BALANCE IN MOTION BODYWORK
Santa Barbara Massage & Pain Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy
Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is often used to treat chronic pain conditions, with many patients reporting substantial improvement in their conditions. Other benefits of trigger point massage include:
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Increased range of motion
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Decreased muscle stiffness and tension
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Reduction in headaches
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Improved flexibility
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Improved circulation
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Fewer muscle spasms
Those who might be able to benefit the most include anyone coping with a chronic pain disorder like fibromyalgia. Back pain patients, arthritis patients, and anyone recovering from an injury or accident may benefit immensely from trigger point massage.
Trigger point massage can effectively treat tendonitis and bursitis; it can also be of benefit to those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Migraine sufferers have benefited from trigger point therapy, and it's also used successfully in the treatment of athletic injuries and athletic-related muscle stiffness and tension.
More information about Trigger Points and how to treat them in this pdf.
What is Trigger Point Therapy?
Myofascial trigger point therapy is used to relieve muscular pain and dysfunction through applied pressure to trigger points of referred pain and through stretching exercises. I have been thoroughly trained in this modality and specialize in Myofascial Trigger Point massage therapy.
A central trigger point occurs when the muscle fibers at this location become impaired. As a result of the trigger point, increased tension develops in the muscle fiber, and the fiber itself becomes a taut, tense band with easily irritated, painful knots, or trigger points, along its length. The muscle has lost its ability to relax, and this can result in pain. It is called a trigger point because it "triggers" a painful response.
But a trigger point is more than a tender nodule. It affects not only the muscle where the trigger point is located, but also causes "referred pain" in tissues supplied by nerves (see Trigger Point Map and Trigger Point Referral Patterns). For example, a trigger point in the trapezius muscle, which is located on top of the shoulder, can cause referred pain in muscles of the jaw and neck/head area. Sometimes, a key trigger point might go undiagnosed because most of the pain is felt in referred areas. When the trigger point is treated successfully, the symptoms in the referred areas will go away as well. Trigger Point Massage is especially effective in conjunction with P-DTR. For more about Trigger Points, check our Trigger Point FAQ.
Do you have Trigger Points? Try the Trigger Point Symptom Checker!
How does Trigger Point Therapy work?
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It is used to treat painful trigger points that cause referred pain.
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It took a while to get the muscle in that condition, and it will likely take more than one massage to get rid of it.
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I will locate and deactivate them using finger pressure. One technique is to pick up the muscle fibers in a pincer grip.
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These points are often areas of chronic "holding" and you need to learn how to move in different ways to keep them from recurring.