What is trigger point therapy?

Trigger point therapy is a treatment for musculoskeletal pain that focuses on the identification and management of trigger points in the body.

Trigger points are thought to be points in the body that are responsible for muscle pain, often in the area surrounding the trigger point but sometimes in other parts of the body – known as “referred pain”. The painful point can be felt as a nodule or band in the muscle and when pressed by a therapist, the pain is reproduced.

How are trigger points identified?

Because the medical understanding of the nature of trigger points is still being researched, they can be difficult to identify without prior knowledge and training.

There are a number of practitioners specialising in trigger point therapy such as massage therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths and acupuncturists. Each of these professions has their own methods of identifying trigger points but usually it involves feeling around the affected area.

The medical guidance in each profession varies. Some professions treat patients according to detailed maps which trace common links between trigger points and pain elsewhere.

How are trigger points used in treatment?

Despite uncertainty around the nature of trigger points, it is possible to receive injections for trigger point pain in some pain clinics. These can involve the injection of steroids, botulinum toxin or local anaesthetic to reduce swelling and improve symptoms.

Practitioners have a wide range of strategies for using trigger points in treatment. The aim is to release the tension in the affected area and manipulate the muscle back to its “natural” form. Techniques can include various forms of massage, vibration, electrostimulation, low-level laser therapy, or dry needling.