Myofascial pain syndrome causes localized muscle pain. Affected muscles cause neck pain, upper back pain, and lower back pain, generally affecting one side of the body or one side of the body much more than the other. There is commonly tenderness and spasm in the painful areas and there may be tenderness in areas that are not feeling chronic pain.

It is also common for patients with myofascial pain syndrome to have poor sleep patterns with decreased recovery sleep (non-rapid eye movement sleep). This is associated with awakening feeling unrested and daytime fatigue. Stiffness after inactivity is common.