Hello dear readers, are you also irked or exasperated due to a lingering pain or a stubborn knot that just won’t go away? Our daily lives’ busy and hectic schedules can be truly disruptive for our body. Be it in the form of a stiff neck from hunching over a laptop for long durations, back pain due to long sitting hours, sore shoulders from stress, or muscle tension due to an improper sleep schedule, there is no limit to the pain our body undergoes daily.
Most of us wish for a way to relax our bodies and rejuvenate it from within. What if we tell you that there is a way to achieve this? Yes, you read it right, the answer to all your aches and pains is massage therapy in Jersey City! Trigger point therapy is a game changer in relaxing stiff muscles and loosening the knots to relieve chronic pain.
Here, we will discuss all you need to know about trigger points and how trigger point massage therapy helps in your well-being. Let us begin by understanding more about trigger points.
What are Trigger Points, and Why Do They Hurt?
A trigger point is a tiny knot or cramp within the muscle fibers that acts as the source of pain. The multiple fibers that make up a muscle work continuously to support your movement. But sometimes, due to excessive stress at one point, those fibers become overworked or stuck in a specific position, causing pain. This gives rise to what we refer to as a trigger point.
The pain is sometimes centered around the trigger point and sometimes it is radiated down to other parts of the body. For example, a stiff shoulder can cause pain along the complete length of the arm, or it might even escalate to a severe backache. However, trigger point therapy can work wonders to elevate that pain.
So, What Is a Trigger Point Therapy?
Back in the 1950’s, a doctor, working in a lung and heart hospital, was captivated by the commonality of specific pain points in their patients. Dr. Janet Travell was surprised when she noticed that the most common complaint was neck pain, back pain, or shoulder pain, even with her most chronic patients. Struck by this revelation, she delved into a deep study of these sensitive sites and dubbed them as trigger points.
Trigger point therapy is a massage therapy that is designed specifically to recognize these trigger points and release the tension accumulated there. Trigger point therapy can be incorporated with a TMJ massage or a deep tissue massage as per the diagnosis done by the massage therapist.
In this particular therapy, the experts apply focused pressure directly on the trigger point using fingers, knuckles, or elbows to release the tension within them and allow relaxed mobility.
How Does Trigger Point Therapy Work?
Trigger points do not heal on their own. An expert can help you locate these trigger points and relax them to make you feel better. It is not a single type of massage that a therapist gives; rather, it incorporates various techniques to provide the much-needed relief. Yes, it even includes the deep tissue massage, Jersey City! Below is described a workflow of a trigger point massage:
- Locating the trigger points: The trained and professional expert will gently press on the pain-affected area, looking for spots that are especially tender or tense. It helps them reach the root of the pain effectively.
- Applying targeted pressure: Once the trigger point is diagnosed, the expert will apply direct pressure on the spot. The applied pressure may feel uncomfortable or painful in the beginning, but it is the right way to alleviate the pain.
The targeted pressure disrupts the tension cycle, thus improving the blood flow in the area. The improved blood flow relaxes the muscle and results in greater flexibility of the muscle.
How is Trigger Point Therapy Beneficial?
Trigger point therapy is beneficial as it identifies and targets the root of the pain and provides complete relief. Listed down are a few of the major perks of getting a trigger point massage:
- Better circulation
The taut muscles acting as trigger points affect the circulation of blood, resulting in fatigue, headaches, or sometimes even conditions like vertigo. A trigger point massage helps in relaxing the stiffness, thus improving the blood flow in the area and enhancing your energy levels. - Increased Flexibility
The stiffness in muscles and the resulting pain reduce the range of motion and make daily tasks feel like herculean tasks. The tightness in the muscles restricts the mobility of the body and makes it rigid. Trigger point therapy relaxes the muscles and removes the stiffness, thereby enhancing mobility and flexibility of the body. - Sound Sleep
Tight muscles make it impossible to find a comfortable sleeping position, and the pain also increases discomfort and restricts a sound sleep. This massage therapy will relax the muscles and alleviate the pain, making it easier to relax and fall asleep. - Relief from Headaches
Sore muscles in the neck and back not only affect your daily productivity but are mostly the root cause of mental stress and headaches. Trigger point therapy helps in recognizing and releasing the soreness of these muscles, thus giving you relief from uncomfortable and irritable headaches.
Now that we know all about trigger point therapy, here is what you can expect when opting for such a session:
What to Expect in a Trigger Point Therapy Session
Trigger point therapy, as discussed above, is a focused technique to release stress and tension from the body. Here is a quick look at what a typical session looks like:
- Initial Assessment
The session starts with the therapist understanding your pain issues and performing some movements to understand the impact and pinpoint the trigger points. - Treatment
Once the expert has diagnosed the trigger points and the impact, they start the targeted treatment to relax the muscles and eliminate pain. The initial stage may feel a bit uncomfortable, but it falls under the “good pain” category that makes things better, not worse. - Relief and Relaxation
Once the targeted therapy is over, most people feel instant and noticeable relief in the painful areas. The body might feel a bit sore in some places due to targeted pressure, but that soon fades away in a day or so. - Self-care Guidance
Once the therapy is over, the therapist will provide some expert tips and tricks to prevent future formation of these trigger points. These include some exercise and stretches along with some follow-up sessions.
Final Note:
Is trigger point therapy the right massage therapy in Jersey City? Well, it definitely is a proven therapy that helps release not only muscular stress but also mental stress. It is a magical tool that not only alleviates the pain but also enhances sleep quality and flexibility of the body.