Trigger Point Therapy – Downtown Vancouver
Trigger point therapy is a manual therapy technique that involves the applying of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Trigger point therapy, Trigger point massage or Myofascial trigger point therapy are all names used for the assessment and treatment of these painful nodules in your body.
Trigger point therapy was developed by Dr. Janet Travell in the United States in the 1940s. The three approaches that she addresses in her books are; injection, ischemic pressure and ice and stretch.
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What are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are areas of tenderness in a muscle. There are two basic types of trigger points: active and latent. Active trigger points cause muscular pain and will refer pain and tenderness to another area of the body when pressure is applied. Latent trigger points only exhibit pain when compressed, they do not refer pain to other areas of the body. Latent trigger points are believed to be one of the causes of stiff joints and restricted range of motion of old age.
Trigger points may be associated with myofascial pain syndromes or fibromyalgia. Trigger points are very common. They are also referred to as muscle knots. Trigger points differ from acupressure points. Acupressure points are concentrations of energy or blockages of the body’s energy pathways. Trigger points are physical phenomena that can be felt by touch.
The pain caused by trigger points may be the biggest cause of disability and loss of time in the workplace. They are the most common reason for headaches.
What Causes Trigger Points?
Trigger points have several causes. Some common causes are:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Overuse injuries
- Poor posture
- Overexertion
What is the Purpose of Trigger Point Therapy?
The purpose of trigger point therapy is to eliminate pain and to re-educate the muscles into pain-free motions. After several treatments by an RMT, the swelling and stiffness of neuromuscular pain is reduced, range of motion is increased, tension is relieved, and circulation, flexibility and coordination are improved.
All our Massage Therapists at Everest Therapeutics Inc. are trained in Trigger Point Therapy.
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