A trigger point is a knot or tight band of muscle that forms when muscle fails to relax. The knot can often be felt under the skin and may twitch involuntarily when touched (called a jump sign). The trigger point can trap and/or irritate surrounding nerves and cause referred pain, which is pain felt in another part of the body (e.g., pain from a heart attack that is felt in the jaw or arm).
Scar tissue and loss of range of motion and weakness may form over time. Trigger Point Injections (TPI) are used to treat extremely painful, tight and tender areas of muscle. Normal muscle contracts and relaxes when it is active. The cause of muscle pain or spasms may be one or more trigger points. We can inject the painful spots to relax the muscle, helping relieve pain and promote easier movement; thus making it possible to exercise, strengthening the muscle and helping it heal.
We recommend TPI to be used in conjunction with other therapies as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.