Trigger points are hypersensitive localised areas of tight muscle that may feel like a knot or lump.  They result from a muscle being injured or overworked.  Numerous muscle fibres get locked into a state of constant contraction that reduces local circulation and leads to a build up of waste products (lactic acid etc) that further irritate the muscle.

Trigger Point Symptoms

• Localised pain
• Localised muscle tension (a knot, lump)
• Twitching of muscle possible
• When trigger point is pressed the pain increases and may radiate (spread) down into the buttocks or legs

What you can do

• Self massage using tennis balls – lie on back with tennis ball under affected area.

Trigger Point Therapy

• Trigger point therapy involves deep tissue massage techniques to break down knotted muscle tissue and flush fresh blood into the area
• Trigger point massage also involves the use of firm sustained pressure applied to the affected area with the therapists elbow or thumbs.   This trigger point release is similar to massage techniques used in Thai and Shiatsu massage.

Tags: back pain, low back pain, muscle pain, muscle tension