How does Trigger Point Massage Work?
The objective of trigger point massage is releasing or softening a muscle knot to reduce (or eliminate) the knotting pain and associated pain. This release happens by applying various pressure levels to muscle knots, then stretching the affected areas through a complete range of motion.
Though the “map” of muscle trigger points and associated pain is complicated, relaxing the trigger points is simple.
Trigger points are sore, painful spots also called knots, found in muscles. These knots are sensitive, and when pressure is applied, it produces pain in a different part of your body. A trigger point massage helps work out those knots and reduce their pain.
Muscle knots can happen to anyone because they’re caused by injury, using your muscles too much or too little, and poor posture.
Fortunately, many people experience immediate relief after just one trigger point massage!
What Causes Trigger Points?
Weakness, small tears, tense muscles, dehydration, and even poor diet can cause trigger points to form.
When overworked or injured muscle fibers cannot relax, this can cause a mini contraction in a small area of the fascia or muscle fiber. This stretches the muscle band on either side of the trigger point. The knot of contracted tissue also restricts blood flow to the area, which effectively “starves” the muscle of necessary oxygen and leads to a build-up of waste material within the cells.
The pain of a trigger point may discourage you from moving the affected muscle, which causes other muscle fibers to contract and more trigger points to develop. This is why swift, effective treatment is so crucial. Luckily, trigger point massage is an easy way to encourage trigger points to release.
How Does Trigger Point Massage Therapy Work?
Trigger points will not heal on their own, and treating trigger points requires seeing a licensed massage therapist.
So, how does a trigger point massage work?
While no single type of massage is labeled a “trigger point massage,” massage therapists can use several techniques to loosen these knots, including myofascial release and deep tissue massage.
Massage works to release a trigger point by pushing fresh blood in and flushing waste material out. This helps relieve some of your pain by bringing more oxygen into the area and encouraging the muscles to release.
Other techniques, such as PNF stretching and Neural Reset Therapy, can trick your muscles into releasing trigger points through stretching and movement.
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