WHAT ARE TRIGGER POINTS?

A Trigger Point (TP) is a hyperirritable spot in a muscle due to permanent contraction of locally restricted muscle fibres.  They form as a result of muscle overuse (sustained, repetitive activities), injury or psychological stress.  

TP's are arguably the biggest cause of musculoskeletal pain such as neck, shoulder and back pain.  Left untreated, or managed with painkillers, they can eventually progress to become chronic debilitating pain syndromes.

A TP can either be latent, which are tender on palpation,  or active.   An active TP causes pain at rest and will refer pain and symptoms away from the problem area, they are often misdiagnosed as their symptoms can mimic that of other medical conditions. It is important to note; latent TP’s often develop into active TPs.

Symptoms of trigger points:

Tension headaches, dizziness and sinus problems

Trigger points often refer pain away from the actual problem, such as trigger points in the upper trapezius causing tension headaches.

Muscular pain, rapid fatigue and reduced performance

The contraction knots compress the local blood vessels, causing a local oxygen deficit (hypoxia), without sufficient oxygen, the muscle will produce lactic acid, causing the muscle to feel sore.  Pain generated from TP’s can range from vague aching, to pain so severe you are unable to function.

Reduced flexibility

Trigger points cause a tightening in the muscle, reducing flexibility.  Tight muscles are vulnerable to injury  

Tingling, numbness and a sense of burning

Either from the TP itself, or the TP causing nerve compression

BENEFITS OF TRIGGER POINT MASSAGE

TP massage works by accomplishing three things; it breaks into the chemical and neurological feedback loop that maintains the muscle contraction, it increases circulation that has been restricted by the contracted tissue, and it directly stretches the triggers points tight muscle fibres.  

Massage is the most non-invasive and risk free way for establishing renewed circulation through the capillaries in the affected area, and a trained therapist will also try to establish why the TP’s have formed in the first place.

The sooner a TP is treated, the easier it is to get rid of.