Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Got chronic muscular pain? If so you may have a common pattern of pain referred to as Myofascial Pain Syndrome caused by one or more Trigger Points.

Trigger Points are small knot like nodules that develop within the fascia (connective tissue) of skeletal muscles following muscle injury. These points cause pain to radiate to body areas which can surprisingly be located a distance from themselves. In other words, where the pain is felt is often not where the Trigger Point is located.

Furthermore, besides causing radiating pain long after the injured muscle has healed, Trigger Points themselves are often painful to touch and/or pressure. Consequently, the painful ones are fairly easy to pinpoint with finger palpation.

Discovery of Trigger Points’ Connection to Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Both painful and painless Trigger Points can be pinpointed with the precise mapping system of common Trigger Points developed by Dr. Janet Travell back in the 1950s. This is attributed to the fortunate fact that Trigger Points set up in precise and predictable areas following injury of a specific muscle.

In fact, Dr. Travell is attributed with the discovery of the existence of Trigger Points. For she observed that many of her patients suffered with the same pain syndromes, in the same body areas, corresponding to injury of the same muscles.

Prior to Dr. Travell’s Trigger Point research, medical doctors considered myofascial pain to be psychosomatic. Thus, they all too commonly referred their myofascial pain suffering patients to psychologists.

Fortunately, though Dr. Travell’s landmark Trigger Point theory was initially met with resistance, it’s since been validated and embraced by conventional Western medicine.

Types of Trigger Points That Cause Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Active Trigger Points – produce consistent pain either on their own, with compression, or with movement of the affected muscle.

Latent Trigger Points – have existed in a latent state within a muscle for awhile due to a person’s habitual constricted body posture. They are generally only painful when compressed, but can become active and consistently painful with movement of the affected muscle after further stress to the muscle.

Satellite Trigger Points – are Trigger Points located in the area where pain is referred to by the Active Trigger Points. Being less painful, Satellite points may go unnoticed until after Active points have been released. However, they must also be released for the particular Myofascial Pain Syndrome to be completely resolved.

What are the Causative Factors of Trigger Points?

Injury to a muscle  – such as a sprain, strain or tear of a muscle.

Overuse of a muscle – is using a muscle in a repetitive action during work, hobby, or sport activities.

Sustained position of a muscle – is prolonged contraction, grasping, extension, or shortening of a muscle.

Stress overload on a muscle – is caused by lifting a heavy load with a muscle.

What Methods Can Be Used For Releasing Trigger Points?

Besides causing pain, Trigger Points restrict movement in the body and block the circulation of proper blood flow in muscles. And since approximately 93% of Trigger Points are also designated acupoints, it follows that they also block the flow of Chi (energy) within the body’s meridians.

In order to increase movement and range of motion, restore Chi and blood flow, and reduce pain in the body, several methods can be used for effective release of Trigger Points. The below is a list of viable methods, yet not an exhaustive list.

Effective Methods for Releasing Trigger Points

Acupuncture – uses needle insertion into the Trigger Point nodule to release it.

Acupressure – uses firm finger pressure applied to the Trigger Point nodule to release it.

Reiki – uses energy directed into the Trigger Point to relax the nodule and the muscle tension causing it.

Massage Therapy – uses deep tissue massage of the Trigger Point nodule and surrounding taut muscle fibers causing it.

Stretching Exercises – relax the Trigger Point’s muscle fibers with targeted exercises.

Anesthetic Injections – uses Lidocaine injections into a Trigger Point for numbing its pain.

Dry Needling – a healthcare professional forcibly breaks up a Trigger Point with repeated deep needle penetration.

Although, all the above methods are effective in releasing Trigger Points, dry needling is the most painful for the client. Therefore, I suggest this method for only the most stubborn of Trigger Points.

Final Words on Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Trigger Points left untreated for long periods of time they become entrenched in the body. Consequently, they become quite difficult to release without many intense therapy sessions, and a considerable outlay of time and money. Thus, it’s quite advantageous to attend to Trigger Points as early in their development as is possible.

Final Note: As a Reiki Practitioner/Teacher, and Acupressure Practitioner/Teacher, I teach Trigger Point Therapy to Practitioners of these modalities. For Trigger Point Therapy serves as an effective adjunct to traditional Reiki and Acupressure practice. Therefore, I recommend Trigger Point releasing methods as continuing education and an invaluable addition to Practitioner’s “Tool Box.“

If you suffer from Myofascial Pain Syndrome, we wish you best of luck in finding an effective Trigger Point Therapist. Furthermore, we wish you a complete resolution to your pain. 

For booking a Reiki or Acupressure session for your Myofascial Pain Syndrome, email Jeannette at reikiessenceinstitute@yahoo.com.