Myofascial Release and Trigger Points

Trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. They produce pain locally or in a referred pattern and often are accompanied by chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Acute trauma or repetitive microtrauma may lead to the development of stress on muscle fibers and the formation of trigger points too. Patients may have regional, persistent pain resulting in a decreased range of motion in the affected muscles. These are usually muscles used to maintain body posture, such as those in the neck, shoulders, and pelvic girdle. Trigger points may also manifest as tension headache, temporomandibular joint pain, hip pain, low back pain, and decreased shoulder range of motion. 

Manual release of trigger points is using light, manual pressure, your practitioner will massage and stretch the trigger point, sometimes holding that point for a few minutes. Your practitioner may repeat this process a few times on each trigger point they find, until they feel a full release.  Sometimes this may be an area that is separate from your original site of pain due to a trigger point referral pattern.  Sometimes it may be appropriate for you to put your body through a certain range of motion while the practitioner is pressing down on a trigger point.  Putting your body through this range of motion creates an even better stretch in the muscle being worked.

Trigger points affect all ages, races, and genders.  Trigger points and myofascial pain is thought to be the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain, affecting between 30-93% of symptomatic musculoskeletal patients.  Various authors have suggested that peak prevalence occurs between ages 27 -50. 

If you’re coming to our office there is a very high chance that you have some trigger points.  If you have any sort of muscular pain there is a good chance we can help you.  

Call our office today at 716-947-5106 to schedule an appointment!