All About Trigger Points
By Sara Butler
You may have heard your chiropractor or others you know speak about trigger points, but what are they? This common problem isn’t difficult to understand -- and once you understand you can begin to see how trigger points may be impacting your health and wellness. Here’s what you need to know about trigger points and how the chiropractor can help.
Trigger Points: What Are They?
Trigger points are spots in a muscle that transfer sensation such as weakness or pain to another part of the body. Trigger points are extremely common, and may occur in any muscle of the body. If you have issues with trigger points, then you may experience pain persistently that impacts the range of motion in muscle. The most common muscles impacted by trigger points are the muscles in the neck and head, which can lead to referred pain in the jaw, eye, or ear and even cause headaches.
Trigger Points: What Causes Them?
Trigger points may be caused by a variety of things. The most common include:
- Injury
- Poor posture
- Sleep issues
- Deficiencies of vitamins
- Lack of exercise
- Repetitive injuries
Don’t worry! Trigger points are not something you have to live with. They can be treated in a variety of ways.
Treatment for Trigger Points
If you suspect you’re experiencing pain related to problems with trigger points, then you should discuss it with your chiropractor. They can determine the root cause of any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing and then create a specialized treatment plan to help you find relief.
Often, hands-on chiropractic adjustments are used by the chiropractor to ensure there are no joint dysfunctions or restrictions contributing to the trigger point. They may also suggest massage therapy to help relax the muscles.
How You Can Prevent Trigger Points
There are several things you can do to help prevent trigger points or improve them. You should:
- Exercise – Regular exercise is a great way to keep your muscles in good shape and prevent them from seizing up, which can lead to trigger points.
- Work on proper posture – How you move about your day is important, so do it the right way with good posture. Ask your chiropractor for some proper posture tips!
- Eat well – A healthy diet with the proper balance of minerals and vitamins can keep your muscle healthy and help to avoid trigger points.
- Sleep – Make sure you’re getting enough quality sleep and that you’re sleeping in a healthy position in a bed that provides the right support.
If you have questions about trigger points, ask your chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Los Angeles, Calif.