Trigger Point Massage - How To Avoid The Most Common Mistakes
Many people know of massage therapy, but many do not realize it is a specific type of therapy. Many tend to confuse massage with pedicure or manicure. However, there are significant differences between such therapy. In manicure and pedicure, the focus is more on removing the nail polish and making the cuticle easy - that does not really apply to massage. Trigger point massage is a more targeted approach, focusing directly on releasing painful trigger points within the body, which may lead to chronic pain and psychological stress.
Trigger point massage targets the tightest areas of the body (most often the lower neck and back ), helping to enhance mobility, posture, and range of movement. While nearly all massage isn't painful, some could be. If you are getting a massage in a professional facility, the masseuse can use massage oil or a lubricant in order to minimize the sensation that can come with some kinds of massage. Slimming down is usually recommended so you do not risk triggering the knots that could lead to pain.
The term"trigger point" refers to the specialized areas where massage therapy focuses its attention. There are actually hundreds of these points across the body, but when the pain occurs, it is typically located in a certain place. Trigger points are usually hyper-sensitive, meaning that they are"on" over other regions within the body. As a result of this, chronic pain from these spots may lead to discomfort in many areas. Trigger points can be activated by activities like repetitive movement (running, jumping, etc..)
Trigger points can be very tricky to treat and target, but with some basic self-massage techniques you can improve circulation, decrease muscle knots, loosen knots, and so on. By way of example, when I do my weekly Swedish massage, I begin with my hands and go up to my shoulders. I work my way down to my arms, working the muscles along my spine. Then I bring myself back up to my throat and keep the massage from there.
Some therapists have been known to indicate stretching for the relief of pain, but when your muscles are tight, it will only worsen the situation. This is why it's important to begin at the source: together with the muscles. While a therapist may have the ability to target specific tender points, they generally do not know enough about your personal condition to efficiently target the areas for the best results.
Another frequent recommendation by massage therapists is to apply a cold compress to the trigger points. Cold compress is really very helpful in reducing pain, but it does not always work. Cold compress only works because the blood vessels surrounding the hyper-sensitive areas become smaller. This results in decreased blood flow and decreased oxygen to the muscles, which then causes more pain.
If you're searching for trigger point therapy to aid with chronic pain, or to alleviate the discomfort of accidents or sports injuries, look for a supplier who has experience treating injuries and sports injuries. Look also for suppliers who specialize in trigger point massage. You want somebody who is fully trained and educated in this treatment method. A massage therapist who's just starting out may not have the expertise you need.
Trigger points are almost everybody's worst nightmare, and almost everyone wants to avoid them as much as possible. Trigger points are knots, either deep or shallow, that form in muscles. There are lots of different knots, and each individual develops a different sensitivity to pain. Trigger point massage is often recommended for the elimination or reduction of these troublesome knots.