What is Trigger Point?

A Trigger Point is a pressure-sensitive area in the muscle that is frequently linked with pain and stiffness.  Trigger points can be extremely painful, limiting your range of motion and making it difficult to do your daily activities. 

Theoretically, trigger points are taut bands of muscle and fascia tissue that become rigid.  They restrict blood flow to muscle tissue.  When this happens, muscle tissue is put into a state of metabolic crisis.  The muscle needs oxygen and other nutrients to heal.  However, due to the tightness, oxygen and nutrients can’t reach the muscle.  The cycle of pain and less blood flow can be hard to break. 

There are a few things that can increase your risk of developing trigger points, including:

• Tight muscles
• Poor posture
• Inactivity or too much activity
• Muscle overuse or injury
• Stressful lifestyle

What is Fascia?

Fascia is like a spider web.  The stringy tissue is densely woven throughout your muscles, bones, nerves, arteries, veins and organs.  Fascia is one continuous structure throughout the body.  Each part of your body is connected to it in some way.  That’s why if there’s a snag in the tissue in one part of your body, it can cause pain in another part of your body.  

Normally, fascia is flexible and stretchy, yet it’s strong.  It provides structural support to your body and protects your muscles.  Fascia is usually able to move without any restrictions.  When your body experiences any kind of trauma, your fascia loses its flexibility.  It becomes tightened and more rigid.  The tightness can lead to pain and loss of motion, which can affect your quality of life. 

Who Benefits from Trigger Point Therapy?

• Physical trauma: From incidences such as falls, car accidents and whiplash
• Scarring: From conditions such as frozen shoulder, burns, and surgery
• Inflammation: From conditions such as bursitis, osteoarthritis or plantar fasciitis
• Compressed nerves: From herniated disks or carpal tunnel syndrome
• Repetitive stress injuries: From heavy lifting to poor posture