Muscular trigger points can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort. Various well-known techniques for trigger point therapy can help alleviate pain and improve overall muscle health. Typically, pressure is applied to specific points on the body to alleviate pain and tension in the muscles.
Trigger points are areas of muscle that are hyperirritable and often cause pain, stiffness, and restricted movement. While trigger point therapy is based on Western medical principles, traditional Eastern medicine has similar approaches to understanding the body and treating pain.
In traditional Eastern medicine, pain and illness are often seen as a result of imbalances in the body's energy or life force, known as qi or chi. The goal of treatment is to restore balance and promote the body's natural healing processes. Techniques used may include acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal remedies.
In acupressure, key points are located along the body's meridians, which are channels through which qi flows. In trigger point therapy, the points are located in the muscle tissue itself and are identified based on the referral patterns of pain.
There are several very strong health benefits of having regular trigger point therapy. These include:
1. Pain Relief
Can help alleviate pain and discomfort in the muscles, reducing the need for pain medication.
2. Improved Range of Motion
By releasing tension in the muscles, trigger point therapy can help improve range of motion and flexibility.
3. Improved Muscle Function
Improves muscle function by reducing tension and promoting circulation.
4. Improved Posture
Helps improve posture by reducing tension in the muscles responsible for maintaining good posture.
5. Improved Athletic Performance
By improving muscle function and reducing tension, athletic performance is enhanced and the risk of injury is lowered.
"Muscle shortening is the key to myofascial pain. Pain cannot exist in the absence of muscle shortening. Prolonged muscle shortening pulls on tendons, thereby straining them and distressing the joints they act on. The increased wear and tear in joints eventually leads to degenerative changes (e.g. osteoarthritis).”
- Chan Gunn, MD, is a Clinical Professor, Multidisciplinary Pain Center at the University of Washington Medical School
The history of trigger point therapy is widely considered to have started in the 1940s by American physician and medical researcher Dr. Janet G. Travell. Dr. Travell spent decades studying the causes and treatment of myofascial pain syndrome, a condition characterized by the presence of trigger points in the muscles.
The findings showed trigger points were areas of hyperirritability in the muscle tissue that caused referred pain, and that by applying pressure to these points, she could alleviate pain and improve muscle function.
Today, trigger point therapy is widely used by manual therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to treat a variety of muscular conditions and injuries. While the specific techniques and approaches used may vary, the underlying principles of identifying and treating trigger points remain the same.
Common types of trigger point therapy
1. Self-Massage
A type of trigger point therapy that involves using your own hands or a massage tool to apply pressure to trigger points. This can help release tension and improve muscle health.
2. Acupuncture
Involves inserting fine needles into specific points on the body. This can help improve circulation and reduce pain and tension in the muscles.
3. Dry Needling
Similar to acupuncture, dry needling involves inserting a fine needle into a trigger point in the muscle. This can help release tension and improve muscle health.
4. Manual Therapy
Also known as deep tissue or remedial massages, a trained therapist is used to apply pressure to trigger points.
Next time you have tight muscles or pain, strongly consider a form of trigger point therapy as an effective treatment plan. Whether you're using self-massage, acupuncture, dry needling, or manual therapy, trigger point therapy can help improve muscle function, range of motion, and overall health. By identifying trigger points and applying pressure, you can release tension and achieve a healthier, pain-free body.