Myofascial      pain      (muscular      pain)      refers      to      pain      and inflammation in the body's soft tissues. Myofascial     pain     is     a     condition     that     affects     the     fascia (connective   tissue   that   covers   the   muscles).   Myofascial   pain syndrome   may   involve   either   a   single   muscle   or   a   muscle group.   In   some   cases,   the   area   where   a   person   experiences the   pain   may   not   be   where   the   myofascial   pain   'generator'   is located.   Experts   believe   that   the   actual   site   of   the   injury   or the   strain   prompts   the   development   of   a   trigger   point   that,   in turn,   causes   pain   in   other   areas.   This   situation   is   known   as referred pain. Myofascial   pain   may   develop   from   a   muscle   injury   or   from excessive    strain    on    a    particular    muscle    or    muscle    group, ligament or tendon. Other causes include: • Injury to intervertebral disc. • General fatigue. • Repetitive motions. • Medical    conditions    (including    heart    attack,    stomach irritation). • Lack of activity (such as a broken arm in a sling). Myofascial   pain   symptoms   usually   involve   muscle   pain   with specific   "trigger"   or   "tender"   points.   The   pain   can   be   made worse    with    activity    or    stress.    In    addition    to    the    local    or regional    pain    associated    with    myofascial    pain    syndrome, people    with    the    disorder    also    can    suffer    from    depression, fatigue and behavioral disturbances. Muscles     are     sprained     when     they     are     placed     under     an excessive   physical   load.   The   sprain   does   not   normally   affect the   whole   muscle,   but   is   usually   confined   to   one   or   two   small muscles    fibres    within    the    main    body    of    the    muscle.    The sprain    causes    a    rupture    of    a    few    muscle    cells,    producing initial   pain   and   inflammation,   and   which   usually   settles   within 1   -2   weeks.   During   this   healing   period   it   is   possible   to   feel   a painful   taut   band   within   the   affected   muscle   where   it   has been   sprained.   This   taut   band   is   often   referred   to   as   an   active trigger point (TrP).