A Trigger Point is a highly irritable point in a muscle, which contributes critically to pain. A fall, blow, trauma, strain, sprain, injury, illness or emotional wounding can insult a muscle and provide the opportunity for a trigger point to form. A trigger point lays quiet in a muscle until certain conditions are present. Then it fires, throwing the muscle into spasm and ultimately into. The nervous system responds and sends more spasm to “protect” the site. This results in more pain and the Spasm – Pain – Spasm Cycle continues.
Because this cycle is prevalent in most chronic and acute pain conditions, knowledge of it and its treatment is critical to releasing the cause of the pain. Without addressing trigger points, healing at the causal point is less likely.
While rarely used in a single session, the use of trigger point therapy occurs in most sessions unbeknown to the patient. The therapist applies concentrated finger pressure to tender areas in the muscle in order to break the cycle of spasm and pain. An interesting characteristic of trigger points is that the site of the trigger is often not the site of pain. The pain is usually referred to remote locations throughout the body. This is why the therapist may treat one area only to have the patient feel it in another area.
Trigger points are very effective in treating acute and chronic pain.