Weekendwarriormassage.com firmly believes … the residents of Westchester County can enjoy all of the benefits of high quality, convenient, and affordable in home massage therapy, including trigger point therapy.
After reading this article you will have an excellent understanding of trigger points. Including what they are. How they undermine you, and how to eradicate them with massage therapy. All, in the comfort of your own home.
So … Let’s get started
Trigger points have been the suspected culprits behind many medical issues since the early 1900’s.
This article will clear up a lot of the mystery, and confusion surrounding Trigger Point therapy.
You’ve heard about them no doubt. But, exactly what are they and how do they hurt you?
OK so … what is a trigger point?
A trigger point occurs when the smallest unit of a muscle, know a sarcomere, goes into a chronic state of contraction. Many trigger points actually contain several of these contracted sarcomeres.
Trigger points hide in tight bands of muscle and they can be very small and difficult to feel by touch. In fact, it takes a very sensitive touch to uncover them. But, don’t be discouraged. The best way to find them is simple. Locate a tight band of muscle and search for the most sensitive or painful spot. (and a chart helps).
Here is where it gets interesting
The key to understanding trigger points is not the pain at the sight. Instead, these points refer pain patterns to other parts of the body. Which means they mimic other injuries and conditions and result in mis-diagnosis and incorrect treatment.
This is the key to understanding trigger points. Work on the point eradicates pain at the referral site. So, if you are searching for the cause of the pain at the site you are not going to find it! The scary part is that pain clinic doctors estimate that trigger points are the primary cause of pain 75% of the time. And they play some role in almost all pain (even fibromyalgia).
Trigger points cause headaches, neck, jaw, and low back pain, symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome, arthritis, tendonitis, tendonosis, bursitis, ligament injury, earaches, dizziness, tennis elbow, golf elbow, shoulder pain … and the list goes on.
Could this be true? Could these sneaky little points in your muscles be the real culprits behind so many common ailments.
Honestly, it sounds outrageous … doesn’t it? How could it be? Have we been mis-led? If it is true just think how many medical treatments are mis-guided. How many unnecessary drugs are taken? Unnecessary surgeries or other invasive treatments?
How could this be? Think about how many times you have taken herbal remedies, PT, acupuncture, magnets, pain medication, surgery, and gotten no relief.
Well, if Trigger Points are the real culprit and trigger point therapy is such a powerful solution. Then why doesn’t everyone know about them?
Why Are Trigger Points Such a Mystery?
Unfortunately, little research is done in the area of muscle pain. Even though it is estimated that muscle makes up 42 to 47% of the body’s weight there is no medical branch that specializes in the treatment of muscle exclusively.
Despite the prevalence of muscle pain as a common source of pain, medical students do not learn much about them, even as part of human anatomy. There is no specialty dedicated to diagnosis and treatment of muscle disease. Instead, research attention is focused on bones, joints, bursae, blood vessels, and nerves. This lack of attention result in a lot of mis-diagnosis and inappropriate treatment (Simmons, Travell, & Simmons, 1999).
In addition, research funding directed toward pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and procedures instead of manual therapy, like massage, or body work. And physical therapy lacks adequate training courses in clinical pain mechanisms and pain management strategy (Sikdar et. Al. 2009)
Still not convinced? Maybe you’re thinking … are trigger points real? Or is this some kind of hocus pocus? I know I was.
Are Trigger Points Real?
The answer is a definite yes. They are real. And, there is plenty of medical evidence to back up their existence. For example a study by Shah & Gilliams 2008, Sicala et al. 2009) indicated that trigger points are real. Their biochemistry can be sampled with specialized needles and visualized by scientifically proven methods.
Doctors who are members of the American Pain Society indicate overwhelming support for the concept of trigger points by (Harder et. Al. 2000). These studies only represent the tip of the iceberg of research supporting the existence of trigger points.
Additional research shows that trigger points are real and they emit electrical signals. Sensitive electrical equipment can measure them. The electron microscope has been used to photograph them (Simmons, Travell, & Simmons 1999). Ultra sound can detect trigger points (Sidkar et. Al. 2009)
Thorough extensive research and study Travell and Simmons, medical doctors and pioneers in the field, mapped out the location of trigger points and their typical pain referral patterns. You can test the pattern by putting pressure on the point. This will duplicate and confirm the referral pattern.
So, assuming Trigger Points actually exist … what causes them?
How Are Trigger Points Formed?
Let’s keep it simple. In every day terms increased muscle activity creates trigger points. It could be overuse, intense use, chronic tension, repetitive quick motion … you get the gist.
This increased activity stresses the muscle causing a release of the chemical ACH (Acetylcholine). The result … the sarcomere – remember – (the smallest muscle cell) tightens. This cuts off blood flow. The result is a vicious cycle resulting in the formation of a Trigger Point. Again, for more detailed and scientific information of Trigger Points please see – the two-volume medical text: Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual by Janet Travell, MD and David Simmons, MD.
How Do You Eradicate Trigger Points?
Before we get to the good part, where you will learn how to get rid of trigger points and erase the problems, they cause … let’s recap.
Here is what we know so far:
- We know what Trigger points are
- That they are real – based on scientific data
- Trigger points create referred pain which is often be confused for common pain issues. Such as headaches, bursitis, tendonitis, neck pain, back pain, tennis elbow, etc.
- You understand how they develop.
So, finally you will learn how to get rid of these nasty buggers. I will help you get started. Or you can do it on your own … but you can do it.
Here’s How
First, you have to locate the trigger points related to the area that is bothering you. This is where the help of a trained therapist, like myself comes in handy. We schedule a session where I help you locate the guilty trigger points. Then, I work on them and demonstrate the proper techniques and tools. This empowers you to continue with the treatment on your own. Now, you can continue working on the points two to three times a day for about a minute each. This will give you the fastest result. You won’t have to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars in treatments.
If you want to explore self-treatment, I would refer you to the two-volume medical text: Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual by Janet Travell, MD and David Simmons, MD. Here you can review the referral patterns and begin to locate the corresponding trigger points.
Once you locate the trigger points treatment is simple and brief. One minute or less. This is a time when less is more … don’t over do it. The goal is going to be 3-4 one-minute treatments per day per trigger point. This is why it is so important that you know how to perform the treatment, at least between sessions. You can do it in the privacy of your home.
The Treatment
Find the point and apply pressure. Make a series of slow passes across the point. Do this for approximately 1 minute and then move on to the next point. Remember, you want to bring blood to the deprived area. This stimulates the release of actin which aids in relieving the trigger point. You are essentially priming the pump and helping your body to do what it knows how to do.
The real key is to locate the trigger points. Once you locate them erasing them is simple. The key is persistence in treatment. In many cases, these points have developed over the course of some time. So, don’t expect them to disappear immediately. You may have to stick with the treatment for several weeks. You can continue treatment in the privacy of your own home … on your schedule.
If you need assistance contact me at 914-266-2277. As always, I hope this article empowers you to make massage and bodywork a consistent part of your healthy lifestyle.
