Benefits
Trigger point therapy can be used to loosen extremely tense muscles that have not been loosened by normal physiotherapeutic intervention techniques. By penetrating deeper into the tissue with the pressure of the thumb, even extremely tense muscles can be loosened. This therapy method should be used especially in cases of already radiating complaints, because the tissue is very irritated and should be loosened quickly to avoid aggravation.
The patient feels the treatment of the trigger points as very unpleasant, because a high stimulus is produced on the possibly already painful muscle. However, it can be said that this treatment is very effective and is therefore widely used. Further possibilities against tension arise from fascial training and postisometric relaxation.
Accounting
Trigger points are caused by incorrect loading, too high a load due to static work or, in the case of continuous loading, too weak muscles. This leads to a restriction of the blood circulation and a resulting reduced metabolism. The myosin heads and actin filaments of the muscles can no longer perform the desired task and remain in their position, the so-called trigger points.
By pressing these points with the thumb until a pain point of 7 is reached and holding pressure for up to 2 minutes, these points can be released. The shoulder and neck area is particularly sensitive. The trigger point therapy is only one possibility of treatment and the patient should try to improve his or her symptoms by means of specific training and relaxation exercises.