what is trigger-point therapy?

Trigger-point therapy helps to relieve tension created by sport or a build-up of stresses, which cause intense pain throughout the body and commonly reduce your range of movement dramatically. There are different types of trigger-points which can occur within the body, most common is a primary trigger-point, this type produces pain in the same site the therapist is applying pressure. The second most common is a satellite trigger-point and this type typically causes pain in a completely different site that the therapist is applying pressure.

What are the benefits of trigger-point therapy?

While Trigger-Point Therapy can be a rather painful experience there is a huge number of benefits which make it worth it, some of these benefits are;

• Removes 'knots' - Knots within the body typically cause extreme pain and a loss of movement.
• Increases Range of Movement - Increases in ROM begin happening once the taut bands reduce in size, this should happen almost immediately after the treatment, although some may take a few sessions to remove fully.
• Decreases Pain - Pain caused by a knot is sometimes extremely uncomfortable, trigger-point therapy is a great way to reduce pain in the body leaving you feeling brand new.
• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness - DOMS is hugely common within athletes and fitness enthusiasts. DOMS are caused due to micro tears within a particular muscle group which has been worked hard and also can be caused by a build up of lactic acid within the muscles which cause pain and reduce range of movement. Massage is a popular treatment method to help realign torn fibres and remove lactic acid from muscles.
• Promotes Healing - Increases of blood flow helps healing, as more white blood cells are recruited to the area which are excellent for removing waste products from the painful site.

What to do in preparation for your trigger-point therapy?

Before you receive your trigger-point therapy session from us there are some steps you can take to make it a much more enjoyable experience.

• Stay hydrated - Hydration is very important before having a massage as being dehydration can cause the fascia and muscles to be stiff which can make the massage more uncomfortable than it has to be.
• Only eat a light meal before - If you are booked in for an evening massage, ensure that you only have a light meal, nothing is worse than having a massage on a feel stomach, especially as massage slows down the bodies systems, which also involves the digestive system.

What to do after your trigger-point therapy

Typically after a massage you may experience some tenderness for up to 48 hours, depending on the massage you received. Here are some tips you may wish to follow post massage;

• Enjoy a hot bath - Having a hot bath can help to reduce any extra soreness you could be experiencing, Epsom salts is a favourite of ours.
• Hold off on training - Training immediately after a massage is a big no-no! Allow your body the time it needs to recover effectively, taking a day or two off training post massage can be a huge factor improving your performance.
• Incorporate Massage - Massage is a great treatment method and you should accept it as a necessary part of recovery.