Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is common place in the treatment of athletes to reduce tight muscles for better performance and injury reduction. The best thing about this type of treatment that it is simple, highly effective, cheap (less than $25) and highly accessible. Basically, trigger point therapy uses a trigger ball or other trigger point tools to put pressure on sore knots in muscles.

Trigger points can easily develop as a result of direct injury, muscle strains, overworked muscles, emotional stress and anxiety, inflammation and toxins resulting in these knots in the muscle. It might not seem critical at the time but if not addressed these knots can restrict movement, develop pain or even the more difficult to diagnose, referred pain. Healthy muscles do not contain knots, tight bands and are not sensitive to pressure.

Research by Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons, shows trigger points are the 75% of the primary cause of pain and are a factor in nearly every painful condition.

Trigger Point Therapy benefits

Here are some of the other benefits of trigger point therapy
• Gets rid of sore knots and tightness in muscles
• Reduces physical stress and pain
• Improves range of motion, flexibility and mobility
• Better sporting performance
• Improves posture
• Reduces soreness from workouts
• Improves blood flow
• Corrects muscle imbalance

Simply by putting pressure directly on these trigger points or knots, temporarily compromises the circulation. As a result the body sends a flush of blood and lymph to the specific area. This in turns helps correct the muscle length tension, recovers the myofascial tissues and flushes any inflammation.

There are also many types of trigger point tools such as foam rollers, thera sticks, back rollers and triangles. They are specific designed for different body parts and different hardness. Harder devices are not always the best as you need to work up to these levels.

Trigger Point Therapy – Trigger Balls and other tools

Trigger Balls	Foam Rollers	Back Roller	Thera Stick

Trigger point therapy may not be a replacement to other forms of therapy like Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Massage and Stretching. They also work to reduce trigger points but it is trigger point therapy is highly effective due to the accessibility, low cost, ease and low time commitment (10 mins a day). As a result of all the benefits, trigger point therapy is must for everyone especially if you want to eliminate tight muscles.

This is a safe form of manual therapy but all pre-cautions should be taken with the advise of a health and fitness professional. This is especially the case if any current medical conditions.

For more general information, a Trigger Ball Instructional video is here

Proudly published in July 2016 edition South City Bulletin

http://southcitybulletin.com.au/living/health-fitness/trigger-point-therapy/

Trigger Point Therapy – Simple and the most effective way to eliminate tight muscles