Many of our clients have an idea about how trigger point therapy can help them, but the details around what trigger points actually are can often be unclear.
Defining Trigger Points
Interestingly, trigger points have had several names over the decades and have received fluctuating interest from the medical community. They are considered an aspect that contributes to someone’s overall muscle health by many doctors, yet trigger point therapy is often considered something that only belongs to the world of alternative medicine.
You might hear trigger points described as “knots”, or simply as muscle hardness or “areas of tension”.
Essentially these trigger points are parts of the body’s fascia where direct compression or muscle usage can elicit pain and soreness, or a physical response like a twitch, sometimes in parts of the body that are distant from the trigger point.
These points are sensitive to pressure and often bring with them aching and stiffness too. While some people will suffer more, almost everyone gets these bumps which can appear like abnormal textures or knots.
Ultimately, it can be hard to identify these spots, so it’s best to work with trained practitioners when trying to locate a trigger point and reduce its negative impact on your body.
What Can Trigger Point Therapy be Used for?
Trigger point therapy has been used to treat several conditions over the years. Some of the most common areas are:
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Low back pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tinnitus
- Sports injuries
Locating Trigger Points
If you believe you may be suffering from trigger points and their resultant effect on your body, below are a few things to check for:
- Sore spots that are sensitive to pressure
- A dull, aching pain
- Pain that feels like it comes from within the muscle rather than joints
- Certain limbs may feel weak, heavy or stiff
- You get flare-ups sometimes caused by certain movements or positions
- The pain may move around throughout the body to different areas
- Massages can help but only provide temporary relief
- Activity and exercise can help with pain
For more advice and help with trigger points, feel free to get in touch with us at Acubody for our London trigger point therapy or other treatments that might be able to help you with pain caused by Trigger Points.
