Trigger Point Therapy can be a very effective method of decreasing pain and increasing mobility and flexibility. The muscles are most frequently the major source of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, often mistakenly presumed to be soley the affect of arthritis.
Trigger Point Therapy was pioneered and developed in this country by Dr. Janet Travell, President John F. Kennedy's personal physician, during his years of persistent back pain. Today it is commonly referred to as Nuero-muscular therapy.
A trigger point is a hyperirritable tender spot in an abused muscle that refers pain ("trigger pain") to other muscles. This is why the pain in your head may be coming from a neck muscle and the pain in your neck from a shoulder muscle and the pain in your low back from a hip muscle.
If the trigger points are not treated, they can become the culprits in lingering pain event after an injury has healed, and the reason why headaches, neckaches and backaches keep returning year after year. Some of the sauses of trigger point activity in your muscles are stress, excessive chilling, injury, overuse, strain, as well as chemicals, drugs, alcohol and environmental pollutants.
Active trigger points keep the muscles tight, restricting blood flow and compressing nerves perpetuating a vicious pain - sapsm cycle in the muscles. The effect of decreased flexibility limits movement encouraging postural patterns which may sustain the cycle for years.
The various nueromuscular techniques to release trigger points and restore movement are being studied today by many helath care professionals. Some of the neuro muscular therapy techniques, also referred to as nueromusclar re-education are:
- Joint and spinal manipulation (by Docotors)
- Spray and stretch (Physical Therapists)
- Frictioning across the muscle fibers and ends of muscles
- Shaking, stroking and stretching of muscles and fascia
- Joint movements, isometric exercises and stretching
- Direct pinpoint pressure on the trigger points
- Release of associated skin, tendon and ligament trigger points
- Posture and gait analysis and reorganization
- Myofascial Release
- Pro-Gravity Technique
- Fascial Smoothing
Everyone is a unique individual - as much as two bodies are alike - like fingerprints, they each are different. For some people one technique will work very well. For others, a combination of techniques or a completely different technique or process is needed. Most skilled health care professional are educated to know when to refer a patient for another form of therapy.
We have extensive experience in finding and aliminating these painful trigger points. We apply pressure, usually with our fingers, which causes the points to relax or release. We press on these spots, usually holding or goading them for five to twenty seconds, then move on to the next point. Next, we will passively stretch or relax the muscles that have been worked on (meaning we move the body part for you while you relax). We also show you gentle relaxation and stretch excercises that you can do at home to maintain and improve your progress. Wel also may recommend that you drink additional pure water or fruit juices to help facilitate eliminating toxins that were trapped in the tight muscles.
Our goal is to fix your pain as quickly and inexpensively as possible.