Trigger Point Therapy

If you have chronic pain or limited mobility, you might be an ideal candidate for trigger point massage at a health spa. This treatment isn’t always pleasant, but it can virtually eliminate the pain in your muscles and improve your range of motion. Read on to learn if trigger point therapy or deep tissue massage therapy is right for you and, if so, where you can take advantage of it.

What is a trigger point?

You probably have experienced a trigger point before, even if you didn’t know exactly what to call it. Trigger points are the areas in your muscles that lead to intense pain when stimulated. They are usually formed when waste products build up near a nerve receptor, although they can also develop after an injury. Think of a trigger point as the most sensitive part of a knot, or adhesion, in your soft tissue. Usually, a trigger point will feel like a small button within a band of tense tissue. They make your muscles tight and can provoke sensory responses, like pain, tingling, hot or cold sensations, and other uncomfortable feelings. Although it’s most common for trigger points to build up in the back, neck and shoulders, they can be located in any soft tissue in the body. In fact, trigger points may be part of the cause of stiffness related to carpal tunnel syndrome, TMJ, and other common mobility issues. Even if you don’t feel pain, you could still have multiple trigger points built up in your tissues. Latent trigger points don’t cause discomfort because they aren’t near nerves, but they can still be harmful to the body. They activate and become painful when the muscle becomes stressed; until that point, however, latent trigger points work to decrease the range of motion. They tighten muscles and are associated with a dull, arthritis-like pain. What’s more, all trigger points, whether active or latent, can spawn more trigger points if left untreated. It’s extremely important to eliminate trigger points every so often so you aren’t faced with multiple painful areas in the future.

What happens during a trigger point massage?

In a trigger point massage, a trained massage therapist locates the trigger points throughout your body and eliminates them. The therapist will find the areas that could be trigger points, press them, and ask you if you feel discomfort. If the area appears to be a trigger point, she’ll then press it down for about 10 seconds. Afterward, the therapist will use a pulsing motion for another 10 seconds to work the tension out of the muscles and remove the trigger point. Finding and eliminated the trigger points in your soft tissues can be painful, especially if you have many active, sensitive points on your body. But the relief you feel with be worth the pain; eliminating trigger points means there will be no more constant aches in your muscles. Also, trigger point massage requires that you interact with the therapist performing your treatment. The service won’t be effective if you don’t let her know how you’re feeling along the way. Don’t be afraid to be vocal during the process, and let your therapist know if the pain becomes too much to handle. She’ll stop the treatment if you’re very uncomfortable.

Who should get a trigger point massage?

Trigger point therapy is a good option for anyone who experiences chronic muscle pain, arthritis, limited mobility, and muscle spasms. With a good course of treatment, all of these problems can be relieved. People with low pain thresholds shouldn’t get a trigger point massage because the treatment can be excruciatingly painful for them. Even if you don’t have chronic pain, a trigger point massage could do you good. Most people do have trigger points, even if they don’t cause pain, and eliminated them before they get out of control can be a good way to prevent future problems.

Where can I get a trigger point massage?

Therapists who are trained in trigger point massage can be hard to come by, so not every spa will offer this service. Most large day spas do employ someone experienced with trigger point release techniques, however. Also, your doctor may be able to recommend a massage therapist capable of giving you the massage. In any case, it might take a little searching to find a good therapist.

How much will it cost?

A trigger point massage will cost about $75 an hour or more, depending on the skill of the therapist and the venue where the massage is received. Keep in mind that multiple treatments are needed to give lasting results, but many patrons feel a noticeable difference after their first session. It’s good to consider trigger point massage as an investment; you will pay a lot for the service, but it will be well worth it in the health benefits that result.

Take-away tips:

Trigger point massage can be painful because it focuses on releasing the ultra-sensitive tight areas in soft tissue. A successful trigger point massage treatment will relieve chronic pain and can increase mobility. Many times, what we think is arthritis is actually the result of a trigger point; a trigger point massage can help ease arthritic feelings, if this is the case with you.