Everything You Need to Know About Trigger Points - Successful Treatment Combination: Neural…
Muscle stiffening is the collective result of the highest degree of sensitivity in the interaction between muscle fibers, connective tissue and nerves. When there is a lack of harmony among them—due to, for example, stress, lack of exercise, incorrect or excessive strain—muscle stiffening and cramps, referred to as trigger points, can result. Fortunately, many of these can be significantly improved, and even fully resolved, with various trigger point therapies such as classical acupuncture, dry needling technique, or mobilization techniques.
What Are Trigger Points (Myogeloses)?
When muscles stiffen, nodules form within the muscle fiber. These are called trigger points or myogeloses. Each of the more than 600 muscles in the human body can develop this type of stiffening, which averages around 1 millimeter in diameter but can also reach the size of a walnut.
These phenomena are not only painful to the touch but are also accompanied by a more or less serious restriction of movement. Trigger points, or myogeloses, can even radiate to areas of the body far from the triggered problem area.
Myogelosis, incidentally, comes from Greek. "Myos" means muscle, and "gelu" means frost. Combined, these two words describe the difficult state of the muscles quite fittingly.
How Do Trigger Points Develop?
A muscle activates when it contracts. This contraction should generally be followed by a relaxation phase. Trigger points generally arise when this relaxation does not occur. The muscle then remains tense, causing cramps, and this is how the problem arises. As a result of the cramp, fine blood vessels can be compressed, which ultimately severely disrupts blood flow to the muscle, and the muscle can no longer be supplied with adequate nutrients and oxygen.
A hardening develops, colloquially also called a "knot." The technical term is trigger point—"triggering" means initiating. Inevitably, these trigger points can trigger complaints in entirely different areas of the body. This makes it extremely difficult to find these often painful points.
There can be several reasons why muscles stop relaxing, thereby promoting the development of trigger points:
Trigger Points Due to Repetitive Movements
If you always perform the same movements—for example, working on an assembly line, cleaning, or hammering, etc.—it's always the same muscles that have to work. This tires the muscle regions much faster, and especially if compensatory movements don't ensure variety and even distribution of the load—an excessive demand—creates the perfect opportunity for the formation of painful trigger points.
Trigger Points Due to Inactivity
We sit on our behinds. Had we not gotten up and moved, our species would have gone extinct in the course of evolutionary history. This is why the human body is built around movement. Moderate movement is very important for humans, and even for extending life. In the absence of movement, muscles are deprived of the stimuli necessary to remain healthy and functional. The result: cramps and tension arise, from which trigger points can develop.
Trigger Points as a Result of Acute Overload Due to Physical Stress
Making an excessive effort to keep your balance on a slippery road, or lifting heavy boxes, are two typical examples of excessive, and therefore unhealthy, muscle tension. In the worst-case scenario, muscles can respond to this form of acute overload with trigger points.
Symptoms of Trigger Points: How Do I Know If I'm Affected?
The following symptoms indicate that you may be suffering from trigger points:
- Pain with movement
- Restricted movement
- Neck tension
- Back pain
- Headache
- Shoulder pain
- Stiffness
- Increased excitability of the muscles
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Burning
- Tingling
How Do I Recognize and Feel Trigger Points?
If you can feel yourself, you'll notice that trigger points are often hardened and truly feel lumpy. They are also usually extremely sensitive to pain when pressure is applied. They can restrict your mobility and cause all the surrounding muscles to tire more quickly.
Which People Are Frequently Affected by Trigger Points?
People who move too little, or move excessively on one side, run the risk of neglecting or overstraining certain muscle groups. The resulting imbalance cannot be compensated for in the long run and raises the risk of developing trigger points.
How Do I Know If I Have Trigger Points?
If you're experiencing persistent pain in your shoulder, back, or other areas of the body where you can feel stiffening, it's highly likely that trigger points are present.
What Happens If Trigger Points Are Not Treated?
If trigger points are not treated, the affected muscle has no chance of regenerating. Increasing pain and pathological changes, along with early signs of wear and tear, are then already predetermined.
What Effect Should Targeted Trigger Point Therapy Achieve?
The goal of trigger point therapy is to relax cramped muscles. This allows blood circulation and, accordingly, the supply of nutrients and oxygen to normalize. This makes the muscles elastic again and enables them to perform their functions smoothly and without pain.
What Forms of Trigger Point Treatment Methods Exist?
To treat trigger points, there are various forms of treatment that have proven successful in many cases. These are:
- Neural Therapy
- Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy
- Manual Trigger Point Therapy
- Manual Therapy and Cryotherapy
- Fascia Therapy
- Trigger Point Shock Wave Therapy
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Osteopathy
- Cupping
- Connective Tissue Massage
- Thermotherapy
- Mineral Infrared Therapy
- Functional Movement Exercises
- Static and Dynamic Stretching Exercises
- Dry Needling
- Nutritional Medicine
The most effective treatment combination is the joint application of Neural Therapy + Manual Medicine and PIR techniques.
Sources Used:
• Nazlikul, H: Nöralterapi Ders Kitabı
• Nazlikul, H: Nöralterapi Başka Bir Tedavi Mümkün
• H. Barop's Nöralterapi Atlası (Translated by H. Nazlikul)
• L. Fischer's Nöralterapi Kitabı (Translated by H. Nazlikul and Y. Tamam)
• James W. McNabb's Eklem ve Yumuşak Doku Enjeksiyonları (Translated by H. Nazlikul and Y. Tamam)
• Weinschenk, S: Neuraltherapie
• Fischer, L et: Lehrbuch Integrative Schmerztherapie