WHAT IS PAIN?

Trigger Points

Trigger points are described as hyper irritable spots in muscle that are associated with knots in tight bands of muscle fibres that you can feel. These knots can be common cause of pain. If you press down on a trigger point this may cause pain at the site or may cause pain somewhere else (referred pain).

The existence of tender and fibrous areas in muscles (trigger points) has been recognised in medicine for many years and was described as muscular rheumatism or fibrositis.

The following conditions are often diagnosed (incorrectly) when trigger points are the true cause of pain: carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis, angina pectoris, sciatic symptoms, along with many other pain problems including arthritis.

Treatment of trigger points may be by massage, trigger point release technique, injection of local anesthetic and/or steroids, medical acupuncture or stretching techniques.