What Are Trigger Points?

Tigger points cause pain more often than any other condition, are drastically under-diagnosed due to lack of information. Trigger points are specific, hyperirritable and hypersensitive areas in muscle that suffer from decreased circulation, increased contraction and spasm. Lack of circulation creates a high anomaly of toxins and increased nerve sensitivity that can range from low ache to sharp pain. Now just because the trigger point causes the pain does not mean that the spot is painful itself. When the pain causing spot is painful it is called a primary trigger point. However, pain can also manifest itself in areas away from the active trigger point - such pain is called referred pain.

Causes of Trigger Point Pain

Tender trigger points typically develop from lack of stretching or improper stretching but can also be caused from stress/trauma, repetitive motion or even poor posture. Other common causes are:

• sitting without firm back support (slumped posture)
• prolonged sitting in a chair without armrests, or armrests that are too high, or too low (leaning to one side)
• cradling a phone between ear and shoulder
• large breasts
• one leg shorter than the other
• typing on a keyboard that is too high
• prolonged improper sleeping position
• playing a violin
• kayaking
• overly tight bra straps
• carrying a purse (prolonged hiking up of the shoulder)
• head-forward posture
• whiplash
• walking with a cane that is too long

Reduced circulation in trigger points will eventually lead to muscle shortening and restricted movement which further accentuates the pain, thus completing a cycle of decreased mobility and further pain. This commonly becomes the underlying cause of chronic headache pain, and the patient will continue to suffer from these until the problem trigger points are treated directly.