Tight, aching shoulders – could trigger points be the cause?
A common cause of the all too familiar ache through the upper shoulders and neck can be the presence of trigger points – a tight portion of muscle that remains constantly contracted, otherwise known as knots.
Trigger points can form following minor injury, repetitive activities or muscular fatigue (often caused by poor posture). The tension caused by the contraction leads to decreased blood circulation to the affected area, limiting the oxygenation of the surrounding tissues and causing a build up of waste products. Given enough time, the lack of oxygen can decrease the muscles’ ability to properly function.
Trigger points will often “trigger” pain in areas of the body away from where the immediate contracture has occurred. This can be the cause of dull aching sensations all around the body and can also be a common cause of headaches.
Trigger points can be treated by manual sustained pressure. Osteopathy uses deep tissue massage techniques and you may complement this with the use of massage balls at home. It involves specifically locating the trigger point and applying sustained pressure until the tense muscle fibres relax. Also, the osteopath will consider how other structures are contributing to the maintenance of the trigger point and seek to redress those issues. Postural and movement advice will also help to prevent the conditions from continuously recurring.
Don’t suffer pain, book an appointment here or, if you would like any more advice, please give us a phone call and we will do our best to help.
Osteopathic Natural Health.
To whom may concern, my name is Anastasia and i’m writing you regarding your article. I wanted to know how osteopathy uses trigger points. I understood the method of treatment but i wanted to clarify the benefits of treatment.
Regards, Anastasia.
HI Anastasia,
Thank you for your message.
Trigger points are just one of the many techniques that Osteopaths use to treat their patients.
We take a global view of the patient’s presentation and consider it within the context of as many aspects of the patient’s life as possible.
It is part of the human condition that our musculoskeletal system comes under load and, as such, we often palpate hypertonic muscle fibres in our patients.
These hypertonic muscle areas may be due to many causes but invariably involve trigger point activity.
Once identified, we then treat using various deep tissue techniques and / or, if the practitioner is qualified to do so, through the use of acupuncture or “dry needling” techniques.
The benefits are significant and are typified by a considerable reduction in tissue hypertonicity, muscle fasciculation, pain, oedema and an increase in range of movement.
I hope this answers your question.
With best regards,
David and the ONH Team