Do you ever have a sore spot that makes you nearly jump in pain when it’s touched? Have you ever experienced pain in one area when pressure is applied to a completely different area of your body? It may not be a muscle in spasm. It could be a trigger point. Trigger Point Massage therapy can be a powerful tool to address these issues, explains Scott Dietsch, Massage Therapy Clinic Director at Swedish Institute:⠀
What is a trigger point?
“A trigger point is a highly irritable localized spot of exquisite tenderness in a palpable taut band of muscle tissue. Essentially, it’s the painful part of a knot in a muscle. When pressure is applied to this taut band of fibers, you’ll feel a radiating ‘referred’ pain in a distant area. In other words, when a TP is compressed or stimulated, it’s typical to feel pain in a different, remote part of your body. For example, a TP in the shoulder may cause headache or neck pain—sometimes even when it’s not being pressed.” ⠀
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What’s happening below the surface?
The knot in the muscle fiber continuously contracts, stopping blood flow at the trigger point, leading to tissue starved of the necessary oxygen and nutrients. Metabolic waste & toxins then build in the area, potentially causing pain, tension & spasm.
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So what do you do?
See a licensed massage therapist! A trained LMT will be able to correctly identify the source of the problem & the exact point to palpate. After about 7-10 seconds of applying specific pressure on the point (hopefully a “good” hurt!), you’ll likely feel a dull, deep pain followed by relief as it subsides. More than that, your therapist will be able to identify aspects of your posture or work habits that may be causing the trigger points in the first place so you can get to the root of the problem rather than applying a band-aid approach.
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Where do you go?
If you don’t already have your own personal favorite Massage Therapist, lucky for you, we have a Graduate Clinic at Swedish Institute where you can be confident that you’re getting a properly trained Licensed Massage Therapist (or soon-to-be licensed on a limited permit) with 1200+ hours of training. Sessions start at $75 for a full 60-minute massage, far below what you’d pay at an NYC spa. So book your session!
Contact us at [email protected] or (212) 924-5900 x268.
If you’re interested in learning more about a career in Massage Therapy or another health-related field, we’d be happy to answer your questions. Contact us today to learn more.