What are these Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain secrets?
There is a Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain source that is difficult to pinpoint, because the pain is felt someplace other than the source of the problem, and if it is not treated properly, it can be difficult to resolve. That is why it has been deemed as a Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain Secret. This secret and hidden source of pain is also called Myofascial Pain or Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
What is Myofascial Pain?
If it feels like your muscles are literally in knots, and pressing on those knots creates pain someplace else on your body, then you are more than likely experiencing Myofascial Pain, also known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome. The prefix Myo means muscle, and the suffix Fascia means connective tissue, therefore the word Myofascial translates to muscle and connective tissue. The word Syndrome basically means a group of symptoms. In essence, Myofascial Pain Syndrome literally means muscle and connective tissue pain symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is directly related to and associated with Trigger Points.
What are Trigger Points?
A Trigger Point is an extremely irritable knot in taut bands of muscle or connective tissue that can produce tenderness, or a twitch response in part of the soft tissue, and referred pain to different locations of the body when external pressure is placed upon them. That is why it is termed as being a Trigger Point.
How can we describe the response of putting external pressure on a Trigger Point?
When external pressure is exerted upon a Trigger Point, the descriptions of the result of that pressure vary according to the patient, the source of the problem, and where the symptoms are referred to. Some symptoms have been labeled as being tender, burning, searing, itching, tingling, twitching, and electrical in feeling.
Where are Trigger Points usually located?
Trigger Points can be found in many different types of soft tissue such as muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, scar tissue, and joint capsules. Trigger Points can be caused by other trigger points, direct trauma to soft tissue, infection, disease, radiculopathy-nerve root pain, repetitive stress injury, smoking, or psychological distress. Trigger points also inhibit blood flow, which can make the pain worse unless treated. Trigger Points have different characteristics, qualities and predictable pain patterns that can overlap and require extensive and often intensive treatment to eliminate them.
What characteristics do Trigger Points possess?
Primary trigger points may activate Secondary trigger points in other structures, and both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Key Trigger Points have pain referral patterns that activate or create a Latent trigger point along a nerve pathway. Key trigger points also activate Satellite Trigger Points in other soft tissue structures. Latent Trigger Points only refer pain when some type of pressure or force is placed upon the trigger point itself or to the soft tissue structure where the latent trigger point is located. Both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Active Trigger Points actively refer pain along nerve pathways locally, or to adjacent locations.
What are the treatment options for Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Depending upon the health or medical practitioner, treatment options include low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, dry needling, injections, spray and stretch using a vapocoolant spray, electrostimulation, ischemic compression, and medical massage therapy emphasizing the specified treatment of trigger points. Stretch and spray technique is when the muscle and trigger point are sprayed with a coolant, then the muscle is slowly stretched. Injections of Lidocaine can be performed by Physiatrists, but keep in mind that Muscle Soreness is a common side effect for that technique and many others.
How can Myofascial Pain be treated effectively?
A highly skilled Medical Massage Therapist can apply a combination of Myofascial Release, Quasi-Static Pressure, Muscle Energy Technique, and Counterstrain to get rid of Myofascial Pain and can minimize the effects of Muscle Soreness simultaneously. Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain work on sensors in soft tissue known as Proprioceptors to relax muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Myofascial Release stretches and loosens the Fascia so that your body can move freely, removing pain and restriction. Quasi-Static pressure works within the patients pain tolerance.
What do Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome represent, and is it enough just to directly treat either condition?
It is important for all of us to understand that Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points represent the effect of a problem or problems, and not the cause of a problem. This means that Myofascial Pain or Trigger Points were created by something, and that something most commonly is some kind of soft tissue injury. In most cases, the injury is caused by repetitive stress, trauma, or weakness. This means that we must look beyond the direct treatment of Myofascial Pain or Trigger Points if we are to truly resolve both the cause and effect of the problems we are experiencing, or we will more than likely have to treat the same conditions over and over again.
What will prevent the reoccurrence of Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points after they are treated?
The source of repetitive stress must be alleviated to provide for a rehabilitative environment if that is the problem, or healing will never take place. Weakness is usually a very big cause of the problem, and lengthening and stretching already overstretched Muscle Groups will make muscles that are already weak even weaker. Likewise, strengthening the wrong muscle groups will only serve to make the problem worse, not better.
What should we do before treatment for Myofascial Pain?
A Diagnostic Pain Assessment conducted by a skilled Medical Massage Therapist or other Healthcare Professional that consists of tests for Soft Tissue Palpation, Muscular Strength, Muscular Weakness, AROM-Active Range of Motion, PROM-Passive Range of Motion, and RROM-Resisted Range of Motion should be conducted prior to treatment for Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points. The results of the Assessment will determine the most effective treatment plan for muscles and soft tissue that need to be strengthened, and shortened soft tissue structures that need to be lengthened, as well as providing the Therapist with a Map of the Trigger Points and soft tissue dysfunction that was encountered.
What kind of home rehabilitation should be dome to enhance the treatment of our soft tissue problems?
Myofascial Pain Syndrome cannot be treated solely and effectively by a healthcare practitioner, if repetitive stress, muscle weakness, and shortened musculature is the cause of the problem. A Myofascial Pain patient will benefit from applications of hydrotherapy, stretching and strengthening, and self-trigger point therapy at home to prevent reoccurrence of trigger point restriction, increase blood flow, maintain flexibility, and promote healing.
What then is the best overall treatment approach to Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
A multi-faceted treatment approach developed by a highly skilled Medical Massage Therapist that is based upon the results of a Diagnostic Pain Assessment, Cutting Edge Medical Massage Therapy, and At-Home Rehabilitation, will ensure that the Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points we are experiencing will be effectively eliminated and will never bother us again.
There is a Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain source that is difficult to pinpoint, because the pain is felt someplace other than the source of the problem, and if it is not treated properly, it can be difficult to resolve. That is why it has been deemed as a Muscle Pain and Soft Tissue Pain Secret. This secret and hidden source of pain is also called Myofascial Pain or Myofascial Pain Syndrome.
What is Myofascial Pain?
If it feels like your muscles are literally in knots, and pressing on those knots creates pain someplace else on your body, then you are more than likely experiencing Myofascial Pain, also known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome. The prefix Myo means muscle, and the suffix Fascia means connective tissue, therefore the word Myofascial translates to muscle and connective tissue. The word Syndrome basically means a group of symptoms. In essence, Myofascial Pain Syndrome literally means muscle and connective tissue pain symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome is directly related to and associated with Trigger Points.
What are Trigger Points?
A Trigger Point is an extremely irritable knot in taut bands of muscle or connective tissue that can produce tenderness, or a twitch response in part of the soft tissue, and referred pain to different locations of the body when external pressure is placed upon them. That is why it is termed as being a Trigger Point.
How can we describe the response of putting external pressure on a Trigger Point?
When external pressure is exerted upon a Trigger Point, the descriptions of the result of that pressure vary according to the patient, the source of the problem, and where the symptoms are referred to. Some symptoms have been labeled as being tender, burning, searing, itching, tingling, twitching, and electrical in feeling.
Where are Trigger Points usually located?
Trigger Points can be found in many different types of soft tissue such as muscle, tendon, ligament, skin, scar tissue, and joint capsules. Trigger Points can be caused by other trigger points, direct trauma to soft tissue, infection, disease, radiculopathy-nerve root pain, repetitive stress injury, smoking, or psychological distress. Trigger points also inhibit blood flow, which can make the pain worse unless treated. Trigger Points have different characteristics, qualities and predictable pain patterns that can overlap and require extensive and often intensive treatment to eliminate them.
What characteristics do Trigger Points possess?
Primary trigger points may activate Secondary trigger points in other structures, and both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Key Trigger Points have pain referral patterns that activate or create a Latent trigger point along a nerve pathway. Key trigger points also activate Satellite Trigger Points in other soft tissue structures. Latent Trigger Points only refer pain when some type of pressure or force is placed upon the trigger point itself or to the soft tissue structure where the latent trigger point is located. Both must be treated in order to alleviate both sources of pain. Active Trigger Points actively refer pain along nerve pathways locally, or to adjacent locations.
What are the treatment options for Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
Depending upon the health or medical practitioner, treatment options include low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, dry needling, injections, spray and stretch using a vapocoolant spray, electrostimulation, ischemic compression, and medical massage therapy emphasizing the specified treatment of trigger points. Stretch and spray technique is when the muscle and trigger point are sprayed with a coolant, then the muscle is slowly stretched. Injections of Lidocaine can be performed by Physiatrists, but keep in mind that Muscle Soreness is a common side effect for that technique and many others.
How can Myofascial Pain be treated effectively?
A highly skilled Medical Massage Therapist can apply a combination of Myofascial Release, Quasi-Static Pressure, Muscle Energy Technique, and Counterstrain to get rid of Myofascial Pain and can minimize the effects of Muscle Soreness simultaneously. Muscle Energy Technique and Counterstrain work on sensors in soft tissue known as Proprioceptors to relax muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Myofascial Release stretches and loosens the Fascia so that your body can move freely, removing pain and restriction. Quasi-Static pressure works within the patients pain tolerance.
What do Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Syndrome represent, and is it enough just to directly treat either condition?
It is important for all of us to understand that Myofascial Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points represent the effect of a problem or problems, and not the cause of a problem. This means that Myofascial Pain or Trigger Points were created by something, and that something most commonly is some kind of soft tissue injury. In most cases, the injury is caused by repetitive stress, trauma, or weakness. This means that we must look beyond the direct treatment of Myofascial Pain or Trigger Points if we are to truly resolve both the cause and effect of the problems we are experiencing, or we will more than likely have to treat the same conditions over and over again.
What will prevent the reoccurrence of Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points after they are treated?
The source of repetitive stress must be alleviated to provide for a rehabilitative environment if that is the problem, or healing will never take place. Weakness is usually a very big cause of the problem, and lengthening and stretching already overstretched Muscle Groups will make muscles that are already weak even weaker. Likewise, strengthening the wrong muscle groups will only serve to make the problem worse, not better.
What should we do before treatment for Myofascial Pain?
A Diagnostic Pain Assessment conducted by a skilled Medical Massage Therapist or other Healthcare Professional that consists of tests for Soft Tissue Palpation, Muscular Strength, Muscular Weakness, AROM-Active Range of Motion, PROM-Passive Range of Motion, and RROM-Resisted Range of Motion should be conducted prior to treatment for Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points. The results of the Assessment will determine the most effective treatment plan for muscles and soft tissue that need to be strengthened, and shortened soft tissue structures that need to be lengthened, as well as providing the Therapist with a Map of the Trigger Points and soft tissue dysfunction that was encountered.
What kind of home rehabilitation should be dome to enhance the treatment of our soft tissue problems?
Myofascial Pain Syndrome cannot be treated solely and effectively by a healthcare practitioner, if repetitive stress, muscle weakness, and shortened musculature is the cause of the problem. A Myofascial Pain patient will benefit from applications of hydrotherapy, stretching and strengthening, and self-trigger point therapy at home to prevent reoccurrence of trigger point restriction, increase blood flow, maintain flexibility, and promote healing.
What then is the best overall treatment approach to Myofascial Pain Syndrome?
A multi-faceted treatment approach developed by a highly skilled Medical Massage Therapist that is based upon the results of a Diagnostic Pain Assessment, Cutting Edge Medical Massage Therapy, and At-Home Rehabilitation, will ensure that the Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points we are experiencing will be effectively eliminated and will never bother us again.
About the Author:
Stephen Akamine has been a Chronic Pain patient and is a Licensed Medical Massage Therapist in the State of Hawaii. He is an outspoken advocate for relieving the suffering of Chronic Myofascial Pain patients. You can find Facet Joint Pain information and information about soft tissue treatment for pain at his Online Resource Center.
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