• Home
  • About
    • Opening hours
    • Our Philosophy
    • Referral rewards
    • Our health partners
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Posture Correction
    • Massage
    • Mastitis treatment
    • Gym based rehabilitation
  • Locations
    • Doubleview
    • East Perth
  • Team
  • FAQ
  • Articles
  • Book Online
  • Contact
  • Blog
The Physio Nook
  • Home
  • About
    • Opening hours
    • Our Philosophy
    • Referral rewards
    • Our health partners
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Posture Correction
    • Massage
    • Mastitis treatment
    • Gym based rehabilitation
  • Locations
    • Doubleview
    • East Perth
  • Team
  • FAQ
  • Articles
  • Book Online
  • Contact
  • Blog

Muscular trigger points

25/2/2021

0 Comments

 
What Are They?
 
Trigger points are what are often thought of as muscle "knots" and can feel like painful, hard lumps located in your muscles. These points can both be painful to touch and refer pain to surrounding areas. It is thought that trigger points form when a portion of muscle contracts abnormally, compressing the blood supply to this area, which in turn causes this part of the muscle to become extra sensitive.  Trigger points are a common source of pain around the neck, shoulders, hips and lower back. 
muscle trigger points
What Causes Trigger Points?
 
Many factors can cause trigger points to develop. Repetitive stress, injuries, overuse and excessive loads are common examples. Inflammation, stress, nutritional deficiencies and prolonged unhealthy postures may also contribute to the formation of these painful areas. Generally speaking, muscular overload, where the demands placed on the muscle mean that the fibres are unable to function optimally, is thought to be the primary cause of trigger points. This is why you might notice trigger points in weaker muscles or after starting a new training program.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain caused by trigger points can often be mistaken for joint or nerve-related pain as it can be felt in a different location to the site of the trigger point. Trigger points feel like hard lumps in the muscles and may cause tightness, heaviness, aching pain and general discomfort. They can cause the length of the affected tissues to shorten, which may be why trigger points can increase the symptoms of arthritis, tennis elbow, tendonitis and bursitis.

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

Your physiotherapist will first assess and diagnose whether trigger points are contributing to your pain. If they feel that treatment will be beneficial, there are a variety of techniques that can help, including dry needling, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, mechanical vibration, stretching and strengthening exercises. While these techniques may be effective in treating trigger points, it is important to address any biomechanical faults that contribute to their development so they don't keep recurring.
 
Your physiotherapist is able to identify causative factors such as poor training technique, posture and biomechanics and will prescribe an exercise program to address any muscle weaknesses and imbalances.  If you have any questions about how trigger points might be affecting you, don’t hesitate to ask your physiotherapist. 
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Achilles Pain
    ACL Tear
    Ankle Pain
    Ankylosing Spondylitis
    Anxiety
    Back Pain
    Balance
    Bone Health
    Bursitis
    Carpal Tunnel
    Computer Setup
    Dislocations
    Elbow Pain
    Fatigue
    Fibromyalgia
    Fitness
    Foot Pain
    Fractures
    Groin Pain
    Hamstrings
    Hand Pain
    Headaches
    Healing
    Health
    Heel Pain
    Hip Pain
    Impingement
    Instability
    Joint Pain
    Knee Pain
    Muscle Pain
    Neck Pain
    Osteoarthritis
    Osteoporosis
    Patella Pain
    Physio Treatment
    Plantar Fasciitis
    Referred Pain
    Running
    Sciatica
    Shin Splints
    Shoulder Pain
    Spinal Stenosis
    Sprains
    Stiffness
    Stress
    Stress Fractures
    Stretching
    Tendonitis
    Trigger Points
    Work From Home
    Work Injuries
    Wrist Pain

Doubleview clinic
197A Scarborough Beach Road
Doubleview WA 6018
P: 08 9446 7017
E: doubleview@thephysionook.com.au
East Perth clinic
129 Royal Street
East Perth WA 6004
P: 08 9221 9655
E: eastperth@thephysionook.com.au
Book your consultation
  • Home
  • About
    • Opening hours
    • Our Philosophy
    • Referral rewards
    • Our health partners
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Posture Correction
    • Massage
    • Mastitis treatment
    • Gym based rehabilitation
  • Locations
    • Doubleview
    • East Perth
  • Team
  • FAQ
  • Articles
  • Book Online
  • Contact
  • Blog