Trigger Point Therapy

A trigger point is a small, hypersensitive area within the muscle belly or fascia.

In simpler terms, it is a small painful point in the muscle, akin to a knot within the muscle tissue.

Trigger points are characterized by sharp tenderness when pressed, and the pain often radiates to other parts of the body.

According to the latest medical data, trigger points are the source of back pain in 70% of cases.

Types of Trigger Points:

• Active: Manifests as pain.
• Latent: Does not cause spontaneous pain but induces local discomfort and referred or radiating pain under pressure.
• Satellite Trigger Points: Can develop within the same muscle as the primary trigger point.
• Embryonic Trigger Points: Palpable sensitive points within skeletal muscle or fascia that do not cause referred or radiating pain.
• Central Trigger Points: Located in the central part of the muscle belly, near the nerve ending.
• Peripheral Trigger Points: Found at the muscle-tendon junction or attachment.

Formation of Trigger Points:

How do they form and what’s inside? Trigger points are local areas of muscle fiber contraction (part of the muscle). In this area, constant tension is maintained, leading to local vessel contraction, local circulation disturbance, and oxygen metabolism disruption. This process causes ischemic pain. The area does not relax, maintaining constant tension and contractions.

Why Trigger Points are Dangerous:

In addition to causing muscle pain, trigger points can lead to radiating pain in other parts of the body. Moreover, they interfere with the proper function of the muscle they inhabit, sometimes completely excluding it from work. Training such a muscle in the gym is senseless, as the work of this muscle will be compensated by another, leading to overload and micro-injuries of the muscle or joint.

Treatment of Trigger Points:

The good news is that trigger points have a favorable prognosis and are easy to treat. After 3-4 sessions, you will already feel relief from pain. An effective method for treating trigger points is therapeutic massage utilizing pressure and various effective techniques.

You can even address trigger points yourself, but remember that improper self-treatment can be harmful, and it’s better to consult a professional physiotherapist!

Remember, the best form of treatment is prevention. Avoid prolonged static loads, abrupt movements with weights, as all of these contribute to the formation of trigger points. Be healthy!