What is Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy and How Can it Help Me?
When you live with chronic pain, your body can feel heavy, unyielding, and impossible to move. This applies to all types of chronic pain. However, one kind of chronic pain known as myofascial pain syndrome can be particularly difficult to live with.
This is not only because it is painful, but also because it can decrease muscles’ range of motion and disturb sleep cycles. Fortunately, myofascial trigger point therapy can be of great help to anyone suffering from this condition.
Trigger Points
At the heart of myofascial pain are the so-called trigger points. Also referred to as muscle “knots,” trigger points are small patches of tightly contracted muscle tissues.
They can be caused by anything from physical injury to emotional stress, and they create a sharp, piercing pain in the muscles. When many of them accumulate in your body, it results in the condition we know as myofascial pain syndrome.
Yet even for people without this condition, trigger points can be a cause for concern. What makes trigger points troubling is their triple threat.
Trigger points do not only cause pain. In fact, they can exacerbate physical conditions and even mimic other pain problems. This makes them especially hard to diagnose and worthy of attention.
What is Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy?
Myofascial trigger point therapy is a safe treatment that can alleviate many common pain issues. It focuses on unlocking contracted muscles to provide relief from chronic pain.
The most frequent form of this treatment involves applying pressure on a trigger point with the hands or another instrument. The pressure point then releases and softens, providing relief.
Another technique used is known as “spray and stretch.” A vapo-coolant is applied to distract the muscle, which is then stretched and moved through its full range of motion.
Both of the techniques above can provide immediate relief. They can also treat a single trigger point quite easily. However, to treat numerous trigger points and to allow the muscle to truly heal, several sessions are generally required.
How Can it Help Me?
Muscles are an undertreated source of pain, but they should be given greater consideration in the world of healthcare. A simple therapy like trigger point therapy can not only treat myofascial pain syndrome but many other unexpected ailments too.
Before, we mentioned that trigger points can worsen and mimic other pain conditions. This is particularly important to keep in mind when understanding what trigger point therapy can treat.
Trigger points do not just cause myofascial pain syndrome – they can exacerbate or be the hidden cause of headaches, neck pain, and back pain among other conditions.
As a result, this therapy is intended to treat myofascial pain, but it is often helpful with many seemingly unrelated conditions.
On the whole, trigger point therapy can improve muscle mobility, flexibility, and strength. While you may be looking for a treatment for your specific condition, this therapy can improve your overall wellness and quality of life in ways you may not have anticipated.