Do you suffer from chronic pain, tension headaches, or general pain in different body parts, and are you looking for some relief options? Scientific advancements have resulted in many different treatments to help you control your chronic pain so you can get back to the life you love. One of those treatments involves no medicine at all. It’s called trigger point therapy.
Trigger point therapy is a bodywork technique that involves the applying of pressure to tender muscle tissue to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Trigger point therapy is also called myofascial trigger point dry needling, intramuscular manual therapy, and intramuscular stimulation.
Although it involves thin needles inserted into the skin like acupuncture, trigger point therapy follows science-based guidelines to identify and stimulate specific trigger points in the muscles, and to reduce tension in stressed muscles.
When your muscles suffer from overuse or trauma, painful knots can form. The fibres in an overused muscle do not receive the adequate blood supply which will allow it to relax. The tissue near the muscle becomes more acidic, and the nerves become more sensitive, resulting in pain and discomfort. When a physical therapist inserts a needle into the trigger point, it can loosen the knot and help return normal blood flow into the area, releasing muscle tension.
Trigger point therapy usually works as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include exercise, physical therapy, massage, and other interventions which are designed to relieve mild to moderate pain and restore mobility.
Some patients experience relief right after a session. For others, it may take more than one session to feel better. Pregnant women are not advised to undergo trigger point therapy and other needle-based treatments, since clinical studies have yet to fully evaluate their effects on the mother and child. Also, individuals who are taking blood thinners and patients recovering from surgery should consult with a doctor first.
Before trying any new type of therapy it is always best to consult your health care professional.
