The art of a massage has proven to have numerous health benefits for an individual. Trigger point massage is one such massage that provides targeted relief by addressing tight muscle knots, also known as trigger points, that often cause pain and discomfort.
There are many trigger point massage benefits that an individual can reap if they decide to opt for it. The technique used in trigger point massage helps provide relief from muscle tension and improves mobility and overall well-being.
Here are all the benefits of trigger point massage you should know before you decide to opt for it.
What is Trigger Point Massage
Trigger point massage is a therapeutic massage technique with the aim of targeting and releasing right knots and sensitive areas in muscle tissue known as trigger points.
These points can cause localized pain or refer pain to other parts of the body if they are not addressed. During a trigger point massage, pressure is applied directly to these points to relax the muscle fibers, improve blood flow, and reduce pain or discomfort.
Trigger point massage helps treat conditions like back pain, tension headaches, and recurring strain injuries.
Key Benefits of Trigger Point Massage
There are several trigger point massage benefits that individuals can experience if they opt for one. All the benefits are associated with addressing the pain and restriction on movement caused by specific muscle knots or trigger points.
Pain Relief Across the Body
One of the major benefits of trigger point massage is its ability to help address chronic pain in the body. Trigger point massage:
- Targets specific knots that can cause localised or referred pain in the body.
- Helps address and manage long-term pain caused because of issues like fibromyalgia, sciatica, and tension headaches.
- Restores normal muscle function, reducing stiffness and discomfort by addressing the trigger points.
Apart from these benefits of providing relief from pain, when done regularly, they can also be a natural, drug-free pain management option.
Improved Circulation
Amongst the several trigger point massage benefits, improved blood circulation is a crucial one.
- Trigger point massage does this by helping tight muscles relax, thus letting blood vessels expand and improve blood flow as a result.
- With the enhanced blood flow comes enhanced oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues, speeding up recovery.
- The improved blood and lymphatic flow also helps remove waste products from muscles more efficiently.
- With better circulation, tissues heal and repair faster, and inflammation also decreases in affected areas.
Reduced Stress and Tension
Not only does trigger point massage have physical benefits, but it also provides benefits for your mental health. Trigger point massage
- Targets tight areas, helping muscles relax and lowering the physical tension in the body considerably.
- Activates the parasympathetic nervous system in the body, which helps promote a calm, relaxed state.
- Helps decrease the production of the stress hormone, cortisol, in our body, thus decreasing the overall stress levels in the body.
- The massage also helps increase the production of serotonin and dopamine, which helps combat stress. This fact has also been backed by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).
Enhanced Mobility and Flexibility
Another benefit that trigger point massage therapy also has a positive effect on muscle mobility and flexibility.
- Since trigger point therapy helps relax contracted muscle fibers, it helps in reducing stiffness and improving range of motion.
- With less tension, the joints can move freely, allowing for smoother and more flexible movement.
- Trigger point massage also helps correct posture and movement imbalances, enhancing functional mobility.
Relief from Specific Conditions
There are particular conditions for which trigger point therapy has been known to provide immense relief. Trigger point massages
- Help reduce tension in neck and shoulder muscles, often linked to tension-type headaches, and provides
- Releases tight muscles that contribute to upper and lower back pain.
- Eases pressure on the sciatic nerve caused by tight gluteal muscles.
- Reduces tension in the foot muscles, which helps ease heel pain.
Specialized Benefits of Trigger Point Massage
There are certain trigger point massage benefits that you should know, beyond general pain relief. To achieve these benefits, massage therapy targets the root causes of muscular dysfunction, making it a valuable tool for both everyday wellness and specialized therapy.
For Athletes and Active Individuals
Trigger point therapy massage has proven to be effective in helping athletes and active individuals. This massage therapy:
- Speeds up recovery by increasing blood flow and flushing out metabolic waste after intense workouts.
- Releases tight muscle knots that restrict movement, promoting better performance.
- Can identify and treat trigger points early to help reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
- Reduces delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS by calming hyperirritable muscle areas.
- Helps in muscle balance and function efficiently, which supports peak athletic performance.
For Chronic Pain Sufferers
Trigger point massage has been known to benefit individuals dealing with chronic pain to a great extent. It does this by
- Deactivating trigger points that lead to long-term muscle pain.
- Alleviating muscle stiffness and improving range of motion.
- Reduces nerve sensitivity in affected areas, providing long-lasting relief.
- Can be combined with other complementary therapies like physical therapy, chiropractic care, etc, to enhance effectiveness.
Since trigger point therapy can reduce pain-related stress and fatigue, it promotes better sleep and mental health, adding to an individual’s overall well-being.
Improved Sleep Quality
Sleep disorders have become very common in this day and age. With massage therapy like trigger point therapy, individuals can also experience improved sleep quality. Trigger point therapy
- Eases physical discomfort that could possibly be interfering with an individual’s need to fall or stay asleep.
- Activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for promoting relaxation and deeper rest.
- Since trigger point therapy also helps alleviate chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, it can add to improved sleep continuity.
Posture Improvement
Trigger point therapy can also have a positive effect on our posture. The massage helps
- Release tight muscles and realign them, especially in the neck, shoulders, and lower back, to improve posture.
- Improve an individual’s awareness of habitual tension and poor posture, encouraging better alignment.
- Restore normal muscle length and elasticity, which helps support a more balanced posture.
- Reduces the strain on overworked muscles, which might be compensating for weak or tight areas.
Common Misconceptions About Trigger Point Massage
Though trigger point massage has gained popularity over time, there are still a few misconceptions about this massage practice that need to be addressed.
- The more it hurts, the more effective it will be.
The American Massage Therapy Association or AMTA states that though a little discomfort is normal, an individual will rarely experience intense pain during trigger point therapy. Gentle pressure often works just fine. - Trigger points are only found where you feel pain.
According to Dr. Janet Travell, pioneer of trigger point therapy, it was found that trigger points can refer pain to other areas, which means that the actual source could be away from the actual pain site.
- One session is enough to eliminate chronic pain.
For issues like chronic pain, multiple trigger point massage sessions are suggested before one starts seeing the difference. These sessions can also be combined with stretching, exercise, and posture correction.
- It is only suitable for athletes or active people.
Trigger point massage can prove to be beneficial even for individuals with sedentary or desk jobs, as they are just as likely to develop trigger points due to repetitive strain or poor posture.
Find the Right Trigger Point Massage Therapist with Blys
At Blys, we have qualified and trained therapists a simple call away. You can book a trigger point massage therapist and have them address all your concerns from the comfort of your home, without ever even needing to step out.
