What is Trigger Point Therapy?

A Trigger Point is an area where the nerve and muscle meet has been damaged. The muscle responds by tightening the fibers at its center. This restricts the movement of the muscle, pulls the ends of the joint that the muscle crosses closer causing them to rub together and break down quicker, and often causes or is caused by pressure on the spinal nerves. The therapy involves locating the muscle by recognizing its pain pattern and looking for decreased motion and altered postures. Light pressure on the trigger point appears to lengthen the muscle, relieve the pain, separate the ends of the joint, and release pressure off of spinal nerves. Movements that retrain the muscle to stay in lengthened position and self treatment techniques are taught.

Why Would I Want Trigger Point Therapy?

Low Back Pain

Nurses and other health care professionals often develop pain in their low back after lifting patients. These types of injuries often cause pain for years until their tender nodules are pressed and stretched away. Of course low back pain is not limited to nurses. Simply lifting supplies at the office or cleaning out a closet or attic often leads to similar aches and pains. These people can also get relief from trigger point therapy.

Headaches

Car accidents are a huge cause of headaches of all types. So is sitting at a computer or driving in stop and go traffic. Trigger Points in the neck and shoulders send their pain into the head causing headaches, jaw, and face pain. Trigger points even cause pain in the teeth! It is not uncommon for a healthy tooth to be extracted because of trigger points. Gentle pressure and stretch to muscles in the neck and shoulders usually relieves and often eliminates headaches.

Shoulder Pain

Hair Dressers lift their shoulders all day long and frequently complain that their shoulders hurt. The tight bundles of knots prove it! People who use power tools often feel the same. In both cases the knots need to be pressed out with gentle pressure and the muscles returned to their proper length by specific stretches.

Leg Pain

Dancers tend to hurt all over and the legs and feet rank high among their problem areas. Martial Artists seem to specialize in knee pain. People who stand all day waiting tables, running cash registers, and helping the public have a lot of foot and leg complaints. Gentle release of their trigger points decreases their pain. There are a host of issues that seem to complicate long term release. Your trigger point therapist can help identify and deal with those things and help you on the path to wellness.

Arm and Hand Pain

Using a computer or power tools often brings on arm pain, numbness, and sometimes weakness. Trigger points in the neck shoulder and forearms tend to shorten the muscles causing pain, nerve compression, and loss of flexibility. Gentle pressure and stretch applied to the right areas relieves and often stops the muscular aspects of these problems.

Who Performs Trigger Point Therapy?

Melody’s Massage Studio is proud to have Trigger Point Specialist Richard Finn on staff. Richard served as a Physical Therapy Specialist in the Army Reserve prior to his training at The Academy for Myotherapy and Physical Fitness in 1989. He has co-authored a book, and 2 sets of medical posters, and published articles in the Clinical Bulletin of Myofascial Therapy, the Journal of Myofascial Therapy, and the Journal of the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists. He current serves on the Advisory Board for the Fibromyalgia Research Foundation and is Director and Lead Instructor at the Pittsburgh School of Pain Management.

Where is Trigger Point Therapy Performed?

Trigger Point Therapy is performed on site at Melody’s Massage Studio every Tuesday. This is a non-invasive procedure. The client remains fully clothed and there is little to no pain involved. Evaluations are FREE!

Treatment Options

Trigger Point Therapy

A Trigger Point is an area where the nerve and muscle meet has been damaged. The muscle responds by tightening the fibers at its center. This restricts the movement of the muscle, pulls the ends of the joint that the muscle crosses closer causing them to rub together and break down quicker, and often causes or is caused by pressure on the spinal nerves. The therapy involves locating the muscle by recognizing its pain pattern and looking for decreased motion and altered postures. Light pressure on the trigger point appears to lengthen the muscle, relieve the pain, separate the ends of the joint, and release pressure off of spinal nerves. Movements that retrain the muscle to stay in lengthened position and self treatment techniques are taught.
$65 for 50 Minutes

Touch for Health

Is a western version of eastern energy healing techniques. The therapist looks for imbalances in the meridian system. We do this by testing muscles for the ability to lock under minimal pressure. The therapy in non-specific in that the goal is to balance energy rather than to correct a specific problem. The body heals itself when it is balanced.
$25 for 30 Minutes

Corrective Tissue Biomechanics

A system of recognizing and manually correcting restrictions of motion to the moveable tissues of the body by removing the effects of scars, adhesions, and contractures; releasing the negative effects on the nervous system caused by soft tissue injury and/or dysfunction including impingement, adhesive processes, and aberrant neurological reflex arcs; and mobilizing trapped inflammatory exudate anywhere in the soft tissue of the body.
$65 for 50 Minutes

Additional Information on Trigger Point Therapy

www.painreliefpittsburgh.com - This is Richards personal Web site.

Hypothyroidism/Fibromyalgia - This is the premier site for learning about and treating fibromyalgia utilizing metabolic rehabilitation. Dr. John C. Lowe is the worlds leading authority in the field and the person I would want treating me if I suffered from fibromyalgia.

The Canter for Pain Treatment - Southside Richard treats patients utilizing frequency Specific Microcurrent under the direction of Jeff Meth DC. Be sure to ask for Richard.

Neurofeedback - Wiley Nelson treats brain injures utilizing Neurofeedback. His patients have reported excellent results.

Personal Training/Nutrition - Robert Metz CMTPT, CSCS designs nutritional and personal training protocols. Over 30 years in the fitness and martial art worlds give Robert a unique and effective perspective in personal training.

National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists - People who specialize in Trigger Point Therapy are listed on this site. It also contains a useful symptom checker.

Frequency Specific Microcurrent - Frequency Specific Microcurrent is one of he most valuable treatments available for post traumatic Fibromyalgia.

Structural Integration - This is the site of David Lesondak CSI, CMT who is a Kinesis trained Structural Integrator. He does the best fascial work that I am aware of in the Pittsburgh area.

Colonic Therapy - Darrell Misak ND, RPH does Colonic Hydrotherapy in Pittsburgh.

National Association for Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists - This site includes a symptom checker and tells you which muscles may need treated.

Self Treatment Book - This is currently the best book to instruct people in self treatment utilizing both pressure and stretch. Hal Blatman MD is currently president of the American Holistic Medicine Association.

Fibromyalgia Resources - This has been the best site on the web for information regarding Fibromyalgia. Devin Starlanyl MD is a patient herself and is a passionate advocate for those who share her condition. This site and her books are very helpful resources.

Self Treatment Tools - The Pressure Postitive Company is the best place to find tools for self treatment. The premier tool is the backnobber self treatment device.