What are trigger points?
Trigger points are concentrated hyperirritable spots within skeletal muscle that often result in reduced range of movement and muscle weakness.

At a trigger point the sensory receptors have become overexcited and therefore localised pain is perceived.

How are trigger points caused?
Trigger points can develop through overuse of muscles, postural imbalance or compensatory movements that have not been corrected or dealt with overtime.

Trauma to the muscle, overuse, adaptive shortening, postural imbalance, muscle strain, nutritional deficits or even the stress response can cause a local metabolic crisis within the myofilament of the muscle.

The actin and myosin shorten causing an involuntary localised spasm that leaves the unaffected sarcomeres of the myofibril in a state of stretch. This causes taut bands which create a temporary stabilising effect within the tissues.

This leads to pain that can be experienced either locally or as referred pain at a joint, which can further restrict movement.

Why do trigger points develop?
Trigger points can serve as a protective mechanism/response to injury as they help stabilise the joint in the event of acute injury or postural stress.

Why do trigger points need to be treated?
Although trigger points are part of the protective response to injury, they outlive their usefulness as they maintain dysfunctional movement patterns that were initially used to compensate for the injury.

The trigger point needs to be released so that range of movement can increase to normal levels and so that pain is not felt in the area.

How can a trigger point be treated?
Altering the chemical cycle that has developed, through direct pressure, stretching or ice, will release tension in the sarcomeres and reduce or release the taut band.

The spasm is released quickly and often permanently, which in turn reduces local pain, referred pain and the dysfunction caused by the trigger point.
Trigger point therapy techniques used in Sports Massage deactivates the trigger point by applying direct pressure and temporarily starving the area of oxygen which leads to a reduction in spasm.

This is sometimes known as ischaemic pressure or myotherapy.

Effects of trigger points techniques:
- Increased range of movement
- Increased local and general relaxation
- Increased flexibility and contractibility of the affected muscle
- Improved circulation
- Reduced local pain
- Reduced referred pain