What Are Trigger Points

TRIGGER POINTS ARE SPECIFIC, HYPER-IRRITABLE AND HYPER-SENSITIVE AREAS IN MUSCLE THAT SUFFER FROM DECREASED CIRCULATION, INCREASED CONTRACTION, AND SPASM.

Trigger points may cause pain more often than any other soft tissue condition. Lack of circulation from decreased range of motion creates an area of increase nerve sensitivity that creates a dull ache or sharp painful response. An active trigger-point can refer pain down your arm or into your shoulder and upper back, often causing headaches and neck pain. Tender trigger points typically develop in areas of restricted range of motion resulting from stress, trauma, over use, repetitive motion, and even poor pasture. Untreated trigger points can eventually lead to muscle shortening and muscle wasting which accentuates the condition. Left untreated this condition could lend to chronic neck pain, chronic headache, chronic shoulder immobility, and/or adhesive capsulitis.

Your Chiropractor and Massage Therapist can certainly help with trigger-point pain and associated soft tissue pain, helping restore proper bio-mechanical range-of-motion to your shoulder, mid back, neck and extremities. Along with some targeted helpful stretching instruction this condition can be greatly improved.