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understanding how we help people live more fully and
pain free
Trigger Points-What are
they? Why might I care?
What are Trigger points?
What causes Trigger points?
What is TP therapy?
Trigger point sessions
Trigger point therapy is a type of
neuromuscular work.
Have you tried: chiropractic, magnets,
medication, accupunture, herbal therapy, physical
therapy? Gotten no results?
TP could be the reason behind your
pain/problem/issue.
Opinion is growing that many of our daily
aches /pains are caused by TP. Some basic, common
ailments such as: Headaches, neck pain, jaw pain,
back pain, carpel tunnel, tennis elbow, golfers
elbow, tendonitis, arthritis and SO many other
conditions. TP have been attributed to ear
aches, nauseua, dizziness, and other more common
diagnosed issues-or really mis-diagnosed.
Travell, Janet and Simons, David are quoted
as the founders of TP therapy. They studied and
‘mapped’ the TP paths. They define TP as “ a small
contraction knot within muscle tissue”. Others
explain TP as: ‘ a highly irritable localized spot
of exquisite tenderness in a nodule in a palpable
taut band of muscle tissue’. A ‘map’ is
needed to have a basic idea of where TP are and
where they refer the pain. Most modalities treat
the site/muscle where pain occurs, hence why
people get some immediate relief but pain returns.
The location/cause of the pain is not addressed.
TP can be active and painful or they might
be latent and cause pain later. They are a very
“odd duck” as I would say. This can be why pain is
mis-diagnosed and mistreated which leads people
down an ugly road of pain, meds, depression, more
meds, loss of work, surgery, and still no pain
relief nor end in sight.
TP can occur in any muscle of the body (200
pairs). TP can last a lifetime and been shown to
exists in muscle tissue even after death.
WOW! Needless to say they are persistent
little buggers. TP are a component of 93% of pain.
No person is exempt from TP, because TP are very
common place. With todays jobs, chores, sports,
and activity levels, TP form easily with overuse.
TP can be latent/remission and flare-up/become
active very quickly and easily with stress and/or
strains.
TP themselves are typically tender to touch
and certainly to pressure. The catch 22 is
pressure is how to work them out and increase
blood flow to the area for healing and reduced
pain.
Stretching is hit or miss. If it helps you
feel better-then do it. Although stretching should
NEVER hurt or cause pain. TP can do just that when
you stretch.
TP do not have to be in the muscle where the
pain is nor affect the muscle they are in at all,
but they can. They can range in size from pinhead
to pea size and refer close or far away.
Here is what the inside of a TP looks like:
A=normal muscle fiber at rest (not
contracted)
B=knot in muscle fiber (over stimulated and
unable to “let go”-relax
C=non-knotted, but affected fiber with in
the muscle
Therapy helps equalize the space,
encouraging “rest” and releasing of the knot/TP.
In each treatment session we talk about
correcting-posture, overuse, and changing the
condition that create the tension, overuse and
ultimately TP. If you do not change what is
causing the problem, the TP and pain will return.
Many massage techniques may work over
muscles with TP, but not the TP directly, meaning
Swedish, acupuncture, PT, etc… have little affects
on TP directly, hence why no great results and
relief occur.
You must see someone who does TP work
typically treatment or medical massage.
We here at Stress Waived focus on pain
reduction/relief and work on TP with other added
modalities/techniques to achieve these results.
If you are in pain, we would love to see and
help you. You can schedule by calling or online.