What are trophic changes in musculoskeletal injury?

Many of us have probably heard the terms “trophic changes in soft tissue” or “trophic soft tissue changes.”

But very few of us have a firm grasp on the clinical meaning and the mechanism of the concept. On a surface level, trophic changes are simply changes in soft tissue (skin, fascia, muscle), resulting from interruption of nerve supply. (Baluk 1992). This “interruption” does not have to be a discal lesion, nerve compression, or axonometis.

It can simply be from microcirculatory changes at autonomic levels (T1-T5, T10-L2), overuse of a particular muscle or group of muscles, or effects of degenerating joints, which contribute to the neurogenic inflammation that triggers trophic changes in segmental and local tissue.

What causes it?

Neurogenic inflammation is continuing inflammation in the musculoskeletal system, generated by nerve impulses and the release of inflammatory substances from the sensory axon at the site of the original injury.

These substances are typically, but not limited to: Substance P (SP), Calcitonic Gene Related Peptide (CGRP), and Neurokinin-A (NKA). Prolonged inflammation and pain can lead to protective muscle spasms, but it more commonly leads to an accumulation of fibrous tissue—which are trophic changes .

Devor stated that the fibrous tissue forms trophic changes, which become palpable taut muscle bands and trigger points; such muscle dysfunction and spasm lead to compression of blood vessels, and decreased blood flow, implicating pain stimulation, and decreased joint mobility.

For example, in musculoskeletal cases we may notice clinical patient signs like knots or tight bands in subcutaneous tissue over an injured muscle as a result of a combination of motor inhibition and changes in capillary circulation to that region.

The somatic motor system and the autonomic nervous system influence the skeletal muscular system by stimulating muscles to contract and nerves to secrete during the regulation of molecular organization of other cells, like collagen in soft tissue repair during rehabilitation of an injury.

What removes it?

These effects are referred to as trophic, or nutritional, functions of the nervous system. The key to clinical treatment is to reverse the stimuli that trigger the noxious chemical and mechanical stimuli, which trigger the neurogenic inflammatory response.

Manipulation of joints, manual muscle treatments, and interventions that directly target the nervous system such as acupuncture and electrostimulation are key allies in the minimization of trophic changes and the acceleration of soft tissue healing.

About the Author

Anthony Lombardi is a renowned speaker and is published on the topic of musculoskeletal assessment. If you have any questions for Dr. Lombardi, please visit his website www.exstore.ca or email exstore@usa.com