Trigger Point TreatmentTrigger point treatment relieves muscle pain as well as other symptoms such as low back, headache, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint pain, decreased range of motion and more.
MyofascialTrigger Points
Myofascial trigger points are irritable tight spots in taut bands of muscle which are painful when you press on them and cause pain to be projected or "triggered" in distant muscles. Trigger points may also be found in the fascia, skin, tendons and ligaments. The presence of trigger points is called myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger point locations are rarely where the pain is felt. Trigger points can be can be palpated and can feel as a tiny lump or large lump in a muscle fiber, usually is tender under pressure, and generate specific and reproducible referral pain. Myofascial trigger points are usually implicated in regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscles. Myofascial trigger point pain may also manifest as tension headache, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint pain, decreased range of motion in the legs, and low back pain.
Trigger points can be active, lumps, producing tenderness and referral pain, as well as inactive or latent, not painful and not referring pain. Latent trigger points are usually caused by sedentary life style; they may cause stiffness, and may develop into active trigger points under the stress or after the injury.
Trigger Point Development
Although the cause of trigger points is not fully understood yet, many researchers agree that acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma may lead to the development of a trigger point. Lack of exercise, prolonged poor posture, vitamin deficiencies, sleep disturbances, and joint problems may all predispose to the development of microtrauma. Repetitive movement of muscles commonly causes chronic stress in muscle fibers, leading to trigger points. For example, holding a telephone receiver between the ear and shoulder to free arms; prolonged bending over a table; sitting in chairs with poor back support, improper height of arm rests or none at all; and moving boxes using improper body mechanics, all can cause the development of myofascial trigger points. Acute sports injuries caused by acute sprain or repetitive stress (e.g., pitcher's or tennis elbow, golf shoulder), surgical scars, and tissues under tension frequently found after spinal surgery and hip replacement may also predispose a patient to the development of trigger points.
Once myofascial trigger points are formed, they can trigger pain and dysfunction in nearby muscles for life unless properly treated through myofascial trigger point therapy.
Trigger Point Treatment
Myofascial pain is often misdiagnosed and mistreated because the cause of myofascial pain is often not located in the same place where the pain is felt. An example is that headache is often caused by chronically contracted muscles in the neck, or even shoulder.
While drugs can provide short term relief, they do not address the causes of chronic myofascial pain. And they pose a risk of side effects or in some cases, drug dependency. Surgery, although sometimes necessary, comes at high cost and even higher risks and often times can be avoided.
Trigger point treatment can consist of trigger point injections or trigger point massage therapy.
Trigger point massage therapy is a bodywork technique that involves applying of pressure to specific trigger point locations in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. This type of massage is usually painful, but the relief is well worth it. Although myofascial trigger point pain can be released in one trigger point treatment, it usually takes several sessions. After trigger point massage therapy, the patient might feel sore and can apply ice to the affected area.
All persons with muscle pain and dysfunction will benefit from trigger point therapy. Some people believe that they have to live with pain forever. That's rarely true. Trigger point therapy can relieve most of the muscle pain and dysfunction.
Fibromyalgia Trigger PointsFibromyalgia syndrome is characterized by widespread diffuse musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. The cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown. Pain usually arises from connective tissues, muscles, and ligaments. However, unlike myofascial trigger points, fibromyalgia trigger points usually produce referral pain all over body. They are also called tender points. Massage brings pain relief in fibromyalgia patients.
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