2012-05-08T04:57:00.001-07:00

What are myofascial Trigger Points?

Myofacial trigger points are palpable, irritable muscle lesions usually within tight muscle bands that pass on pain to other areas when pressure is applied.

An active trigger point is one that actively refers pain either locally or to another location. A latent trigger point is one that exists, but does not yet refer pain actively, only when pressure or treatment is applied to the area. Latent trigger points can influence muscle activation patterns, which can result in poorer muscle coordination and balance.

Trigger points can be caused by poor posture, over use of the muscles, physical or emotional trauma or general life stress. Trigger points form only in muscles. They form as a local contraction in a small number of muscle fibers in a larger muscle or muscle bundle. These in turn can pull on tendons and ligaments associated with the muscle and can cause pain deep within a joint where there are no muscles.
Treatment of trigger point can consist of Post isometric stretches, spray and stretch with ice, manual compression of the trigger point to flush out metabolic waste and cross fibre frictions to create an effect to “unstick” muscle fibres.

For more information call Sydney Allied Health Clinic on (02) 9559 8877 or visit our site

http://www.sydneyalliedhealthclinic.com.au

What are Myofascial & Trigger points?