This is neuromuscular therapy that is anatomy specific to individual muscles and seeks to improve related myofascial pain and dysfunction. It is the therapy whose goal is to relieve myofascial trigger points. This therapy is based on the extensive research of Janet G. Travell, M.D. and David G. Simons, M.D. who wrote the two volume textbook, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, The Trigger Point Manual.
Benefits
Relieves painful trigger points
Relieves muscle/fascia soreness
About Deep Tissue What is the difference between trigger points and tender points?
Trigger Point
Hyperirritable spot
Found in tight bands of skeletal muscle or its fascia
Painful when pressed
Characterized by referred pain, tenderness and autonomic phenomena at a distance from the trigger point
May cause restriction in movement and weakness of the affected muscle
May be active and cause pain currently
May be latent and not cause pain currently.Latent trigger points may persist for years after an injury and predispose the muscle to acute attack of pain from minor overstretching, overuse, or chilling, which may reactivate it.
Prevalent in fibromyalgia
Tender Point
Local area of tenderness
Upon compression, the pain remains in the tender point and is not referred to distant points on the body.
Also prevalent in fibromyalgia
Suzanne believes that using basic Lymph Drainage Therapy techniques to improve circulation of the fluids surrounding the hyperirritable trigger point or tender point further enhances Deep Tissue Therapy, thus facilitating deeper work into the injured muscle less invasively.Normal, healthy muscles do not contain trigger or tender points and have no taut bands, are not tender to firm palpation, and exhibit no local twitch responses.Ischemia is a condition created by hypertonic muscles.Spasms in the muscle result in poor circulation of blood and lymph causing a lack of oxygen to the muscle and build up of toxins within the muscle from poor venous and lymph flow back into circulation.Muscles in spasm will feel nodulated, ropy or tight, and may cause discomfort with moderate pressure.Deep Tissue Massage involves working with specific muscles to relieve trigger points and related tenderness and referred pain.Techniques include:deep cross-fiber frictioning (on scar tissue or adhesions), combination friction, pincer palpation, flat palpation, rolling palpation, repeated gliding (this is the technique chiropractors refer to as “stripping”), and static compression.
It is safe to work on acute injuries after 72 hours.Related techniques used in recovery of injuries and overload include:
PRICE used immediately after acute myofascial injury
Protection
Rest
Ice
Compression (bandages)
Elevation
Guidelines of Using Ice and Heat
Ice reduces swelling, increases circulation, numbs the pain, allows movement without pain, and is used in the acute phase of an injury.Movement allows the newly forming tissue, which is fibrous and leads to formation of scar tissue, to remain pliable and healthy.
Applied heat may be used after swelling and tissue heat reduces.It is relaxing and mellows out the feeling of general fatigue.It is used for chronic achiness that develops as the injury is healing long term.
It is always safe to use ice but for no longer than 20 minutes each time used.Ice and heat may be used alternatively every 2 to 5 minutes to pump more blood and lymph through an area.
