Posted on May 11, 2008 in Latest News
What are Trigger Points?
A trigger point is an area of tenderness around a muscle. They are hyperirritable points in the skeletal muscle with palpable nodules which are small knots of contraction that trigger pain in a particular muscle of the body. Trigger points may arise from excess strain on a muscle, poor posture or injury due to accident or surgery.
The Trigger points pain
Trigger points may occur in any muscle and can give rise to a series of pains accordingly that include neck stiffness, headaches, carpal tunnel type symptoms, bursitis, back pain, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, stiffness of the lower back and shin splints. The pain manifests itself as referred patterns of sensation such as pins and needles, tingling, hot or cold, dull ache or sharp pain.
Trigger points exist in either of the two stages: active or latent. Active trigger points give rise to muscular pain and refers tenderness and pain to another area of the body when applied pressure. Latent trigger points, as the name suggests hide in the muscle until a stress provokes them. Trigger points are associated also with myophyisical pain syndrome or fibromyalgia.
Massage Therapy Trigger Points
A massage therapist efficient in finding the trigger points and applying the right kind of massage may help you get rid of the pain. Trigger Point Massage was developed by Dr. Janet Travell of the U.S in the 1940s. The greatest advantage of trigger point therapy is that it eliminates muscle pain and redirects the muscles to the pain-free path. Repeated treatments reduce the stiffness and swelling caused by neuromuscular pain. This leads to increase in circulation and improved flexibility.
