Trigger Points. Step-by-Step Guide to Therapy for Chronic Muscle and Joint Pain

Doctors, manual therapists, physiotherapists, and massage therapists actively use this technique to relieve previously undiagnosed pain in muscles and joints. This methodology helps alleviate conditions that, as studies have shown, are responsible for nearly 25 percent of all doctor visits. The technique involves applying short repeated massage movements to trigger points - tiny contraction knots in the muscle tissue where limited blood flow and lack of oxygen cause pain. Trigger points cause pain throughout the body in a predictable pattern specific to each muscle, provoking discomfort from mild to severe. Trigger point massage increases blood circulation and oxygen saturation in the area and often provides immediate relief.