Trigger Point Therapy
What are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are comprised of muscle tissue, connective tissue and nervous tissue. When active trigger points are touched they cause pain in a distant location. Usually the active trigger point is located above, or more proximally in the body than the painful region; trigger points are said to cause referred pain.
The trigger point itself is a hyper-irritable nervous tissue enmeshed in muscle and connective tissue. Studies have shown that there is impaired circulation in the active trigger point region. It has been observed that metabolic changes occur in the soft tissue surrounding the active trigger point, which may indicate raised levels of irritants that cause a pain response. Frequently there is a thickening of the tissue around the trigger point that is referred to as a “taut band”.
Trigger point therapy uses alternating deep and light pressures to encourage a cleansing movement of the blood flow and soft tissue in the ailing region. Stretches of the muscles are recommended to keep the surrounding structures soft and flexible.
