As a primary example, we can look at last August’s study ( Cervical Spine Alignment, Sagittal Deformity, and Clinical Implications: A Review) from the Journal Neurosurgery, Spine. Even the medical community is starting to admit this. However, because so few people have a proper LORDOTIC CURVE in their cervical spine (neck), most physicians consider this loss of curve a “normal” finding. No one would argue that structure and function are intimately related. I have found to effectively deal with the Trigger Points that occur so frequently in the trapezius muscle, one must address the Structural / Functional model . This would make sense as I believe that FASCIA is often times a missing link in helping people struggling with various CHRONIC PAIN SYNDROMES. Other methods of dealing with Trigger Points include, modalities such as Electric Stimulation, Ultrasound, COLD LASER THERAPY, various forms of VIBRATION, a wide variety of massage and body-work methods, CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, Dry Needling (using a heavy gauge needle to repeatedly poke / puncture a MTrP, acupuncture (very different than dry needling), and numerous others, including our SCAR TISSUE REMODELING (a popular online encyclopedia states that, “ Fascia surrounding muscles should also be treated, possibly with myofascial release, to elongate and resolve strain patterns, otherwise muscles will simply be returned to positions where trigger points are likely to re-develop“).
Not only this but they tend to refer pain along very specific patterns. In other words, Trigger Points are hard (pea or marble-sized) nodules of tissue that cause pain, but have no specifically known causes or findings that can be determined from X-rays, MRI, or neurological examinations. The pain cannot be explained by findings on neurological or radiological examinations.Palpation of the trigger point reproduces the patient’s complaint of pain, and the pain radiates in a distribution typical of the specific muscle harboring the trigger point.The painful point can be felt as a nodule or band in the muscle, and a twitch response can be elicited on stimulation of the trigger point.Pain related to a discrete, irritable point in skeletal muscle or fascia, not caused by acute local trauma, inflammation, degeneration, neoplasm or infection.Travell herself had described in her work.
This went along hand in hand with what Dr. Tender spot in a taut band of skeletal muscle.A review of the scientific literature on Trigger Points was published in a 2007 issue of The Clinical Journal of Pain, describing the four most common diagnostic criteria of Trigger Points. Travell and Simons, Trigger Points are defined as, “ hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers.” In other words, they are small, hard muscle knots. Then in the early 1980’s, along with a doctor named David Simmons (a disciple of hers), published the fore mentioned book. She figured out a way to help him with the pain he had due to injuries he received in WWII (PT 109), and along the way, developed the current theory of Muscle Trigger Points (MTrP’s). You see Dr Janet Travell was, for a time, JFK’s physician. Or, if you had an extra $200 laying around, you could purchase the ‘bible’ on Trigger Point therapy - Travell and Simons’ Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual. Hypoxia or diminished tissue oxygenation.Allergies or Sensitivities to food or environment.Organic (organ) problems can refer pain / triggers along specific pathways or patterns.Muscle compensation in synergistic or antagonistic muscles.Nutritional or hormonal imbalances / Nutritional deficiencies / Endocrine issues.Can be due to injuries, repetitive strain, or emotional issues Continual intense muscular contraction.