Trigger point therapy: Massage therapy, Trigger point injections, dry needling Trigger point therapy was developed to help individuals deal with pain from pressure-sensitive knots in muscles known as trigger points. When a muscle develops a trigger point it can be a very painful experience, and even cause referring pain to another part of the body.
The muscles in the body are made up of myocytes, which are individual muscle cells. Trigger points usually develop when one or more muscle cells become shortened. The shortened muscle cells will pull on the other surrounding muscle cells causing the muscle to become knotted and tight. Once a trigger point has developed, the tightness of the knot restricts oxygen and nutrients in the blood flow to the muscle tissue. This restriction makes it difficult for the muscle to heal. Stretching can even make the problem worse. So we recommend contacting us to see how trigger point therapy can help you.
While anyone can develop trigger points, with various levels of pain and discomfort, no one is sure what actually causes trigger points. We have been able to identify elements that can increase your risk of forming trigger points.
Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Pain Management has several methods to treat your trigger points. After an exam and consultation with one of our doctors, we will develop a trigger point therapy program best suited for you. The three main methods we employ include; trigger point massage therapy, trigger point injections, and dry needling. Depending on your situation, one or more of these therapies may be recommended for your pain management.
Our skilled massage therapist can focus on the trigger points that are causing you pain and work to release the tightness and knots in the muscle and alleviate your pain. Massage pressure needs to be applied to the trigger points to release the tension in the muscles. Learn more about medical massage therapy.
Many people will find trigger point injections one of the most effective ways of treating trigger point pain. Trigger point injections involve using either a needle or a specialized pen-like device that delivers the medication through a small, thin tube. The medication is a local anesthetic that can quickly relieve pain and muscle tension by interrupting the electrical impulses flowing between the brain and the muscle. As the local anesthetic starts working, the muscles can relax, the knots go away, and the pain disappears.
Trigger point injections typically take three to five treatment sessions, spaced one to two weeks apart. Expect each treatment to take about 15 minutes. Most patients report considerable pain relief after one or two sessions. Learn more about Trigger Point Injections.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture proven to be very effective at treating trigger point pain and muscle tension. Dry needling uses extremely thin needles to stimulate the trigger points in the muscles. For many of our patients, dry needling is a great option to treat trigger points. Learn more about acupuncture.
Trigger point therapy has a number of benefits that make it a great approach to pain management. While many patients will be glad just to get relief from pain, there are other benefits they will experience when their muscles are no longer too tight or in knots.
Call us if you are dealing with trigger points, experiencing pain when pressure is applied to certain parts of your muscles, having your range of motion restricted by your muscles, or feeling your muscles are always tight and knotted. Call our office at (631) 203-4300 to arrange for a consultation, or use or online appointment form. We will do an exam to see if trigger point therapy can help you find relief and live a better life.
