Trigger point treatment

Our manual trigger point treatment deliberately differs from invasive techniques such as dry needling. It is based on a combination of targeted pressure, stretching and complementary measures to relax the muscles – always adapted to your individual complaints and needs.

Trigger points: what lies behind these painful areas of hardened muscle?

Trigger points are hyperirritable zones within a taut band of muscle. Typically, they trigger pain when pressed, and this pain can also radiate to other areas (referred pain). Commonly affected areas include the shoulder and neck area, the back muscles and the jaw region.

Typical symptoms:

• Local tenderness to pressure
• Restricted movement
• Radiating pain (e.g. tension headaches)
• Muscle weakness or a “pulling” sensation at rest

Trigger points can be caused by:

• Chronic overload or incorrect loading
• Lack of exercise and monotonous postures
• Micro-injuries to the muscles
• Stress and psychological tension
• Unfavourable movement and postural patterns

The aim of trigger point therapy is to identify these painful points, treat them in a targeted way and thereby resolve muscular imbalances and chains of tension.

Areas of application for trigger point treatment

Trigger point treatment is suitable for numerous complaints – including:

• Neck and shoulder pain
• Tension headaches
• Back pain
• Pain in the buttocks or legs
• Restricted movement due to muscle tension

Where are trigger points located in the body?

Trigger points – also known as myofascial trigger points – are localised, painful areas of hardening within a muscle. These sensitive points are particularly common in muscle groups that are under strain or overused. Typical regions where trigger points occur include:

• Shoulder and neck area (e.g. trapezius muscle, levator scapulae)
• Back muscles, especially in the lumbar and thoracic spine
• Jaw muscles, for example with bruxism or TMJ disorders (CMD)
• Thighs and buttocks (e.g. piriformis, gluteus medius)
• Calf muscles
• Arm muscles, especially in the forearm, the hand and between the thumb and index finger

A trigger point can often be felt as a small, hardened “knot” within the muscle. Pressing on this point typically causes radiating pain – known as referred pain. For example, trigger points in the neck can trigger tension headaches, and trigger points in the shoulder area can cause pain that extends into the arm.

The exact location of trigger points varies depending on the muscle group. Particularly well-known examples are trigger points in the trapezius muscle, in the muscles around the shoulder and in the muscles of the jaw joint, which can be associated with tension headaches.

Well-founded trigger point treatment requires precise knowledge of these pain points and their typical referral patterns – which is why it is particularly important for the therapy to be carried out by trained professionals.

When is trigger point treatment useful?

Trigger point therapy is often used for:

• Muscle tension and restricted movement
• Back pain, neck pain or tension headaches
• Shoulder pain and “frozen shoulder”
• Jaw complaints, for example with TMJ disorders (CMD)
• Sports injuries or overuse syndromes
• Pain without a clear structural cause (functional complaints)

How does the treatment work?

Trigger point therapy focuses specifically on local areas of hardened muscle. Unlike fascia therapy, which addresses the connective tissue network of fascia throughout the body, trigger point therapy precisely treats painful points within the muscles.

We work with targeted manual techniques to identify and treat the trigger points. These include:

• Pressure techniques on the hardened areas
• Stretching of the affected muscle groups
• Combination with active exercise therapy or dry needling (where appropriate)

The treatment is tailored individually to your complaints and can be combined with other forms of therapy.

Trigger point treatment or dry needling?

Both methods aim to treat myofascial trigger points – but with different approaches:

Trigger point treatment: A manual technique that works with pressure, stretching and muscle relaxation. Suitable for all patients, including people who prefer to avoid needles.

Dry needling: An invasive method in which trigger points are pierced directly with a fine needle. Offered at our practice as a separate method.

We will be happy to advise you individually on which form of treatment is best suited to your situation.