Trigger points are hard and tender lumps that develop in the belly of a taut band of skeletal fibers. These spots are stuck in an intensely contracted (shortened) state, like a muscle cramp only smaller.
Trigger points are painful because circulation within the trigger point contraction zone is insufficient. Therefore, blood flow is inadequate for waste removal, and oxygen and nutrient delivery is compromised. In addition, lactic acid builds up due to the sustained anaerobic muscle contraction. All of which causes myofascial pain, muscle fiber damage and muscle weakness.
Essentially your trigger point area is full of toxins, without the sources necessary to rebuild. As with many health issues, trigger point pain boils down to poor circulation and what’s being circulated.
Active trigger points cause pain locally and remotely, what’s known as referred pain. Referred pain means pain is felt somewhere other than the site that generates pain. So the pain you perceive from a trigger point could be felt adjacent to it or even some distance away.
What causes the referred pain phenomenon is not fully understood. And in contrast, a tender point causes pain only at the site of sustained contraction.
What leads to trigger point development is not fully understood either. But generally, it’s believed that one of three factors play a role. They are repetitive triggering of a muscle fiber to contract without corresponding full relaxation, some sort of trauma involving the triggered muscle and malnutrition. Some of the specific causes are:
- poor posture
- lack of exercise
- vitamin deficiencies
- repetitive stress injuries
- adjacent joint problems ~ sprains
- emotional stress that causes muscle tension
- improper body mechanics causing muscle strain
- not using a muscle through its full range of motion
- prolonged periods of holding a muscle in its shortened position
So, sitting, standing, leaning, bending, squatting, reaching, or what not, over a sustained period without otherwise moving the associated muscles puts you in a prime position for trigger point pain. And repetitive performance of a tedious task without a muscular break may eventually bulge into trigger points within the overused muscles. And referred pain can complicate your analysis for what moves need changing.
Trigger point pain and referred pain are the focus of a trigger point therapist. Trigger point therapy is a treatment designed to release trigger point’s sustained contractions. Basically, it is accomplished via sustained pressure directly on the site.
Does trigger point therapy hurt? Absolutely. But you’ll only feel sharp pain for the few seconds of pressure. Once your trigger point contraction is broken up, site repair begins and your referred pain subsides.
In addition to trigger point therapy, here’s a couple of trigger point treatments you can do for yourself:
- routinely stretch out an overworked muscle
- massage trigger points & surrounding muscle to encourage blood circulation
- consume a highly nutritious diet that’s low in carbs, high in healthy fats & high in antioxidants
Consider taking flax seed oil capsules and simultaneously cut out other fats.
And if you are taking statins, discuss the possibility of discontinuing this form of treatment with your health care provider.