How do I know if my pain is caused by trigger points?

Hey Everyone! Tasha here.  We love anatomy and learning about our bodies and how they function! Did you know there are around 650 muscles in your body? The muscles have 3 main functions: they provide our bodies with movement, support the organs, and help regulate body temperature. Our muscles are very vulnerable to damage from impact injuries, inactivity, overuse, or even from regular repetitive use and daily wear and tear. However, the muscles often get overlooked as a major source of physical pain and dysfunction! The good news is that almost every time this pain can be lessened or often completely resolved through proper massage techniques such as trigger point, injury, or myofascial bodywork.

When muscles are healthy they should stretch, contract and receive proper signals from the nervous system. Healthy muscle also has a consistent texture, good range of motion, and is not tender to the touch. When muscles are unhealthy they will be stuck short or stuck long and not activate or respond properly to nerve signals. Unhealthy muscles will have inconsistent ropey, knotted, or gritty textures, low mobility and be sensitive to pressure. Unhealthy muscle areas will not have proper blood flow or lymphatic drainage and a buildup of lactic acid can occur. This is when trigger points thrive and become a source for pain and restricted movement!

Trigger points can be active or inactive and they have specific patterns called referral areas that pain or sensation will travel along. When trigger points are inactive, they will limit movement and cause other problems but you will feel tenderness or sensitivity in the referral area only while the trigger point is being worked on. When the trigger points are active, you will have constant sensation or pain in the referral area typically described as deep, dull and aching pain as well as limited movement.
The reality is pretty much everyone has trigger points, you can't really escape it (although, not everyone has trigger points that are active). However getting trigger point, injury, or myofascial massage by a skilled massage therapist can actually eliminate trigger points and your aches and pains! Receiving this type of work can be uncomfortable or possibly painful during the session but it is not harmful and the rewards are the pain-free days, weeks, and months afterward. 

We love working on trigger points! We have seen trigger point massage techniques significantly improve the lives of our clients by getting rid of the pain that nothing else could or giving them back the movement and lifestyle they need and the life they deserve. Give it a try for yourself!

​​​​Until next time, may you have the highest quality of life possible!
Tasha Ouderkirk, LMT, Business Owner