Ever gone to a physiotherapist and heard them say just going to try trigger point this muscle or you have a myofascial pain or you have a knot in this muscle and wonder what the hell they are going on about.

Well, the word myofascial is Latin for:
Myo = muscle tissue
Fascial = connective tissue in and around it

So myofascial pain is hyperirritable spots in the muscle or in the connective tissues surrounding skeletal muscles. These irritable spots in the medical profession are called a trigger points and in lame man terms are called ‘knots’.

Trigger points are often caused by muscle injury or repetitive strain. They often cause pain, tightness/ stiffness and limited range of movement which can lead to loss of normal function. Trigger points often secondary pain to other types of pain caused by injury.

These shortening muscle fibers can cause pain when pressed on. Trigger points also have special properties in that they can refer pain. This means that the pain people feel is often in different area of the body compared with the location of the trigger point.

A common trigger point people can relate to the most, is the one found in the trapezius muscle (muscle located in the upper shoulder). This trigger point can refer pain up the side of the neck up the posterior part of the neck and across the eyebrow making you feel like you have a headache.
Trigger points can either be active or latent. When they are active they cause this constant aching or evening burning pain. This is usually when people seek treatment. Lantent trigger point usually only cause pain when you press over them. Both active and lantent trigger points can cause the muscle to be weak due to it being taut and not as flexible.

When treating trigger points physiotherapist use numerus techniques. One of the most is to apply pressure to over the trigger point and allow the short fibers to relax under there pressure given. Once these muscles been triggered off we need to prevent them from shortening again by stretching them through full range and treating the cause of them triggering in the first place.

People often feel instant relief after a muscle has been triggered or after a few treatment sessions.

Do you have knots you want released? Why not make a booking now to see one of our physiotherapists.