Signs That You Could Benefit From A Trigger Point Massage
Many massage therapists offer a specific type of treatment called trigger point massage, which can be helpful for a variety of ailments. To perform this treatment, the massage therapist identifies a knot in one of your muscles and then applies direct pressure to this area. Unlike the kneading motion that you might be used to during some massages, trigger point massage involves steady, firm pressure on the knot until it gradually releases. Trigger point massage can be an effective form of massage therapy for several issues. Here are three signs that you can almost certainly benefit from this type of treatment.
Acute Muscle Pain
If you have general muscle aches throughout many of your muscles, a standard kneading treatment may be the best course of action. However, if you're able to tell that you have acute pain in a specific muscle, trigger point massage may be suitable. For example, if you've noticed discomfort in a certain part of your body and have instinctively felt around the area, you might have no trouble finding a specific point where the pain is acute. This is almost certainly a knot in the muscle that trigger point massage may be able to help.
Injury
Many people turn to trigger point massage to help with certain injuries. If you've suffered an injury while playing sports, performing your job, or during an incident such as a fall, you can develop knots in your muscles. For example, your muscles can react in many different ways after an injury, including creating knotted areas that end up increasing your pain. Your massage therapist may use trigger point techniques to work on these knots, which should help to reduce your overall discomfort as you recover from the injury.
Limited Range Of Motion
Many things can affect your range of motion, including restrictions in your muscles. When a knot in a muscle prevents it from moving in its usual manner, you'll often notice that you can't move the area fully. For example, knots in the muscles of your shoulder can prevent you from lifting your arm all the way, while knots in your back can impede your ability to bend fully or turn to the side. Trigger point massage on these specific parts of your body can loosen the muscles and allow you to regain your range of motion. If you've noticed one of these signs in your body, there's a good chance that you can benefit from trigger point massage.
Contact a local massage clinic to learn more.