How to Identify a Secondary Trigger Point in Massage
It's estimated that 23 million persons suffer from one or more disorders of the musculoskeletal system. These are among the leading causes of disability in the working population. When the strong muscles are overloaded to the point of creating trigger points, their opposition muscles will develop trigger points of their own.
1
Begin treatment with a relaxing massage to warm up muscles. Verbally guide the therapist's screening exam to isolate and identify primary trigger points. Secondary triggers appear in synergistic and antagonist muscles. For example, primary triggers in biceps have secondary points in the triceps.
2
Guide the therapist in application of gentle pressure to the secondary pain site to locate the hard knot within the muscle. Increase pressure slowly for about 10 to 20 seconds. The muscle should release and the pain subside.
3
Stretch the muscles carefully and slowly to realign them to proper length. The range of motion you have reflects how much improvement is shown.
4
Continue probing for trigger points in the area to deactivate all problems.
Tips & Warnings
Secondary trigger points develop as compensation for an overloaded primary muscle or referred pain from a key trigger point. They inhibit range of motion. Like primary trigger points, they appear as a hard knot in the muscle fiber. They're painful under pressure and twitch in response to snapping motion applied to the muscle.
Treatment of key trigger points doesn't deactivate secondary triggers. In fact, relieving key trigger points makes it easier to determine if secondaries are present as the muscles are out of balance in the opposite direction of stress.
Refer to your medical and personal history to determine possible lifestyle habits that contribute to the formation of secondary trigger points. In addition, provide a history of illness and injury to the therapist, highlighting any suspect activities and major areas of pain or movement restrictions. Plan a course of treatment around your medical history.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4485979_identify-secondary-trigger-point-massage.html
It's estimated that 23 million persons suffer from one or more disorders of the musculoskeletal system. These are among the leading causes of disability in the working population. When the strong muscles are overloaded to the point of creating trigger points, their opposition muscles will develop trigger points of their own.
1
Begin treatment with a relaxing massage to warm up muscles. Verbally guide the therapist's screening exam to isolate and identify primary trigger points. Secondary triggers appear in synergistic and antagonist muscles. For example, primary triggers in biceps have secondary points in the triceps.
2
Guide the therapist in application of gentle pressure to the secondary pain site to locate the hard knot within the muscle. Increase pressure slowly for about 10 to 20 seconds. The muscle should release and the pain subside.
3
Stretch the muscles carefully and slowly to realign them to proper length. The range of motion you have reflects how much improvement is shown.
4
Continue probing for trigger points in the area to deactivate all problems.
Tips & Warnings
Secondary trigger points develop as compensation for an overloaded primary muscle or referred pain from a key trigger point. They inhibit range of motion. Like primary trigger points, they appear as a hard knot in the muscle fiber. They're painful under pressure and twitch in response to snapping motion applied to the muscle.
Treatment of key trigger points doesn't deactivate secondary triggers. In fact, relieving key trigger points makes it easier to determine if secondaries are present as the muscles are out of balance in the opposite direction of stress.
Refer to your medical and personal history to determine possible lifestyle habits that contribute to the formation of secondary trigger points. In addition, provide a history of illness and injury to the therapist, highlighting any suspect activities and major areas of pain or movement restrictions. Plan a course of treatment around your medical history.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4485979_identify-secondary-trigger-point-massage.html
