What is Trigger Point Massage Therapy?

There are many massage therapies available and each type of massage has a specific purpose. All massages aim to heal the muscular pain in the body and trigger point massage therapy is no different.

What is trigger point massage therapy?

Trigger point massage therapy aims to alleviate muscular pain and discomfort by identifying and treating certain trigger points within your body. A trigger point massage therapist will be able to locate which trigger point is the source of your pain. Once the correct trigger point is found, your masseuse will begin applying pressure to that specific trigger point.

Other massage therapies aim to heal the body by treating the various areas of the body in pain. Trigger point massage therapy targets the root cause of a person’s pain rather than addressing the symptoms. Many times back pain, for example, begins at one trigger point but since your nervous system is a connected one, that one trigger point could be causing pain in your neck. If you only treat your neck then you are only treating a symptom of your pain rather than healing the source of it. Trigger point massage therapy aims to heal your pain’s root cause to prevent your pain from returning.

What is a trigger point?

A trigger point is a tight area of muscle, typically found within the myofascial structures, formed from everyday wear and tear and/or vigorous exercise. The myofascial structures include muscles, ligaments, joints and tendons. Within the myofascial structures trigger points are most commonly found in muscles, which is why most massage therapies focus on muscular health. When a trigger point is ‘triggered’ it causes pain in other areas of the body, making it difficult to diagnose without a trained professional.

How do you know if you need trigger point massage therapy?

Trigger point massage can be used by anyone, and is just as effective as a preventative measure as it is a pain treatment method. Sometimes the best time to get a massage is when you are not in pain. It’s also important to remember that the absence of pain is not healthy. Just because you are not feeling any pain at the moment does not mean you do not have any nerve or muscle inflammation.

If you are an active person, trigger point massage therapy is an excellent restoration option to help your body stay healthy or to combat an injury. Trigger point therapy can help alleviate soreness, increase flexibility and strengthen your muscles. When your body’s trigger points are in a healthy state you decrease your chance of injury and allow your body to work at full capacity. Similarly, regular wear and tear can have just as damaging of an effect on the body. If you are not the most active person, for example someone who works a desk job, you can still reap the benefits of trigger point massage therapy. Sitting at a desk all day long can put an unnatural strain on your back muscles, but trigger point massage can help relax your muscles after a stressful day at work.

Lastly, if you are feeling any type of pain or tingling throughout your body it may be related to a trigger point. If you are in pain, don’t wait to schedule your trigger point massage in Westminster.