As is usually the case in orthopaedics, trigger point therapy also aims to relieve pain. Trigger points are thickenings in superficial and deep muscle fibers. Lack of exercise, stress and overloading as well as incorrect posture are the most common causes of these knots (myogelosis). Trigger points cause pain that is felt on the spot as well as in seemingly unaffected areas.
If trigger points are not treated, mobility decreases further and joint blockages are the result or even the cause. Due to the painful shortened muscles, the patient begins to adopt a relieving posture, which further reduces mobility and exacerbates the problem. This makes the pain even worse.
We treat the trigger points by locating the thickenings of the muscle fibers and applying continuous pressure to them. Depending on the strength of the tension, we repeat the process. The muscle knot begins to relax. The pain decreases noticeably. Within a short time, the phantom pain in the other regions also disappears.
The trigger points can also be further “triggered” with acupuncture needles so that the muscle tone is further reduced and also decreases permanently. The trigger points can also be infiltrated with herbal anti-inflammatories and/or muscle relaxants. This is followed by the application of a specific warming ointment, which is not available in Germany.
Depending on the severity, we combine the treatment with shock wave therapy. The patient receives instructions for passive and active stretching. Exercises are demonstrated, which can then be carried out independently at home. If desired, our team of physiotherapists will also support the patient with instructions and exercises on how to actively prevent overloading and poor posture in the future.
