A lot of people know of massage therapy, but many do not realize it’s a specific type of therapy. Many tend to confuse massage with pedicure or manicure. But, there are significant differences between such therapy. In manicure and pedicure, the focus is more on removing the nail polish and making the cuticle easy – that doesn’t really apply to massage. Trigger point massage is a much more targeted approach, focusing directly on releasing painful trigger points in the body, which may lead to chronic pain and psychological stress.
Trigger point massage targets the tightest areas of the body (most often the lower back and neck), helping to improve mobility, posture, and range of motion. While the majority of massage isn’t painful, some may be. If you are getting a massage in a professional facility, the masseuse may use massage oil or a lubricant to be able to reduce the sensation that can come with some kinds of massage. Slimming down is usually recommended so you do not risk triggering the knots which can lead to pain.
The term“trigger point“ refers to the technical areas where massage therapy focuses its attention. There are in fact hundreds of those points across the body, but when the pain occurs, it is typically located in a certain area. Trigger points are usually hyper-sensitive, meaning they are“on“ more than other regions within the body. As a result of this, chronic pain from these spots may lead to discomfort in many locations. Trigger points can be activated by activities such as repetitive motion (running, jumping, etc..)
Trigger points can be quite tricky to treat and target, but with some simple self-massage techniques it is possible to improve circulation, reduce muscle knots, loosen knots, etc. For example, when I do my weekly Swedish massage, I begin with my hands and go up to my shoulders. I work my way down to my arms, working the muscles along my spine. Then I bring myself back up to my throat and continue the massage from there.
Some therapists have been known to indicate stretching for the relief of pain, but if your muscles are tight, it will only worsen the situation. This is the reason it’s important to begin at the origin: together with the muscles. While a therapist may be able to target specific tender points, they generally do not know enough about your personal condition to effectively target the areas for the best results.
Another common recommendation by massage therapists is to apply a cold compress to the trigger factors. Cold compress is actually very effective in reducing pain, but it doesn’t always work. Cold compress only works because the blood vessels surrounding the hyper-sensitive regions become smaller. This results in decreased blood flow and reduced oxygen into the muscles, which then causes more pain.
If you’re searching for trigger point therapy to aid with chronic pain, or to relieve the discomfort of injuries or sports injuries, start looking for a provider who has expertise treating injuries and sports injuries. Look also for providers who focus on trigger point massage. You want someone who is fully trained and educated in this treatment technique. A massage therapist who’s just starting out may not have the experience you need.
Trigger points are almost everybody’s worst nightmare, and nearly everyone would like to avoid them as much as possible. Trigger points are knots, either deep or shallow, that form in muscles. There are many diverse knots, and each individual develops a different sensitivity to pain. Trigger point massage is often recommended for the elimination or reduction of these annoying knots.