What Is Trigger Point Therapy?
Trigger points are tight, sensitive knots that form within a muscle, often the result of overuse, injury, or chronic tension. These points can cause localized pain and, in many cases, refer pain to other areas of the body — for example, a trigger point in the shoulder can cause pain felt in the arm or head.
Trigger point therapy uses focused, sustained pressure directly on these knots to release the tension and reduce the associated pain, both at the trigger point itself and in the areas it may be referring pain to.
How Trigger Point Therapy Works
Trigger point therapy involves identifying and directly treating the specific knots contributing to your pain.
Identification
We locate trigger points through palpation, feeling for tight, tender bands within the muscle.
Sustained pressure
Direct, sustained pressure is applied to the trigger point until the tension begins to release.
Follow-up stretching
Gentle stretching of the treated muscle often follows to help maintain the improved mobility.
Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy
- Relieves localized pain — at the site of the trigger point itself.
- Reduces referred pain — in areas connected to the trigger point, which is often unexpected to patients.
- Improves muscle flexibility — by releasing chronic tension held within the muscle.
- Complements other therapies — including chiropractic adjustment and massage.
- Addresses a common, often overlooked source of pain — that isn’t always identified through imaging.
What to Expect
Trigger point therapy is often integrated into your visit, focused on the specific areas identified during your evaluation.
- A hands-on assessment to locate specific trigger points
- Direct, sustained pressure applied to each point, which may feel tender
- A sensation sometimes described as a “good hurt,” distinct from sharp pain
- Gentle stretching following pressure release
- A noticeable reduction in tightness and referred pain for many patients
Good to know
Trigger point work can be intense on especially tight areas. call 386-400-3620 if you have questions about what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a trigger point feel like? +
Trigger points often feel like a tight band or nodule within the muscle, and pressing on them may reproduce pain you feel elsewhere in your body, which is called referred pain.
Does trigger point therapy hurt? +
It can be uncomfortable while pressure is applied to a particularly tight point, but it shouldn’t be sharply painful. Many patients describe it as a “good hurt” followed by noticeable relief.
Why does pressing on my shoulder cause pain in my arm or head? +
This is called referred pain — trigger points can refer pain along predictable patterns to other areas of the body, even though the actual dysfunction is located elsewhere.
How is trigger point therapy different from massage? +
While massage typically addresses broader areas of muscle tension, trigger point therapy uses focused, sustained pressure on specific points to release localized areas of tightness.
Will I be sore after trigger point therapy? +
Mild soreness in the treated area is common for a day or so afterward, similar to how a deep tissue treatment might feel.
How many sessions will I need? +
It varies based on how long the trigger points have been present and how your body responds. Some patients feel relief quickly, while others benefit from a series of sessions.
