. Moreover, using ultrasound, not only the muscle tissue but also the fascial and neural elements can be accurately located/evaluated. Indeed, several potential pain generators, in addition to paraspinal muscles, can be involved in the clinical scenario of cervical myofascial pain syndrome. In this article, the authors extensively reviewed the sonographic approach for cervical myofascial pain in order to better diagnose or guide different procedures that can be performed in the clinical practice of musculoskeletal physicians.

Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Hacettepe University Medical School 06100 Ankara Turkey

Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Mersin University Medical School 33000 Mersin Turkey

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation National Taiwan University Hospital Bei Hu Branch Taipei 10845 Taiwan

Department of Public Health Rehabilitation Unit University Federico 2 of Naples 80131 Naples Italy

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine 1st Faculty of Medicine and General University Hospital Charles University 12800 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Anatomy 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University 12800 Prague Czech Republic

Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit Luigi Sacco University Hospital ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco 20157 Milan Italy

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