Myofascial pain is a common clinical pain problem due to the existence of active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). MTrP is a hyperirritable painful spot due to accumulation of hypersensitive nociceptors in a spot of skeletal muscle. It is characterized with localized pain, taut band with limited range of stretch, referred pain, local twitch response, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena. Most adults have latent MTrPs in many muscles without pain but tenderness. The active MTrPs are painful spontaneously or painful in response to movement of the involved muscle. There are many therapeutic approaches to reduce the pain from active MTrPs. Needling therapy such as MTrP injection, MTrP dry needling, or acupuncture is very effective to inactivate an MTrP if it is performed in an appropriate way. However, the exact mechanism of needling effect is still not completely understood.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the therapeutic approach to apply needling in treating MTrPs or other related pain disorders and to understand the mechanism of needling in treating MTrP. We are particularly interested in articles describing the new therapeutic modalities for clinical treatment of pain syndrome. Potential topics include, but not limited to:

• Newly developed technique of needling therapy with good effectiveness in treating chronic pain
• Newly developed needling technique comparing to other procedures for myofascial pain control
• Remote effects of needling therapy for myofascial pain control
• Mechanism of needling therapy for myofascial pain control
• Animal model for the study on needling therapy for myofascial pain control
• Newly developed technique of assessment on needling therapy, such as neuro-imaging technique (including MRI, sonography, pep scan, etc.)

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/ecam/myof/ according to the following timetable: