Trigger Point Therapy is a specific technique that involves release of Trigger Points in the body. Trigger Points are not the same as acupressure or acupuncture points. They are physical points in the body that cause pain and can be felt by touch. They are commonly known as muscle knots. There are two types of Trigger Points; Active and Latent. Active Trigger Points can be felt without touching and when it is pressed on you can feel it referring pain, numbness, or tingling to other parts of the body.

Nicole Davis LMT, NCTMB Denver Massage Therapy

Latent Trigger Points only hurt when touched upon and do not have a referral. There are many causes of Trigger Points such as car accidents, falls, sports injuries, or they could have been caused at birth or develop over time from poor posture or repetitive movements. The great thing about Trigger Point Therapy is the pain relief can be instantaneous. When I find a Trigger Point, I hold it for about 30 seconds. You will know when I have a hold of the Trigger Point because it will be quite painful but during the hold the pain will dissipate. You will immediately feel a release. One treatment of Trigger Point Therapy can provide a great sense of pain relief. But there are many more benefits of continued Trigger Point Therapy treatments such as increased range of motion, more flexibility, better circulation, and reduced stiffness. Most patients will need to receive several treatments over an extended period of time in order to achieve the optimal benefits Trigger Point Therapy has to offer. Of course I will incorporate other Massage modalities and techniques while performing Trigger Point Therapy. I usually warm up the muscles and then release Trigger Points as I find them in the body. I let the client know when I have found one. Usually before I have a chance to say anything, the client informs me they feel the referral such as a Sternocleidomastoid(anterior neck muscles) trigger point referring to their temple. Trigger Point Therapy is very effective because of the hold and release. When I am holding the trigger point I am restricting blood flow, then when I release a rush of oxygen rich blood floods the area and releases the knotted muscle. So if you are one of the many people out there with knots you just can’t seem to get rid of, Trigger Point Therapy can greatly benefit you!