Trigger Point Acupucture

Here’s how it works:

1. Muscle Soreness and Trigger Points:
   • Our muscles can become tight, stiff, and painful due to various factors such as dehydration, nutrient deficiency, poor posture, repetitive motions, and overuse.
   • When muscles stay tight for extended periods, they develop knots or bands known as trigger points.
   • These trigger points cause muscles to shorten, lose flexibility, strength, and range of motion, leading to impaired functioning.
2. What Are Trigger Points?:
   • Trigger points are tight, painful knots that form in muscles when they don’t contract and relax properly.
   • Imagine a rubber band with a knot tied in the middle—it can no longer stretch and relax as it should.
   • Poor posture often activates trigger points, worsening chronic pain conditions.
   • Trigger points can refer to different areas of the body. For example, quadricep trigger points can be cause of knee pain, trapezius trigger points can cause headaches, (especially in a halo like band around the head) infraspinatus trigger points can cause problems raises the arm overhead.
3. Acupuncture for Trigger Points:
   • Acupuncture is the most effect treatment to release muscle tension caused by trigger points.
   • Acupuncturists identify the tenderest and tightest muscle bands causing discomfort.
   • They insert tiny needles directly into these trigger points, prompting the muscle to contract.
   • This process helps release tension, improve blood flow, and promote healing.
   • Trigger point acupuncture helps improve athletic performance and endurance.
   • Trigger point acupuncture can help reduce the chance of injuries and strain on the joints by keeping the muscles elongated and flexible.

4. History of trigger point acupuncture
   • Janet Travel, John F. Kennedy’s physician, first discovered and studied trigger points in 1942.
   • Marc Seem, Licensed acupuncturist, who I studied with from 2005-2007, developed an Acupuncture system based on trigger points in the 1980’s.
   • Trigger point acupuncture has helped patients live pain free and been practiced in the US for over 44 years.