How to Identify Myofascial Trigger Points
Pain is a normal function of the human body. Constant pain isn't. Muscles may develop myofascial trigger points as a result of acute trauma, repetitive stress, nutritional deficiency, fatigue or emotional stress. Easily misdiagnosed and non-responsive to standard pain management therapies, trigger points do respond to direct massage techniques.
1
Consult with your physician to eliminate possible causes of your pain. Trigger point symptoms of muscle stiffness, weakness, nausea, distortions in posture, and dizziness mimic symptoms of common ailments that should be treated with proper protocol.
2
Analyze your pain. Trigger point pain manifests as an oppressive ache in your muscles. Trigger points also refer pain to distant sites, such as aching feet from tight calves. If the pain is persistent and unresponsive to conventional therapy, it's possible you have trigger points.
3
Locate the trigger point with direct pressure over the pain site. There will be a taut knot in the muscle belly that can be felt by sensitive fingers, accompanied by pain in the immediate area, possible referred pain in a distant site and a local twitch in the muscle.
4
Don't confuse this with a tender point which is highly sensitive to pressure and generates pain only at the site of the pressure.
5
Confirm your self-diagnosis with a certified massage therapist trained in trigger point recognition.
Tips & Warnings
Trigger points are often confused with acupressure points. Although similar in theory, trigger points are based on hard science and can be felt with the fingers. Acupressure meridians can't.
Trigger points can generate headaches or joint pain, mimic tendonitis and bursitis.
The majority of physicians and alternative therapy specialists aren't trained in myofascial trigger point diagnosis and management.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4453586_identify-myofascial-trigger-points.html
Pain is a normal function of the human body. Constant pain isn't. Muscles may develop myofascial trigger points as a result of acute trauma, repetitive stress, nutritional deficiency, fatigue or emotional stress. Easily misdiagnosed and non-responsive to standard pain management therapies, trigger points do respond to direct massage techniques.
1
Consult with your physician to eliminate possible causes of your pain. Trigger point symptoms of muscle stiffness, weakness, nausea, distortions in posture, and dizziness mimic symptoms of common ailments that should be treated with proper protocol.
2
Analyze your pain. Trigger point pain manifests as an oppressive ache in your muscles. Trigger points also refer pain to distant sites, such as aching feet from tight calves. If the pain is persistent and unresponsive to conventional therapy, it's possible you have trigger points.
3
Locate the trigger point with direct pressure over the pain site. There will be a taut knot in the muscle belly that can be felt by sensitive fingers, accompanied by pain in the immediate area, possible referred pain in a distant site and a local twitch in the muscle.
4
Don't confuse this with a tender point which is highly sensitive to pressure and generates pain only at the site of the pressure.
5
Confirm your self-diagnosis with a certified massage therapist trained in trigger point recognition.
Tips & Warnings
Trigger points are often confused with acupressure points. Although similar in theory, trigger points are based on hard science and can be felt with the fingers. Acupressure meridians can't.
Trigger points can generate headaches or joint pain, mimic tendonitis and bursitis.
The majority of physicians and alternative therapy specialists aren't trained in myofascial trigger point diagnosis and management.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4453586_identify-myofascial-trigger-points.html
