Which of the following correctly defines latent MTrPs?

• A. Painful only with deep palpation.
• B. Spontaneous pain.
• C. Causes swelling.
• D. Disappear with rest.

Answer: (A)

Latent MTrPs are tender spots within a taut muscle band that hurt only when you press on them or compress the area. They don’t produce spontaneous pain on their own, which is what distinguishes them from active MTrPs that hurt without provocation and may refer pain to other areas. So, the statement describing pain only with deep palpation best captures what latent MTrPs are.

Think of it this way: a latent trigger point sits there as a potential irritant, ready to cause pain if touched, whereas an active trigger point is already signaling pain even without touch. The other ideas don’t fit because swelling isn’t a defining feature of MTrPs, and latent points aren’t reliably eliminated simply by resting—their presence isn’t fundamentally tied to rest.