Trigger Point Massage - How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes
Many people know of massage therapy, but many do not realize it is a particular sort of therapy. Many tend to confuse massage with pedicure or manicure. However, there are significant differences between these kinds of therapy. In manicure and pedicure, the focus is more on removing the nail polish and making the cuticle easy - that does not really apply to massage. Trigger point massage is a much more targeted approach, focusing directly on releasing painful trigger points in the body, which can lead to chronic pain and psychological stress.
Trigger point massage targets the tightest parts of the body (most often the lower neck and back ), helping to improve mobility, posture, and range of movement. While the majority of massage is not painful, some may be. If you are getting a massage at a professional facility, the masseuse may use massage oil or a lubricant to be able to minimize the sensation that could come with some kinds of massage. Slimming down is usually recommended so you do not risk triggering the knots that could lead to pain.
The term"trigger point" refers to the specialized areas where massage therapy focuses its attention. There are in fact hundreds of those points across the body, but if the pain occurs, it is typically located in a certain place. Trigger points are often hyper-sensitive, meaning that they are"on" over other regions in the body. As a result of this, chronic pain from these spots may lead to discomfort in many areas. Trigger points can be activated by activities like repetitive motion (running, jumping, etc..)
Trigger points can be quite tricky to target and treat, but with some basic self-massage techniques you can improve circulation, decrease muscle knots, loosen knots, and so on. By way of instance, when I do my weekly Swedish massage, I begin with my hands and go up to my shoulders. I work my way down to my arms, working the muscles along my spine. Then I bring myself back up to my neck and keep the massage from there.
Some therapists are known to indicate stretching for the relief of pain, but if your muscles are tight, it will only worsen the situation. This is the reason it's important to start at the origin: with the muscles. While a therapist may be able to target specific tender points, they generally don't know enough about your personal condition to effectively target the areas for the best results.
Another common recommendation by massage therapists is to apply a cold compress to the trigger points. Cold compress is actually very effective in reducing pain, but it does not always work. Cold compress only works because the blood vessels surrounding the hyper-sensitive areas become smaller. This results in decreased blood flow and decreased oxygen to the muscles, which then causes more pain.
If you're looking for trigger point therapy to aid with chronic pain, or to alleviate the discomfort of injuries or sports injuries, look for a provider who has expertise treating injuries and sports injuries. Look also for suppliers who specialize in trigger point massage. You want somebody who is fully trained and educated in this treatment technique. A massage therapist who is just starting out may not have the experience you require.
Trigger points are almost everyone's worst nightmare, and nearly everyone wants to avoid them as far as possible. Trigger points are knots, either shallow or deep, that form in muscles. There are lots of diverse knots, and each person develops a different sensitivity to pain. Trigger point massage is often recommended for the removal or reduction of these troublesome knots.