What is Trigger Point Therapy

A trigger point is an area of tension within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. For example, a trigger point in the back may reduce referral pain in the neck. The neck may act as a satellite trigger point, resulting in a headache. The pain can be sharp and intense or a dull ache. Trigger point therapy is the treatment of this tension within a muscle that causes pain in a different location of the body.

What conditions can it treat?

Trigger Point Therapy can help alleviate pain by releasing tense areas in the body. After just 1 treatment you can experience a significant reduction in pain. By combining massage with trigger point therapy on a regular basis you can naturally manage pain and stress from chronic injuries.

What should I expect during a session?

Trigger Point Therapy is often incorporated with Sports Massage. Your therapist will apply pressure to specific points which are causing you pain and restricting movement. These points are often located in different places to where you actually feel the pain. You will actively contribute during trigger point therapy through deep breathing and identifying the location and intensity of discomfort.

Don’t worry if this all sounds a bit painful, your therapist can include a nice relaxing foot or head massage to finish the treatment!

Who can benefit from a trigger point release?

Trigger point therapy London can particularly bring relief to sufferers of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome. It can benefit almost anyone who feels a sense of constant ache and stiffness. Where trigger points are present, they cause mimicking pains in other parts of the body. One of the most common offenders is when the trigger point of the scalene neck muscle becomes active, it refers ache into the shoulder, arm and fingers.

What causes trigger points?

Trigger point referral pains are caused by a stimulus, such as muscle tightness, injury or stress or anxiety, which sets off trigger points in your muscles. Habitual poor posture or imbalanced muscle groups can necessitate a set of muscles to remain clenched and cause a repeated strain that leaves muscles susceptible to developing trigger points.

What does a trigger point referral pain feel like?

An active trigger point referral symptom can feel like a sensation of radiating numbness, burning or fatigue. It can also manifest as a dull ache or deep pressing pain. The pain is replicated in the referral area when the trigger point is pressed and usually reduces in strength after the trigger point melts as a result of massage pressure.

Do trigger points go away?

Trigger points are caused when fascial strain, acute trauma or repetitive microtraumas lead to the development of stress on a muscle fibre. Holding a trigger point will relieve the referral symptom temporarily but the cause would need to be remedied before expecting long lasting benefit. Sports massage and myofascial release to improve posture can correct the joint function, liberating the muscle fibre from trigger points and referral symptoms.

What is the difference between a pressure point and a trigger point?

A trigger point is a place in a muscle that, when pressed against, triggers or refers pain to another part of the body. The point may feel like a nodule on a ropey band of muscle fibre and may or may not be sensitive to touch. A pressure point can usually be described as a knot in the muscle but does not refer pain beyond the actual area touched. It is sensitive when pressure is applied to it, until the pressure releases the tension and a sensation of relief occurs.

To find out more and book a treatment, please call us on 020 8166 8958