Email : info@acubody.net
Call Us : +44 020 3823 6888
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Make an Appointment
Acupuncture London - Acubody
  • Treatments
  • Qi Gong
  • Pilates
  • Conditions
  • Endorsements
  • Location & Prices
  • Blog
blog-no-img

TRIGGER POINTS

Posted on March 18, 2018April 9, 2021 by admin

TRIGGER POINTS

About trigger points, what they are, how to know if you have them and what you might do about it.

What trigger points are and what they aren’t

Although many of us practitioners have a clear idea about trigger points; what they are, and what it means to have them, it is apparent that their nature is often misunderstood and consequently they are misdiagnosed.

Trigger point physiology

A Trigger point is a part of muscle tissue held in contracture. That is, it is a chemical and mechanical situation not mediated by the nervous system, although the factors involved in their evolution are usually habitual and postural, and some of the associated symptoms are due to sympathetic nervous system response. They can be seen as an adaptive mechanism by which the body attempts to remain functional. Trigger point formation is thought to arise from tissue being held in a tonic state for a long time. Without relaxing, the blood flow to the area is reduced and therefore nutrition to the cells is impeded and waste products are not removed.

As the waste products from muscle contraction build up a situation develops where Ca2+ ions reach a concentration which holds the muscle in a contacted state perminantly on a cellular level. These cells are ischaemic. This means that to treat them we need to restore blood circulation to the area. Received wisdom also states that to prevent their recurrence it is essential to restore the tissue to is ‘normal’ resting length, and in order to maintain that length in the long term a change in body use/ posture is necessary.

The key characteristics of trigger points are:

  • Exquisite tenderness on pressure
  • Found in a taut band of muscle tissue
  • A muscle twitch response can be elicited with palpation
  • Upon pressure a referred sensation/ pain is experienced: This could be a pain distant from the point or radiating from the point.

-If this pain is familiar to the patient = Active trigger point

-If this pain is unfamiliar to the patient = Latent trigger point

  • The skin above a trigger point becomes less elastic
  • The skin above a trigger point becomes sticky (Hypersecretion of sweat glands)

Referred pain

The referral zones of trigger points often correspond to acupuncture channels, just as their locations often correspond to channel points- a comparison found an 80% corrolation between Travell and Simons Trigger point map and the traditional Chinese acupoint locations.

Trigger point referral patterns usually affect dermatomes innervated by the same spinal segment that innervates the muscle housing the point, but this is not always the case.

It seems evident that trigger points form in tissue that is held in a chronically tight state. This being the case, the initial cause of their formation is to do with body use and posture, so unless this is also adapted and integrated into the clients life, the likelihood is that even if successfully treated they will return.

It is worth also considering the wisdom of releasing trigger points without taking into account the adaptive load placed on the body. Trigger points are an adaptation of the body to cope with the stresses it is under, how it reacts to their removal can be unexpected and sometimes symptoms can actually worsen. It is worth being careful and proceeding softly in some circumstances, not working on more than one or two per session to avoid adverse reactions.

 

CategoriesSpecialists

Recent Posts

  • Should I Take a Qigong Online Course?
  • The Newest Research on Fertility Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Health Aids You Should Use if You Have Heart Issues
  • Improve Your Winter Energy Levels with Chinese Medicine
  • Why Stress Is on the Rise and How Acupuncture Can Help

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2017
  • September 2016
  • May 2016
  • January 2016
  • March 2015
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • June 2014
  • April 2014
  • October 2013
RCHM
Acupuncture
ISRM
Physiotherapy Mentorship
PSA
AFN
Navigation
  • Home
  • Treatments
  • History of Pilates
  • Team
  • Conditions
  • Location & Prices
  • Blog
  • Privacy notice
  • Sitemap
Treatment
    • Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
    • Sports Massage London
    • Shiatsu
    • Trigger Point Therapy London
    • Myofascial Release Therapist London
    • Bodywork Therapy In London
    • History of Pilates
    • Yoga
    • Qigong
    • Tui Na Acupressure massage
    • Deep Tissue Massage
    • Information on Swedish Massage
    • Neuromuscular Technique
    • Positional Release
    • MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE – MET
    • Movement & Exercise
Contact Info
Acubody Therapies
46 Theobalds Road, Holborn, London, WC1X 8NW
+44 020 3823 6888
info@acubody.net

Copyright © 2022 www.acubody.net all right reserved
comodo