In myofascial trigger points, latent and active differ how?

• A. Active = pain at rest and jump sign with pressure.
• B. Latent = no spontaneous pain; Active = pain at rest and jump sign with pressure.
• C. Latent = spontaneous pain; Active = no pain with pressure
• D. Latent = pain only with movement

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the difference between latent and active myofascial trigger points is whether they cause pain on their own or only when provoked. Latent trigger points are tender to palpation but do not cause spontaneous pain at rest—they don’t hurt unless you press on them. Active trigger points, on the other hand, produce spontaneous pain even without touch (pain at rest) and also tend to elicit a jump sign—an abrupt flinch or withdrawal—when pressure is applied because the point is highly irritable. This combination of spontaneous pain and a provoked pain response is what sets active points apart from latent ones.