Trigger Point Release

Trigger Point Release

Trigger Point Release

The muscles and surrounding tissue can become stressed from overuse, injury or trauma. These can cause hot spots and these areas are called trigger points. This can reduce the range of movements and cause pain. This pain can also radiate up and down through the muscle. Massage can use various deep tissue techniques to release these hot spots such as neuromuscular techniques, passive and resisted movements and deep tissue work which will increase flexibility and reduce pain.

Sometimes confused with pressure point massage, this involves deactivating trigger points that may cause local pain or refer pain and other sensations, such as headaches, in other parts of the body. Manual pressure, vibration, injection, or other treatment is applied to these points to relieve myofascial pain. Trigger points were first discovered and mapped by Janet G. Travell (President Kennedy’s physician) and David Simons. Trigger points have been photomicrographed and measured electrically and in 2007 a paper was presented showing images of Trigger Points using MRI.  These points relate to dysfunction in the myoneural junction, also called neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in muscle, and therefore this modality is different from reflexology, acupressure and pressure point massage.

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