If you are experiencing joint pain such as neck/lower back/knee pain or are suffering from headaches, reduced range of motion, stiffness or a niggle that just won’t go away, it can be hard to know which direction to turn to get the right help.
Studies suggest that trigger points are a component of up to 93% of the pain seen in pain clinics and a sole cause of pain as much as 85% of the time (Gershwin; Fishbain quoted in Travell and Simons: Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual Volume I). A startlingly high percentage!
What is a Trigger Point?
A trigger point is basically a knot in your soft tissue that impairs muscle function and can cause pain. The pain is often not felt on the trigger point itself, but referred to another point in the body. For example, a trigger point in the muscle of the shoulder can cause pain radiating down the arm, not just in the shoulder itself. You may have trigger points in your shoulders that cause headaches up the neck and in the temple area. A trigger point deep in the gluteal (buttock) muscles can cause sciatic pain down the leg. This is why they can often be missed in treatments, and thus the pain just won’t go away or goes away after periods of activity.
What causes Trigger Points?
- Emotional stress
- Overuse or underuse of muscles (eg sporting activity or sitting at a computer for too long)
- Dietary triggers (eg caffeine)
- Poor posture
- Overloading muscles (eg heavy lifting)
- Repetitive strain (eg repeated use of a computer mouse)
- Trauma (eg whiplash)
How to treat them
Come for a massage at Brighton Bodyworks! I have experience in advanced clinical techniques to locate trigger points and release these knots within your pain threshold. This will help circulation in to the muscles, while gentle stretching will help realign the fibres. Some of these trigger points may have built up over years but these techniques are proven – usually in 1-6 treatments – to reduce or eliminate them. Once this is achieved I recommend monthly maintenance treatments. I can also provide homecare advice with gentle stretching exercises and trigger points you may be able to work yourself.
If you would like to book an appointment or discuss treatment options, please call 01273 729691/07881 958093 or visit my website, www.massagetherapy-brighton.co.uk
Prices
1hr £35
90 mins £50