Trigger point massage therapy, also called neuromuscular therapy or myofascial trigger point therapy, is a manual form of therapy that aims at releasing and detecting trigger points.
It mainly targets the muscles.
Trigger points are hyperirritable muscle spots mostly with palpable taut bands or knots in the muscle tissue.
On compression, the trigger points are painful and often relay tenderness and pain to other body areas.
The affected muscle is in most instances ischemic which causes the whole muscle to be weak, painful, too tight, and becomes fatigued easily.
The trigger points are usually caused by overstressing the muscle, sustained chills, and muscle fiber trauma.
What Does Trigger Point Massage Therapy Do?
Trigger point massage therapy targets directly the trigger point and the adjacent muscles.
The therapist keenly identifies the trigger point and may use whole-body vibration, friction strokes, compressions, or stretches which is suitable to make the trigger point melt away.
There is a significant or complete alleviation of pain once the trigger point is released.
Trigger point massage therapy can be used in managing headaches, frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint pain, migraines, back pain, whiplash, tinnitus, carpal tunnel syndrome, sports injuries, hip pain among others.
Benefits Of Trigger Point Massage Therapy
There are many benefits to be received from trigger point massage therapy.
- Improves Body Posture - Tight muscles negatively affect the posture through slouching. Trigger point therapy may be used to relieve muscle tightness and alleviates pain which in turn gives the normal human posture.
- Improves Flexibility - Trigger point massage therapy stretches your connective tissue and thus improving the body's flexibility.
- Increases Range Of Motion - Muscle weakness and pain majorly causes reduced flexibility and decreased range of motion. Release of muscle tension from a trigger point increases the range of motion and improved flexibility.
- Promotes Hormone Production – Trigger point massage therapy also helps with lymph drainage.
- Alleviates Pain - It alleviates all kinds of pain. Before pharmacological pain management is given, muscle tension release should be done on the main trigger points.
- Improves Muscle Circulation - Through tissue stimulation, there is improved blood flow. This reduces the ischemic-related pain.
- Reduces Stress - Trigger point massage therapy frees your mind from emotions and difficult situations. It also reduces headaches and migraines by relaxing the tight muscles associated with migraines and tension headaches.
Trigger point massage therapy is used to relax the inflamed muscles which is often applicable to the those involved in sports.
Overextension of muscles may result in soreness and these massages help curb the soreness and hasten the recovery time.
In Summary
Trigger point massage therapy is rejuvenating.
At the end of the massage, one feels connected, revitalized, balanced, and energized to keep going.
Trigger point massage therapy gets rid of the body's distractions and stimulates the brain cells thus enhancing a healthy mental and physical connection.