Relax into your Body: Trigger point Therapy
On this page you can read more about:
- What are Trigger points?
- Where do Trigger points come from?
- How are Trigger points treated? and
- Trigger point Massage in my Practice.
What are Trigger points?
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If we feel pain in the body, this is often the result of so-called trigger points. Trigger points are local (painful) contractions in the muscle fibres that feel like small, hard nodules. Pressure on these points usually gives pain at the point itself, but often also creates so-called referred pain in other areas of the body. Headache, for example, is often caused by trigger points in the nek and upper back. Trigger points in the muscles of the buttocks can create referred pain in the lower back or legs. Trigger point Therapy helps alleviate and dissolve pain.
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Where do Trigger points come from?
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Trigger points in the muscles can be the result of strain (e.g. through repetitive movements like using a mouse) or physical trauma (e.g. after a fall or a car-accident). In the YouTube film above, you can find an animation how the trigger point is formed in the muscle fibre itself.
Trigger points can also be the result of conscious or subconscious emotional pain and trauma. Emotional pain is nearly always accompanied by a physical sensation. If that sensation becomes too painful, the body will contract and pull a part of our consciousness from that part of the body. This can result in pain as well as trigger points. |
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How are Trigger points treated?
The most common way to treat trigger points is to massage the trigger point at a level of pain that still feels like 'good pain'. On a scale from 1-10, where 1 is hardly painful at all and 10 extremely painful, we find a 7 and press or massage the point at that depth. The pain will usually subside. I press deeper until we are back at 7 etc. In this way it is possible to treat different layers of contraction in the body.
When we are exploring and treating emotional pain, we go deeper. The goal is to really feel the original pain again in the body, to express it (if necessary) and to transform it. Sometimes this is achieved by a very soft and gentle touch, other times deeper pressure is needed to get through layers of fear and 'shields' covering the original emotion. Naturally, this is all done step-by-step, with full respect for your boundaries and what your needs are in that moment.
When we are exploring and treating emotional pain, we go deeper. The goal is to really feel the original pain again in the body, to express it (if necessary) and to transform it. Sometimes this is achieved by a very soft and gentle touch, other times deeper pressure is needed to get through layers of fear and 'shields' covering the original emotion. Naturally, this is all done step-by-step, with full respect for your boundaries and what your needs are in that moment.
Trigger point Massage in my Practice
Trigger point therapy can be combined with any other treatment.
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In some ways, you could say that Shiatsu Massage is a form of Trigger point massage (or is it the other way around?). During a Shiatsu Massage, energetic contractions (i.e. energetic 'nodules') are localised and released so that the energy can flow freely again. If necessary, I can treat specific trigger points during the Shiatsu massage to further reduce discomfort and pain. The beautiful thing about Trigger point massage is that you can implement it yourself in between treatment sessions and thereby reduce your pain levels and symptoms even faster. I will teach you how to treat yourself. Like this, you also become even more aware of your body and what you can do yourself to prevent symptoms from arising in the future.
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If we work with Life Coaching it is possible to use Trigger point massage to get in touch with emotional pain. As always, the way I approach your body - with a lighter or deeper, softer of more painful touch - is determined by what your body is indicating that will most benefit your process in that moment.
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Depending on your specific needs it is also possible to book separate Trigger point Massage sessions. If we are just meeting for the first time, it is usually better to start with a Shiatsu Massage. Once your energies are more in balance, we can do shorter Trigger point 'maintenance' sessions, if that is what your body needs.
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I have worked as a Life Coach and Masseur since 2005. Find out more about my background and the techniques I use.
Read more about My way of working here. Find out more about Life Coaching here.
Read here what others are saying about Massage: Relax into in your Body.
Go to this page for more information about Shiatsu Massage.
Read more about My way of working here. Find out more about Life Coaching here.
Read here what others are saying about Massage: Relax into in your Body.
Go to this page for more information about Shiatsu Massage.
