Trigger Point Therapy
What is a Trigger Point?
Myofascial trigger points are tiny contraction knots that develop in injured or overworked muscles. The chronic contraction of the specific fibers in the trigger point decreases the circulation and blood flow to the immediate area. This lack of oxygen flow and waste removal causes the muscle to become ischemic or hard and painful.
Referred Pain
The defining symptom of trigger points is referred pain; that is trigger points send their pain to some other site. For example when there is a trigger point in the trapezius muscle, it will refer pain to the neck. This phenomenon can be misleading since the site of the pain is not the site of injury.
Trigger Point Therapy
The pain and symptoms caused by trigger points occur in predictable patterns. Trigger Point Therapy uses simple and effective massage therapy techniques to deactivate the trigger points. Sustained pressure on the trigger point, friction and stretching help to break up the trigger point restoring circulation to the area.
Benefits of trigger point therapy can be improved circulation, decrease in pain, more pliable soft tissue, increase in range of motion.
Massage therapy is a safe, natural and effective way of dealing directly with trigger points present with fibromyalgia. Trigger points can cause headache, neck and jaw pain, low back pain, tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome.
