Muscle and fascia pain identification by electrical stimulus

A sensitized muscle identification system comprising:

• a stimulation probe comprising a handle and a stimulation head at an end of the handle;
• a reference electrode;
• and
• a control system in communication with the stimulation probe and the reference electrode, the control system comprising:
• a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory of the control system;
• and
• a signal generator configured to generate an electrical stimulation signal to be delivered to a skin surface of a patient via the stimulation head, wherein a voltage amplitude of the electrical stimulation signal is controlled by the signal generator to be exclusively between 0.1 and 10 Volts, wherein the electrical stimulation signal, when delivered to a skin surface of a patient using the stimulation probe, induces an activation potential in a plurality of nociceptors within a stimulated muscle, the activation potential sufficient to produce a sensation of pressure or discomfort within the stimulated muscle while remaining below a threshold that induces a contractile response in the stimulated muscle.

A method, comprising:

• displaying, by a user interface of a sensitized muscle identification system, depictions of a plurality of major muscle groups;
• receiving, by the user interface, a first user selection of a major muscle group of the plurality of major muscle groups;
• displaying, by the user interface and in response to the first user selection, a plurality of individual muscles within the major muscle group,
• receiving, by the user interface, a second user selection of an individual muscle of the major muscle group;
• applying, from a stimulation head of the sensitized muscle identification system, a stimulation signal to a skin surface of a patient, the skin surface being proximate to the individual muscle, to induce an activation potential in a plurality of sensitized nociceptors present in the individual muscle while remaining below a threshold that induces a contractile response in the individual muscle, wherein the activation potential in the plurality of sensitized nociceptors induces a sensation of discomfort in the individual muscle that is experienced by the patient;
• and
• receiving, by the user interface, patient input that indicates a sensation experienced in the individual muscle in response to applying the stimulation signal.