Clients often ask me if there is a difference between trigger points and acupressure points. Both points seem to be treated the same way, namely by pressing them. Often, during a massage, the client asks me whether there's a knot where I'm pressing. Both types of points may or may not be painful.
Why are trigger and acupressure points so important?
Some sore points are caused by physical activity, constant repetitive strain, stress, or psychological or physical trauma. Some go away on their own over time, but we are not so lucky with others. These remain and cause problems and pain for years and years. There are many techniques for treating such points, but the fastest and most common is trigger point massage. I often include this technique in pain-release treatment.
What are Trigger Points?
The trigger point appears on short muscle fibers, which are more massively located near the tendons. There is a very simplistic explanation for this phenomenon, which involves muscle fibers compressing and sticking together, and fascia covering them and adhering to them. This place looks like a ball or something thickened under the fingers, in short, it differs from the surrounding tissue. The person has a pulling sensation and the place is affected by the touch. To make things even more complicated, the problem doesn't even have to be where the person feels the pain.
How to treat Trigger Points
There are various techniques for loosening knots during the trigger points massage. Some can be uncomfortable, while others are almost painless. It depends on how it is organized, where the trigger points are located, and who is the client. Some people believe that a real massage must be painful and reject anything that is not intense enough, so I do a very quick version that is slightly painful for them. Other techniques require constant pressure, which is applied slowly and lasts about two minutes. In some places, trigger points occur in large numbers along the muscles and are easier to treat with local tissue stretching. There is no one solution for everyone and a good therapist knows how to choose the right technique. Regardless of all theories, the most important thing is to listen to the client and use his condition, age, and health. With chronic pain, the body is exhausted and needs a more gentle approach than in a healthy person.
What are acupressure points?
The acupressure points, however, are entirely different. They are located along the meridians. These are energy pathways in the body. In each person, the acupressure points are located more or less in the same place. When you press on them, the energy flow that has been blocked until now is released. Masseurs do not use needles like acupuncture, we just press the points with our fingers, which is still very effective.
Trigger point massage: how does it look?
How will you know what you received in each treatment? Working on knots is probably going to be painful, so you will know it when you feel it. However, acupressure points are not always painful and sometimes take longer to feel the effect. This can be anywhere from a few minutes to 15 minutes or more. You will feel the results even before you leave the massage room because most massage treatments include light movements for relaxation and calming after serious work.
After a treatment, I always recommend that clients rest and take time to recover. Give their body a chance to heal on its own. Sometimes this is not possible during the day, so take this time in the evening. The effects may not show until the next day. Sometimes in the following days, there can be also pain caused by tired muscles. The reason is the same as if you went to the gym for a serious workout. Muscle pain subsides within a few days.
The weirdest things
Let me also add that not all "knots" that are felt under the skin are trigger points. It could just be a normal part of the body's anatomy. Some time ago, I had a client who was convinced that the lymph nodes he could palpate on his neck were trigger points that needed to be removed. Some feel a piece of ligament or a tendon, but again have the feeling that it is something that does not belong in the body. So you should treat your body with a grain of salt.
How can you help yourself?
And what can you do yourself to eliminate pain points? Regular exercises, sports, and walking are very useful. I also recommend a larger roller that has bumps. By rolling on it, you can eliminate the pain points in your back or legs. Or put a tennis ball on the sore spot and lean against the wall. With small movements, you will immediately find the right place. You can adjust the pressure yourself. Even though it sounds bizarre, the method is very effective!
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