What are Trigger Points?

What are Trigger Points?

What are Trigger Points?

If you are interested in, studying, or a practitioner of massage/bodywork, physical therapy, physiotherapy, osteopathy, sports therapy or any other similar health related field you will be required to have a knowledge of trigger points. How in-depth your knowledge of the topic will depend on what it is you need to use it for. There are numerous anatomy books available that give a real in-depth description of trigger points, and methods of treatment, but if you are after a general overview this article will provide a solid introduction.

The term trigger point was first coined back in the 1940s, when it was described by Dr. Janet Travell as, "A highly irritable localised spot of exquisite tenderness in a nodule in a palpable taut band of (skeletal) muscle".

The size of trigger points can vary from tiny lumps to much bigger areas, embedded within the muscle fibres. The one consistent characteristic, however, is that they are tender to pressure, sometimes to the extent of the patient/client flinching when they are touched (an action which has been coined the jump sign'). Trigger points develop in the myofascia (connective tissue, often containing fat, that covers and penetrates all muscles), in the centre of the muscle belly where the motor end plate enters (transmitting neural impulses to a muscle). General injuries to the body, including sports injuries, may well have had their beginnings in trigger points in the muscles/fascia.

So what causes trigger points? Trigger points are often caused by poor posture. If you are planning to work in an industry helping clients with their trigger points it is essential you can identify any postural abnormalities (and how they impact a patient's symptoms) and offer the correct remedy/treatment/exercise. Common postural problems (many result from inactive office-based jobs) include: head to one side (think speaking on the telephone), slouched standing, slouched sitting and crossed-legged sitting. Trigger points can also develop through overuse of certain muscles, health/nutrition deficiency (such as folic acid or iron deficiency), psychological factors (lack of sleep or stress), ageing, obesity, scar tissue, anorexia and disease/illness. Other factors that can contribute to trigger points include the patient's type of muscle fibre and/or muscle shape.

So how does a practitioner help a patient ease, and eventually rid, themselves of their trigger point(s)? Strengthening muscles is a key way to ease trigger points. Muscles are more susceptible to damage, fatigue and injury when they are weak. The body will automatically compensate for weak muscles by overloading the motor end plate resulting in trigger points. Stretching is another useful exercise; specific exercises should be given to the patient depending on the size and location of the trigger point. Posture readjustment is another factor to evaluate, having monitored the patient offer advice about their posture, encourage a better driving/sitting/walking/sleeping position for example. Finally you might like to evaluate the patient's hobbies/sporting activities as these could be contributing to their trigger points, do they warm up properly, for example, or cool down? Is the exercise they undertake particularly repetitive/strenuous on particular muscles?

Trigger points vary from person to person, how the ailment affects each person, and why they got the trigger point, will also vary, and so should how you treat each individual. This may sound tricky in the beginning, but over time you will begin to recognise posture traits and trigger point formations, and treating your patients will become easier and easier.

POST COMMENT

A Stroll Down Memory Lane From The Box Camera to Digital Cameras Modern Contingency Planning: Emergency Messaging with Digital Signs Keeping Birds off Channel Letters with Electric Track How To Make Baby Food With A Food Processor Label Printing: Doing it the Digital Way Sulfuric Acid in Industrial Accidents Ketosis In Atkins Weight loss plan - Melt away Your Extra fat To Electricity! How To Save Electricity At Home- Useful DIY Tips IPad 2 Duo processor A5 reduce the thickness of 1 / 3 What's everybody ought to understand while they wish to buy an electrical raise chair? Hi Tech Gadgets Guru: How To Sell A Lot Of Digital Cameras Best Air Conditioner Brand Digital Photo Frames: Contemporary, smart and trendy