Massage Therapy is a very confusing field now. Not being covered under insurance leaves the door wide open to what falls under the heading. A given massage therapist practices anything from spa relaxation to physical therapy type work.
To clarify what I do, the type of massage therapy modality I specialize in is “Neuromuscular Therapy” or “Trigger Point Myotherapy.”
What’s a Trigger Point & Why Work It?
“Trigger points” (TrPs) are tender points in soft tissue that radiate or refer pain to distant areas. These are found all over the human body usually in the belly of a muscle. Once formed, they radiate pain out from the belly similar to a wrinkle in a sheet or a ripple on the water, this is the referred pain felt. Trigger points are produced by muscle stress, such as overwork, repetitive motion, or sudden excessive stretch.
There are four types of trigger points:
- Active TrP – one that is spontaneously producing referred pain.
- Latent TrP – one that produces pain when pressure is applied during palpation.
- Primary TrP – one that is caused by muscle stress.
- Satellite TrP – one that is produced secondarily by a primary trigger point.
How Do They Go Away?
Trigger points generally stay inside the muscle until manipulated away. In layman’s terms, when a muscle is over-stressed it feels compromised and immediately protects itself. This tightening process forms TrPs within the muscle. Muscles are very stubborn and don’t forget experiences easily, hence the term “muscle memory”. Muscles will hold on to this protection until a manual process occurs which tells the brain to send a signal to the muscle that it’s safe to relax and return to a normal resting length. This is what I do.
Pressure is placed directly into a tight or sensitive trigger point area, which often causes radiating pain, and held until the tenderness disappears. This process repeats running along the rippled path of the TrPs. There is a delicate balance between applying enough pressure to release it and applying so much pressure that the TrP worsens. Releasing the points encourages increased circulation to the area allowing the underlying tissue to soften. This is the point when clients say, “I didn’t even know that hurt until you found it! How did you know that was there?”
What Is Neuromuscular Therapy?
Neuromuscular Therapy is also called Trigger Point Myotherapy. This technique alters the length muscles to teach them how to operate correctly. Muscles are manipulated back into the shape originally intended. Less is more during this treatment session to avoid bruising and soreness. This type of therapy consists of alternating levels of concentrated pressure on the areas of muscle spasm to release the lactic acid from the muscle, resulting in increased blood flow and oxygen. Fascia is also stretched to keep the body loose. If the shell of the body is loose, the muscles can loosen and relax back into their natural form.
Causes of Trigger Points
The common cause of trigger points results from various forms of trauma, ranging from a direct injury, excessive stretching, heavy lifting and twisting, or even emotional stress. These sensitive regions will often activate pain in referring areas. Once we eliminate the trigger point, massage aids in removing the waste products and restore circulation to the area.
Some trigger points will be more severe than others and patience is the key factor during the session. Less severe TrPs will release almost immediatley. More severe ones need worked longer. The reason the experience is so worth it, however, is that there is an immediate relief as soon as the TrP dissipates. There’s no waiting 3-5 days to see if the session was a success. You know right away.
Some severe trigger points can reform after a session. I always recommend icing the area worked after a session. The ice will increase circulation to the area and decrease inflammation, minimizing the odds of the TrP reforming.
Dr. Janet Travell is the person most often associated with trigger point therapy. She’s quoted as saying, “Active trigger points cause pain. Normal muscles do not contain trigger points. Individuals of either gender and of any age can develop trigger points.” Simple enough. Another great reminder that you don’t have to live with the pain. Come in and get those stinkers gone so you can feel good in your skin again.
See you on the table!
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint. Easy rule of thumb: everyone has TMJ, but not everyone has TMJ Disorder. TMJ is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, in front of each ear. These joints are flexible and allow the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side, allowing us to chew, talk, yawn, etc. The muscles attached and around the joint control the position and movement of the jaw.
Outside of TMJ issues, the main muscles involved in everyday jaw tightness or discomfort are the masseter muscles. The masseter muscle is the primary chewing muscle. With regular talking, chewing, and stress these muscles develop 
The term “thoracic outlet” refers to the entire area defined by scalenes and the first rib, or to the passage between the anterior and middle scalenes. On their way to the arm, the axillary (subclavian) artery and brachial plexus pass between these two muscles, then between the first rib and the clavicle. They can become entrapped at some point in this area by tightness in the anterior and middle scalenes. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish pain referred by the scalenes from pain resulting from entrapment of the brachial plexus.
There are various causes that produce symptoms of pressure on structures such as nerves (in the brachial plexus) and blood vessels that exit from the thorax (posterior to the clavicle) to enter the limbs:
During a session, focus is on the muscles of the neck, shoulders, arms, and upper back. The upper chest and arm area is also a focus. Overall treatment for TOS includes specialized exercise routines, massage therapy techniques, possible physical therapy, and in some severe cases, surgery.
There are those of you suffering from chronic pain or spasms in your neck, shoulder(s), or mid-back. You’re beyond frustration. You’ve tried several healthcare providers, including chiropractors and physical therapists, all issuing different treatment plans but nothing has helped. You’ve even tried massage but that provided nothing more than temporary relaxation. X-rays and MRI results are normal. What is going on and why can’t you find relief? The answer could be First Rib Fixation Syndrome. A lot of people haven’t heard of this and don’t realize they have it.
Over time, a muscular imbalance occurs known as The Upper Crossed Syndrome which elevates the first rib. When this happens, shoulder muscles (the subscapularis and infraspinatus) load up with trigger points, resulting in weakness and pain. With muscles now compromised, the shoulder is unable to move normally. People then tend to compensate for the pain by rounding the shoulders forward and jutting the head out further from the neck. The neck muscles (scalenes, serratus anterior, and sternocleidomastoid) overcompensate and develop more active trigger points. Referred pain from these new trigger points manifests as what may seem like random, erratic symptoms. Since these muscles attach to the first rib, even more elevation occurs. The trapezius muscle in the back then goes into immediate self-protection mode, resulting in tightness and spasm. This has a tendency to compress the brachial plexus and subclavian artery to eventually throw the person into a possible state of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Vicious, isn’t it?!
So what do I do that’s different than others? When someone presents a certain set of physical complaints that resemble this syndrome, I palpate effected areas for tenderness, spasm, and edema. A person will automatically jump or pull away when an elevated first rib is touched. Through various soft tissue mobilization techniques (
I’m often asked what systems within the human body massage therapy effects. It’s a fantastic question as massage positively affects ALL systems in the body. The remarkable fact about regular massage is it slows down the aging process universally. Of course aging still occurs, but the human body ages better with regular massage than without. Below is an overview of how massage affects each system within our bodies.
Our skeletal system is made of bones, bone marrow, and joints. As the supporting framework for the rest of our body, it protects important organs, acts as a lever by providing areas for muscle attachments, and allows movement in various planes (joints). It also manufactures blood cells, stores fat, and is our main reservoir for minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Anyone who has experienced a deep tissue massage so firm it feels as if the bones themselves are being massaged knows that is not a pleasant experience. However, well purposed massage has the following benefits to our skeletal system:
Massage therapists are perhaps the most skilled technicians when it comes to treating neuromuscular issues. Muscles and nerves have such an intimate symbiotic relationship they both go hand-in-hand (pun intended) when it comes to massage and bodywork. The brain, spinal cord, nerves, and supporting tissue coordinate the activities of all our body systems and work in the shadows undetected by us consciously, until something goes wrong. The beneficial effects of bodywork on the nervous system is undisputed, but are too complex and difficult to explain, with many aspects still a mystery. Changes throughout the nervous system could be reflex effects, such as:
Our heart, blood vessels, and blood keep us alive, after all “life is in the blood,” according to Leviticus. Massage has a significant effect on this system:
Our nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchial tubes, and lungs work hard every second of our lives to bring in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. Massage helps bring this overworked system relief by: