MUSCLE KNOTS AND MYOFASCIAL PAIN SYNDROME

Pulling the Trigger at Trigger Points

 Myofascial pain syndrome is a medical term used to describe chronic muscle pain, weakness, stiffness, and inflammation that typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively or in situations of stress-related muscle tension.MPS affects approximately 9 million people in the U.S., including 95% of people who have chronic pain. Factors that pose a greater risk for MPS include intense exercise, abnormal posture, joint dysfunction and conditions such as sleep problems and chronic infection. Jobs requiring repetitive physical work or prolonged static posture are also risks.

Symptoms of MPS

Although pain is the primary symptom, other symptoms, like tiredness and sometimes depression, can also be experienced.  

• Deep, aching pain in a muscle
• Pain that persists or worsens
• Difficulty sleeping due to pain
• A tender knot in a muscle—the trigger points

What are Muscle Knots?

Muscles knots, also known as trigger points, are hard, sensitive areas of tight muscles that form after injuries or overuse. It’s a small patch of tightly contracted muscles, described as micro-cramps. It tightens and contracts even when the muscle is at rest and causes strain and pain throughout the muscle. The persistence of symptoms and widespread lead to myofascial pain syndrome.

In people with MPS, “trigger points” develop in the taut bands of any muscles (the fascia) and are characterized as pain from small circumscribed areas of hypersensitivity and myofascial structures, resulting in pain. The pressure to these trigger points causes pain to other, more distant parts of the body, and termed as “referred pain.”

Muscle knots or trigger points result from three muscle overload: acute, sustained and repetitive. These overload cause abnormal release of acetylcholine, which causes calcium influx into the muscle sarcomere causing localized sarcomere contraction. The whole process creates tension resulting in muscle knots and evolving to trigger points.

Treatment for MPS

• Medications include pain relievers, antidepressants and sedatives, and trigger point injection in severe cases.
• Physical therapy includes ultrasound, heat therapy, electrotherapy, and stretching of the affected muscle.
• Aerobic exercise may help to stretch the muscles and increases their blood supply.
• Trigger point pressure release softens knots and releases tension.
• Massage therapy increases circulation and improves blood flow to loosen up tensed muscles. 

Managing Muscle Knots withRecovapro’s Vibration Therapy 

It all starts with a modern recovery tool, like theRecovapro massage gun.

One of the best ways to deal with muscle knots is through deep tissue massage. With trigger point massage tools like the Recovapromassage guns, you can essentially break up the tension that builds up in the muscle and fascia using powerful percussive motion. The power massager changes the way people massage knots due to the incredible power of self-application. With the ability to reach deep into muscles, the Recovapro massage gun can help relieve triggerpoint pain quickly, efficiently, and at a fraction of the price of ongoing treatment with a massage therapist.

Trigger Point Techniques and Fascia Release Techniques

• Local compression of a trigger point
• Local manual stretching of the taut bands and adjacent parts
• Manual release of the connective tissue and fascia surrounding the trigger point
• Intramuscular mobilization

***The above techniques and effects may be accomplished using the variety of attachments provided byRecovaproand calibrated at the required intensity via its 5-level speed and power settings.

Trigger Pointing Massage withRecovapro

• Begin by applying light stroking of the muscle with theRecovapro round head attachment. This serves as a warm-up to tone down the muscle prior to the trigger pointing procedure. Apply for 1 to 3 minutes.
• After inserting the bullet head attachment, apply localized compression over each trigger point, preferably for 30 seconds or until a “local twitch response” is observed.
• Trigger pointing is quite uncomfortable to receive, so constant communication with your patient is warranted.
• End with light stroking of the round head for the cool down.

Local Twitch Response:Visible or palpable contraction of muscle and skin as the tense taut band contracts when pressure is applied.

Recovapro massage gun is a cutting edge device that features Smart Glide Technology and Smart Touch Technology, making trigger pointing massage sessions comfortable and the quietest therapy experience. It combines power, performance, and effectivity, as it delivers the most effective percussive vibration treatment for everyone.

TheRecovapro massage gun is an innovative massager device that is lightweight, cordless, and improved for self-myofascial release applications. It loosens and releases trigger points or tender areas as fast as 30 seconds.

RECOVAPRO… 

MORE THAN JUST A MASSAGE GUN!!!