Pain is very personal. As a physical therapist, it is your job to discover the unique factors that contribute to your client’s pain and brainstorm techniques for relieving it. Trigger points are a common ailment, so there are many suggestions you can give a patient to help them mitigate pain caused by trigger points. What are trigger points? Myofascial trigger points, or muscle knots, are tough areas of muscle that can be very sensitive to touch. This discomfort is caused by muscle fibers tightening and contracting despite being at rest. Trigger points are not only painful, but they can also significantly affect a person’s range of motion. Treatment should be administered as early as possible in order to prevent any longterm pain or recurrence. Before you recommend treatment, make sure you have a thorough understanding of any underlying factors that may have caused these irritations. Causes Trigger points can appear in any area of the body that has muscle. Causes of muscle knots include: Overuse or injury of muscles Mental and emotional stress Poor posture Unhealthy diet Sedentary living habits Dehydration Symptoms Trigger points are small, tender muscle nodules that can be felt through a person’s skin. These knots are often accompanied by referred pain, which spreads from the trigger point to neighboring muscles. The two main classifications of trigger points are active or latent. Active trigger points cause pain in the body without being touched, while latent trigger points are only painful when someone presses down on them. Tender points also cause discomfort when they are touched, but they are different from trigger points because they do not cause referred pain or spasms when pressed. Commonly Affected Areas Neck Shoulders Shins Calf muscles Lower back Self-treatments Home remedies are the logical first step in treating trigger point pain. Discuss any potential causes of these knots with your patient before recommending these treatments. Exercise There are several aerobic exercises that can help loosen tight muscles. These exercises are especially helpful for patients suffering from stress-induced pain. Cycling, swimming, and doing jumping jacks for 15-30 minutes a day can relieve tension while increasing blood supply to the affected areas. Practicing yoga or meditation is also a great way to relieve pain caused by trigger points. While exercise can be an effective way to relieve pain and tension, make sure...