The Hidden Source of Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain
What is Myofascial Pain?
If it feels like your muscles are literally in knots, and pressing on those knots creates pain someplace else on your body, then you are more than likely experiencing Myofascial Pain, also known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome. The prefix “Myo” means muscle, and the suffix “Fascia” means connective tissue, therefore the word “Myofascial” translates to muscle and connective tissue. The word “Syndrome” basically means a group of symptoms. In essence, Myofascial Pain Syndrome literally means muscle and connective tissue pain symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is directly related to and associated with Trigger Points.
What is the definition of a Trigger Point?
Trigger Points are extremely irritable knots in taut bands of muscle and connective tissue that produce a phenomena of referred pain to different locations of the body when external pressure is placed upon them, hence the term “trigger point”.
Where can Trigger Points be Found?
Trigger points have different qualities and predictable pain patterns that can overlap and require extensive treatment to eliminate them. Trigger Points can be found in many different types of soft tissue such as muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, scar tissue, and joint capsules. Trigger points can be caused by other trigger points, direct trauma to soft tissue, infection, disease, radiculopathy, repetitive stress injury, smoking, or psychological distress. Trigger points also inhibit blood flow, which can make the pain worse unless treated.
How are Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome treated?
There are a few options when it comes to treatment of Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Depending upon the health or medical practitioner, treatment options include low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, dry needling, injections, spray and stretch using a vapocoolant spray, electrostimulation, ischemic compression, and medical massage therapy emphasizing the specified treatment of trigger points. Stretch and spray technique is when the muscle and trigger point are sprayed with a coolant, then the muscle is slowly stretched. Injections of Lidocaine can be performed by Physiatrists, but keep in mind that DOMS-Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness is a common side effect. Myofasical Release works by stretching and loosening the fascia so it and your body can move freely, removing pain and restriction. Quasi-Static pressure works within the patient’s pain tolerance. Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain works on sensors in soft tissue to relax muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
What are the Characteristics of Trigger Points?
Active Trigger Points actively refer pain along nerve pathways locally or to adjacent locations. Latent trigger points only refer pain when some type of pressure or force is placed upon the trigger point itself or to the soft tissue structure where the latent trigger point is located. Key Trigger Points have pain referral patterns that activate or create a Latent trigger point along a nerve pathway. Key trigger points also activate “Satellite Trigger Points” in other soft tissue structures. Both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Primary trigger points may activate Secondary trigger points in other structures, and again, both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain.
What does Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points Represent?
It is important to understand that Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points represent the effect of a problem or problems, and NOT the cause of a problem. So what does that mean? It means that Myofascial Pain or Trigger Point were created because MOST COMMONLY because of injury. What causes injury in most cases? Repetitive Stress, trauma, weakness in most cases. So is it enough just to treat the Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain? The obvious answer is a BIG NO!
So then what is the best way to make sure that Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points are treated and don’t return?
If repetitive stress is the cause of the problem, then the source of that repetitive stress must be alleviated to provide for a rehabilitative environment, or healing will never take place. Weakness is usually a very big cause of the problem, and if strengthening of the wrong muscle groups are taking place in the belief of solving the problem, then that will only serve to make the problem worse, not better. Likewise, stretching already overstretched Muscle Groups will make already weak muscles even weaker. A Diagnostic Pain Assessment that tests for Soft Tissue Palpation, Muscular Strength, Muscular Weakness, AROM-Active Range of Motion, PROM-Passive Range of Motion, and RROM-Resisted Range of Motion needs to be conducted in order to determine the most effective treatment plan for Muscles and Soft Tissue that need to be Strengthened, as well as shortened Soft Tissue Structures that need to be lengthened. The skilled Medical Massage Therapist will then be able to utilize Myofascial Therapy, Quasi-Static Pressure, Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain to effectively treat the affected soft tissue.
What else needs to be done at home?
There is no way that Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points can be treated solely and effectively by a healthcare practitioner, if repetitive stress, muscle weakness, and shortened musculature is the cause of the problem. A sufferer of Myofascial Pain Syndrome will benefit from self-stretching and strengthening, aerobic home exercises, and self-trigger point therapy at home to prevent reoccurrence of trigger point restriction, increase blood flow, maintain flexibility, and promote healing. An experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan.
If it feels like your muscles are literally in knots, and pressing on those knots creates pain someplace else on your body, then you are more than likely experiencing Myofascial Pain, also known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome. The prefix “Myo” means muscle, and the suffix “Fascia” means connective tissue, therefore the word “Myofascial” translates to muscle and connective tissue. The word “Syndrome” basically means a group of symptoms. In essence, Myofascial Pain Syndrome literally means muscle and connective tissue pain symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is directly related to and associated with Trigger Points.
What is the definition of a Trigger Point?
Trigger Points are extremely irritable knots in taut bands of muscle and connective tissue that produce a phenomena of referred pain to different locations of the body when external pressure is placed upon them, hence the term “trigger point”.
Where can Trigger Points be Found?
Trigger points have different qualities and predictable pain patterns that can overlap and require extensive treatment to eliminate them. Trigger Points can be found in many different types of soft tissue such as muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, scar tissue, and joint capsules. Trigger points can be caused by other trigger points, direct trauma to soft tissue, infection, disease, radiculopathy, repetitive stress injury, smoking, or psychological distress. Trigger points also inhibit blood flow, which can make the pain worse unless treated.
How are Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome treated?
There are a few options when it comes to treatment of Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome. Depending upon the health or medical practitioner, treatment options include low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, dry needling, injections, spray and stretch using a vapocoolant spray, electrostimulation, ischemic compression, and medical massage therapy emphasizing the specified treatment of trigger points. Stretch and spray technique is when the muscle and trigger point are sprayed with a coolant, then the muscle is slowly stretched. Injections of Lidocaine can be performed by Physiatrists, but keep in mind that DOMS-Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness is a common side effect. Myofasical Release works by stretching and loosening the fascia so it and your body can move freely, removing pain and restriction. Quasi-Static pressure works within the patient’s pain tolerance. Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain works on sensors in soft tissue to relax muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
What are the Characteristics of Trigger Points?
Active Trigger Points actively refer pain along nerve pathways locally or to adjacent locations. Latent trigger points only refer pain when some type of pressure or force is placed upon the trigger point itself or to the soft tissue structure where the latent trigger point is located. Key Trigger Points have pain referral patterns that activate or create a Latent trigger point along a nerve pathway. Key trigger points also activate “Satellite Trigger Points” in other soft tissue structures. Both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Primary trigger points may activate Secondary trigger points in other structures, and again, both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain.
What does Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points Represent?
It is important to understand that Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points represent the effect of a problem or problems, and NOT the cause of a problem. So what does that mean? It means that Myofascial Pain or Trigger Point were created because MOST COMMONLY because of injury. What causes injury in most cases? Repetitive Stress, trauma, weakness in most cases. So is it enough just to treat the Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain? The obvious answer is a BIG NO!
So then what is the best way to make sure that Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points are treated and don’t return?
If repetitive stress is the cause of the problem, then the source of that repetitive stress must be alleviated to provide for a rehabilitative environment, or healing will never take place. Weakness is usually a very big cause of the problem, and if strengthening of the wrong muscle groups are taking place in the belief of solving the problem, then that will only serve to make the problem worse, not better. Likewise, stretching already overstretched Muscle Groups will make already weak muscles even weaker. A Diagnostic Pain Assessment that tests for Soft Tissue Palpation, Muscular Strength, Muscular Weakness, AROM-Active Range of Motion, PROM-Passive Range of Motion, and RROM-Resisted Range of Motion needs to be conducted in order to determine the most effective treatment plan for Muscles and Soft Tissue that need to be Strengthened, as well as shortened Soft Tissue Structures that need to be lengthened. The skilled Medical Massage Therapist will then be able to utilize Myofascial Therapy, Quasi-Static Pressure, Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain to effectively treat the affected soft tissue.
What else needs to be done at home?
There is no way that Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points can be treated solely and effectively by a healthcare practitioner, if repetitive stress, muscle weakness, and shortened musculature is the cause of the problem. A sufferer of Myofascial Pain Syndrome will benefit from self-stretching and strengthening, aerobic home exercises, and self-trigger point therapy at home to prevent reoccurrence of trigger point restriction, increase blood flow, maintain flexibility, and promote healing. An experienced Medical Massage Therapist will be able to formulate an effective exercise treatment plan.
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