Diagnostic criteria for equine thoracolumbar myofascial pain syndrome: A foundational study

María Resano-Zuazu, Jorge U. Carmona, César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, David Argüelles

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a well-recognised cause of muscle pain in people, but we know much less about how it presents in horses. This study investigated 120 horses to identify the most important signs of MPS in the back (thoracolumbar) region and to explore whether factors such as behaviour, management, and housing might be linked to the condition. Each horse underwent a detailed hands-on examination of the soft tissue in the back, while owners completed questionnaires about their horse's behaviour. Researchers looked for common indicators of MPS, including tight muscle bands, painful spots, pain responses to pressure, and reduced spinal mobility.

The study found that tight muscle bands and painful, hypersensitive spots were present in all horses examined, while a strong pain reaction to palpation (the jump sign) was seen in around 72% of horses. Reduced spinal mobility was also common, affecting around 69% of horses. Horses showing a jump sign tended to have significantly higher pain scores, making it one of the most reliable indicators of back pain.

Interestingly, owner-reported behavioural changes were only weakly associated with pain found during examination, suggesting that signs of discomfort may often go unnoticed or be considered normal. The researchers also found that horses kept primarily in stables had higher pain scores and more restricted spinal movement than horses living outdoors.

Overall, the findings suggest that taut muscle bands, hypersensitive spots, and the jump sign are key features of equine thoracolumbar myofascial pain syndrome. This work provides an important first step towards establishing clearer diagnostic criteria for identifying and managing myofascial pain in horses.

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This study is published as an Open Access article in Research in Veterinary Science under a Creative Commons licence, meaning it is freely available for anyone to read, download, and share for non-commercial purposes, provided the original authors are credited and the work is not modified