Trigger Point Therapy

The application of pressure on tender trigger points in the muscles to relieve pain and tension.

What Are Trigger Points?

Trigger points are the specific points within muscles, muscle linings or tendon junctions, which when pressed causes extreme pain and sometimes radiates pain(commonly known as "referred pain") to other parts of the body. The classical signs of trigger points are deep-aching muscle tenderness, loss of range of motion, referral of pain to other areas, and muscle weakness. Trigger points can cause shortening of the muscle they are found in, thereby losing strength and stamina. Trigger points keep the muscles tight, restricting blood flow and compressing nerves, perpetuating a vicious cycle of pain-spasm-pain.

What does a Trigger Point feel like?

It feels like a pea buried deep in the muscle, and can feel as big as a thumb. Most people can readily find trigger points in the fleshy area between the base of the neck and the shoulder. Feeling around, you may find areas that feel knotted and hard..Pressure on these knots can cause the sudden appearance of headache, shoulder, or arm pain. Trigger points are also referred to as muscle knots.

Active and Latent Trigger Points

Trigger points can be classified as either active or latent. Active trigger points cause ongoing, persistent pain; latent trigger points are pain free until pressed. Both create a local twitch response when pressed. They are often associated with decreased range of motion, weakness in the affected muscle group, and decreased ability of the muscle to stretch. Often, active trigger points can cause "satellite," or secondary, trigger points in the reference zone that respond because of the increased stress to the involved muscle groups. For example an active trigger point in the back can create pain and eventually and satellite trigger point in the shoulder. Treating the shoulder trigger point will not have a lasting effect without treating the originating trigger point in the back.

Focal or regional autonomic dysfunction may occur with palpation of a trigger point. Skin temperature decreases have been noted at trigger points, and skin temperature can decrease in pain reference zones.

Causes Of Trigger Points

What causes Trigger Points?Normal, healthy muscles contain no TPs. Muscles develop TPs following acute trauma, chilling or chronic overload. Acute trauma may consist of falls, car accidents, joint sprains, a direct blow to the muscle or abnormal excessive exercise, such as packing when moving or engaging in a strenuous bout of weekend athletics. A cold draft such as that from air conditioning or open window may activate latent TPs in tired muscles.
Trigger points also develop in muscles that are chronically overloaded by poor posture, especially while working, or repeating muscle movements as in typing, playing the violin, or even knitting. Structural discrepancies, like uneven legs and pelvic bones, or short arms on a long upper body, often produce a chronic mechanical stress that activates TPs. This is why Travell prescribed left heel lifts for all of Kennedy's shoes and custom designed seating for the president's personal quarters, his office, helicopter, planes, boats and limousine.

In short, trigger points generally follow in the wake of muscle strain or abuse. Research has shown that manual laborers who use their muscles every day are less likely to develop TPs than are sedentary workers who occasionally overdose on tennis, volleyball or other strenuous activities.

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