Trigger Point therapy was developed by doctors and is used to treat myofascial pain. It involves putting pressure on the painful area (active trigger point), or non-painful area (latent trigger point) with thumbs or elbow. The therapist will be able to palpate to find these trigger points or 'knots'. The application of pressure will cause the muscle to eventually relax until there is a dulling of pain (inactivation of trigger point). Endorphins then come to the area to aid in the healing process.
There are active trigger points where you feel the pain in specific areas and also when the therapist applies pressure on them. When the therapist applies this pressure you may also feel referred pain in another distant area and this normal and expected.
Please remember that the area that you are feeling the pain and tenderness may not be an active trigger point but the zone of referred pain. In other words, those areas may not be where the pain is originating from so trust the therapist to find and deactivate the active trigger points and please do not ask the therapist to work on only those areas of pain. It is important that you communicate with the therapist at each session where you are feeling the pain so the therapist has an idea of where it is originating.
The sequence requires pressure of usually 10-20 seconds repeated 2-3 times. It is important you let the therapist know if the pressure is too much. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the strongest we never want to be a 10. The pressure must be what you can tolerate.
POINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
·Moist hot packs are used to warm up the muscles before the therapist goes to work on the area. Let the therapist know if it is too hot for you.
·Bruising may occur to the area being treated. If you bruise easily please let the therapist know.
·You may feel light headed after your massage and this is normal and due to the toxins and lymph that are being stimulated during the massage.
·Drink plenty of water after a massage to help flush out the toxins.
·You may feel the effects of the massage the day after and it is similar to having had a work out at the gym.
·Be aware of the pressure when the therapist asks you if the pressure is OK. You are the only one that can determine if the pressure is right for you. What is OK during the massage might feel like it was too much the next day.
·The therapist will not initiate conversation during your massage and it is your discretion if you want to talk.
·Remember the therapist is there to help in the healing process but you are responsible for your own healing. Taking precautions at work by avoiding aggravation to the painful area and attending all your prescribed treatments will promote faster healing. It is recommended you use the maximum sessions prescribed per week by the doctor and make sure you have at least one day in between treatments to help rest and recover. Doing self-therapy and stretching at home will also aid in faster recovery.
·Everyone has different responses to the healing process and with the massage process you may start to feel pain in other areas that are not directly related to the injured area. You may also feel worse after a treatment. This is the body's response of releasing the stress and is normal and can usually be expected in chronic cases.
·It may take days, weeks or longer for you to heal as everyone heals differently. Be patient.
There are active trigger points where you feel the pain in specific areas and also when the therapist applies pressure on them. When the therapist applies this pressure you may also feel referred pain in another distant area and this normal and expected.
Please remember that the area that you are feeling the pain and tenderness may not be an active trigger point but the zone of referred pain. In other words, those areas may not be where the pain is originating from so trust the therapist to find and deactivate the active trigger points and please do not ask the therapist to work on only those areas of pain. It is important that you communicate with the therapist at each session where you are feeling the pain so the therapist has an idea of where it is originating.
The sequence requires pressure of usually 10-20 seconds repeated 2-3 times. It is important you let the therapist know if the pressure is too much. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the strongest we never want to be a 10. The pressure must be what you can tolerate.
POINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE
·Moist hot packs are used to warm up the muscles before the therapist goes to work on the area. Let the therapist know if it is too hot for you.
·Bruising may occur to the area being treated. If you bruise easily please let the therapist know.
·You may feel light headed after your massage and this is normal and due to the toxins and lymph that are being stimulated during the massage.
·Drink plenty of water after a massage to help flush out the toxins.
·You may feel the effects of the massage the day after and it is similar to having had a work out at the gym.
·Be aware of the pressure when the therapist asks you if the pressure is OK. You are the only one that can determine if the pressure is right for you. What is OK during the massage might feel like it was too much the next day.
·The therapist will not initiate conversation during your massage and it is your discretion if you want to talk.
·Remember the therapist is there to help in the healing process but you are responsible for your own healing. Taking precautions at work by avoiding aggravation to the painful area and attending all your prescribed treatments will promote faster healing. It is recommended you use the maximum sessions prescribed per week by the doctor and make sure you have at least one day in between treatments to help rest and recover. Doing self-therapy and stretching at home will also aid in faster recovery.
·Everyone has different responses to the healing process and with the massage process you may start to feel pain in other areas that are not directly related to the injured area. You may also feel worse after a treatment. This is the body's response of releasing the stress and is normal and can usually be expected in chronic cases.
·It may take days, weeks or longer for you to heal as everyone heals differently. Be patient.
