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Trigger points are hypersensitive areas within a muscle belly, commonly called “knots” that when stimulated, usually refers pain in areas around and away from the actual trigger point. They MIMIC pain in predictable band(s) away from the trigger point and also cause contractions in muscles that form taut bands… A trigger point is simply a small contraction within a muscle that can be excruciatingly painful.

Common ways in which trigger points mimic other conditions:

Weight-bearing on one leg more than the other (usually when we’ve had an injury to one side, we bear less weight on that side for example), can cause trigger points to develop in the gluteal muscles. Looking at this pain pattern, we could assume this to be sciatica. Sciatica is the description of a pain pattern and not a true diagnosis. (Fig.A below)

Another scary referral pattern is when a patient complains of severe pain in the left side of chest and down into the left arm. After appropriate testing for a possible heart problem is found to be negative, trigger points in the pectoral (chest) muscles are a likely cause for the chest and referred pain down into the arm. This pain referral pattern closely mimics that of a heart attack…and more often then not, they’re just as painful and stressful.

Severe headaches have become all too common. More often than not, after conducting many scans and tests, the muscles in and around the neck and jaw are found to be harbouring trigger points that are causing the headaches. These muscles contract strongly and can compress nerves and blood vessels causing muscle and nerve pain.

Other severe presentations that may involve trigger points as their cause are the 6-pack abdominal muscles mimicking appendicitis and other abdominal pains.

A wide range of sports injuries including: Tennis Elbow, Shin Splints, Biceps Tendonitis and Bursitis, may involve muscles that mimic and these conditions.

There may be various causes that flare-up trigger points, these may include:

Long term or very sudden overuse of muscles, activation by other trigger points usually in neighbouring muscles, disease, psychological distress (via systemic inflammation), post-surgery, direct trauma to the region, when nerves do not function properly along their path (radiculopathy), infections and chronic health issues such as diabetes, arthritis, smoking, etc.

Common treatment modalities we would use at PhysioPRO to treat trigger points could include:

• Proper diagnoses of trigger points and appropriate referral if serious pathology is suspected.
• Myofascial release techniques and ischaemic pressure.
• Dry-needling.
• Muscle energy techniques.
• Posture correction, Strapping and Taping techniques.
• Proper muscle activation, muscle and movement re-education.

For thorough assessment and comprehensive treatment kindly contact us….

Mitesh@PhysioPRO