Trigger points are different from cramps, such as a Charley’s horse.
The pesky points don’t cause an entire muscle to spasm, just a small portion of it.
Treatment such as massage and “needling” may help reduce pain.
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Types of Trigger Points
Trigger points are categorized by where in the body they cause pain.
There are two types.
Passive trigger pointshurt at their exact location.
Active trigger pointscause pain in that location as well as another part of the body.
Location
Trigger points can occur anywhere in your body.
It’s also unclear what causes trigger point pain in general.
One theory is that trigger points become so tense that they limit blood flow to muscle tissue.
This prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the muscle.
The cycle can be difficult to interrupt.
This can be difficult due to the complex nature of musculoskeletal pain.
While some treatments have been shown to be effective, there’s little scientific evidence that others help.
Medication
A healthcare provider may recommend medication to alleviate pain.
This can help improve circulation and normal movement of your muscles.
you might also apply pressure on your knots yourself with a tennis ball, foam roll, or back-nobber.
Dry needling.A healthcare provider inserts a needle into the trigger point and moves it in and out.
Steroids are also an option, but there’s no scientific evidence that they help.
Ultrasound.The idea is to reduce pain by heating up the muscles.
Research has been mixed as to whether ultrasounds help reduce pain.
They’re commonly referred to as knots.
They can be painful and limit your range of motion.
Trigger points are benign and pose no significant danger to you or your health.
They simply cause pain which may limit your normal mobility.
By learning strategies to self-manage your pain, you might be in control of your condition.
Trigger points are frequently referred to as knots.
Yes, but not always.
Trigger points are typically very sensitive to the touch and can refer pain to other parts of the body.
Having several trigger points can result in widespread aches and pains sometimes referred to as myofascial pain syndrome.
Trigger point therapy involves applying direct pressure to trigger points.
This temporarily cuts off circulation to the tissue causing a build-up of nitric oxide in the tissue.
Nitric oxide signals microcapillaries to open, increasing blood flow to break up the muscle knot.
The temporary pain of trigger point therapy can help to relieve ongoing pain and muscle spasms.
You may not feel immediate relief from a session but should feel the improvement the day after.
It may take several sessions to fully resolve a trigger point.
After each session, be sure to drink lots of water to help flush waste material from your muscles.
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1, June 2018, pp.
