Trigger Point, Myofascial, & Positional Release Therapies

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is a bodywork technique used to help relieve soft-tissue pain and dysfunction. It involves the application of pressure to tender muscle tissue, in order to help alleviate pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Trigger point therapy may be used to treat conditions such as bursitis, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, back pain, or even tennis elbow.

Trigger points are areas of tenderness within the muscle. There are two basic types of trigger points: active and latent. Active trigger points cause general muscular pain and can refer pain and tenderness to other areas of the body when pressure is applied. Latent trigger points only exhibit pain when compressed. They do not refer pain and may or may not radiate pain around the point.

Trigger points are often found in muscle tissue that has been injured or overused. This overuse or injury to the muscle tissue may lead to increased tension and shortening of the muscle, thus constricting the blood flow and compressing nerves. The constriction of blood flow deprives the muscle of healthy circulation, and as a result, the muscle does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs. This in turn inhibits the body's abiity to carry away waste products from the muscle tissue. As a result, waste products accumulate and fatigue, soreness, and pain can result.

The aim of trigger point therapy is to relax tight muscles and increase blood circulation to the affected area. This is achieved by slowly applying direct and static pressure to the area for 7 to 10 seconds, in an attempt to break down the condensed tissue. The application of pressure to a trigger point causes the muscle tissue to relax, helps restore blood flow to the area, and may eventually make it possible to stretch out and re-lengthen the affected muscle. Through this process, the therapist helps restore healthy, pain-free functioning to the muscle(s) in question.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is an effective hands-on massage therapy technique which gently stretches the fascia, or connective tissue of the body. The goal of myofascial release is to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and help restore balance to the body. The fascia is manipulated, either indirectly or directly, allowing the connective tissue fibers to reorganize in a more flexible, functional fashion.

However, to fully understand myofascial release, it is necessary to have an understanding of the fascial system, or connective tissue. The fascia is a specialized system of the body that has an appearance similar to cheese cloth or a spider's web. It is very densely woven, interconnected web of tissue that covers all our muscles, and even every fiber within our muscles. It also covers our bones, arteries, and internal organs, from head to toe, without interruption. It is not a system of separate coverings, but rather one structure that covers all muscles and organs. In this respect, every part of our body is connected to every other part through this densely woven fascia, just like the yarn in a sweater.

Thus, it is important to note that myofascial release is a whole body treatment method that recognizes that restrictions and tightness in one area of the body affects the entire body. Therefore, injuries or trauma can cause an imbalance within the body and restrictions or tightness in one area of the fascia can eventually spread to other areas of the body, like a pull in a sweater. Thus, treating fascial restrictions is important to restoring mobility and eliminating pain.

Positional Release

Positional release is a method of total body evaluation and treatment using tender points and body positions of comfort to resolve dysfunction and pain. Positional release is a gentle, yet exceptionally effective form of therapeutic bodywork. Positional release is used to reduce effects of trauma, relieve pain, and release held tension patterns within the body. The ultimate goal of positional release is to correct imbalances in the musculoskeletal system to improve health and overall function.

Positional release is performed by moving the client into a pain-free or more comfortable position. Once the client is in a position of maximum comfort, the position is held for a minimum of 90 seconds, and up to a maximum of 3 minutes. While the client holds this position, the therapist applies gentle compressions to the joints and tissues. This allows the body to release tension and pain. And although positional release sessions are very gentle and relaxing, it has a great therapeutic effect.