Let's talk Trigger Points?

Note: This blog is not intended for treatment or diagnosis of a medical condition and is for informational purposes only.

What is a trigger point? A trigger point is a tight area in a muscle that refers pain to another area. For example, a trigger point in a clients upper trapezius (top of shoulder) will often refer pain to the head mimicking a headache and this is often where headaches come from.

Trigger points are often referred to as "knots" by clients although clients don't know they have a trigger point there until I start to work in the area and they notice the referral pain.

There are 3 different types of trigger points. Active, latent and satellite.

An active trigger point is defined as causing pain when no pressure is being placed on them.

A latent trigger point is defined as one that causes some dysfunction, normally stiffness or movement restriction, but is not normally painful unless touched.

Satellite trigger points are defined as trigger points located where the referral is.

There are more than 600 known trigger points in the human body. Below is a link to Pinterest and the Travell & Simons' Trigger Point Flip Charts. These are the charts I use in my practice.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/505810601881396710/