Trigger Point Guide
Trigger Point Guide
Theory
Theory
Karri Koivula
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DisclaimerDisclaimer
Huge effort is made that this book represents generally accepted medical practises and that Huge effort is made that this book represents generally accepted medical practises and that this information doesn’t pose a risks for anybody who uses it.
this information doesn’t pose a risks for anybody who uses it.
But it is very important that you realize that
But it is very important that you realize that you read this book at your own you read this book at your own risk.risk.
All material provided in this e-book is for informational and educational purposes only, and not All material provided in this e-book is for informational and educational purposes only, and not to be construed as medical advice.
to be construed as medical advice.
No action should be taken solely based on this e-book No action should be taken solely based on this e-book
Absolutely
Absolutely consult you physician before you take any actions related to your you healthconsult you physician before you take any actions related to your you health By downloading/reading this book
By downloading/reading this book
You understand and agree that in no event shall the author nor the publisher of this e-book be liable You understand and agree that in no event shall the author nor the publisher of this e-book be liable to you or any other
to you or any other user of this e-book for the use of the user of this e-book for the use of the information.information.
Statements mentioned within this e-book are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent Statements mentioned within this e-book are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
any disease.
The statements made within this e-book have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug The statements made within this e-book have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Administration.
If you don’t understand or agree these terms then please quit reading this book right now and If you don’t understand or agree these terms then please quit reading this book right now and delete this book from your computer.
delete this book from your computer.
Thanks. Thanks.
Copy
Copyright nright n oticeotice
It’s illegal to copy any material from this book and distribute it. It’s illegal to copy any material from this book and distribute it.
I regularly search the internet for illegal copies. I regularly search the internet for illegal copies.
And I will press criminal charges against those who illegally distribute it. And I will press criminal charges against those who illegally distribute it.
Copyright. 2004 Karri Koivula Copyright. 2004 Karri Koivula
Legal notices
Legal notices
DisclaimerDisclaimer
Huge effort is made that this book represents generally accepted medical practises and that Huge effort is made that this book represents generally accepted medical practises and that this information doesn’t pose a risks for anybody who uses it.
this information doesn’t pose a risks for anybody who uses it.
But it is very important that you realize that
But it is very important that you realize that you read this book at your own you read this book at your own risk.risk.
All material provided in this e-book is for informational and educational purposes only, and not All material provided in this e-book is for informational and educational purposes only, and not to be construed as medical advice.
to be construed as medical advice.
No action should be taken solely based on this e-book No action should be taken solely based on this e-book
Absolutely
Absolutely consult you physician before you take any actions related to your you healthconsult you physician before you take any actions related to your you health By downloading/reading this book
By downloading/reading this book
You understand and agree that in no event shall the author nor the publisher of this e-book be liable You understand and agree that in no event shall the author nor the publisher of this e-book be liable to you or any other
to you or any other user of this e-book for the use of the user of this e-book for the use of the information.information.
Statements mentioned within this e-book are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent Statements mentioned within this e-book are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
any disease.
The statements made within this e-book have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug The statements made within this e-book have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Administration.
If you don’t understand or agree these terms then please quit reading this book right now and If you don’t understand or agree these terms then please quit reading this book right now and delete this book from your computer.
delete this book from your computer.
Thanks. Thanks.
Copy
Copyright nright n oticeotice
It’s illegal to copy any material from this book and distribute it. It’s illegal to copy any material from this book and distribute it.
I regularly search the internet for illegal copies. I regularly search the internet for illegal copies.
And I will press criminal charges against those who illegally distribute it. And I will press criminal charges against those who illegally distribute it.
Copyright. 2004 Karri Koivula Copyright. 2004 Karri Koivula
Start here
Start here
ForewordForeword
The focus here is in practical advice. The focus here is in practical advice. The bottom line,
The bottom line, And all that matters, And all that matters, Is that tr
Is that triggeigger points cause referred pain,r points cause referred pain, And that they “relax” trough massage. And that they “relax” trough massage.
And that the pain symptoms they cause will vanish along them… And that the pain symptoms they cause will vanish along them…
Call to action Call to action Read some
Read some theorytheory below then go to thebelow then go to the pain patternspain patterns section and…section and… Look at the body part pictures and try to
Look at the body part pictures and try to pin point ypin point your pain, tour pain, then look at the muscle pain index andhen look at the muscle pain index and see which muscles are generally involved.
see which muscles are generally involved.
Then go to work, use the side menu to easily jump to what ever muscles you need to massage, and Then go to work, use the side menu to easily jump to what ever muscles you need to massage, and use the pictures and written guidelines if any to get the job done.
use the pictures and written guidelines if any to get the job done.
Theory section starts
Theory section starts
Trigger points are hyper contracted bundles of muscle cells. Also because of this contraction there Trigger points are hyper contracted bundles of muscle cells. Also because of this contraction there are taut
are taut banbands of ds of stretched muscle attached to these contraction knots tstretched muscle attached to these contraction knots that run to hat run to both directions andboth directions and end up in the muscles attachments points.
end up in the muscles attachments points.
Putting pressure on the trigger point will eventually make them relax. Putting pressure on the trigger point will eventually make them relax.
Even pressing at the taut band can make this happen as it forces a stretch to the contracted knots Even pressing at the taut band can make this happen as it forces a stretch to the contracted knots that are in the center.
that are in the center. But for best
But for best effeeffect ct you want to aim center.you want to aim center. you’ll locate the
you’ll locate the center/triggecenter/trigger por point by its pressure tint by its pressure tendernessenderness, pressing it , pressing it moderate/hard forcemoderate/hard force should cause noticeable pain both ate the spot and in the pain referral zone.
should cause noticeable pain both ate the spot and in the pain referral zone.
You can test this by pressing a spot few centimetres of the spot, and see that you can barely feel the You can test this by pressing a spot few centimetres of the spot, and see that you can barely feel the pressing.
pressing.
Normal muscle tissue can take a lot of force applied to
Normal muscle tissue can take a lot of force applied to it; until you start to it; until you start to feel even slightfeel even slight discomfort.
Trigger point identification -important
Trigger point identification -important
Pressure tender spotPressure tender spot Spot that hurts to Spot that hurts to presspress Twitch reaction
Twitch reaction
When you press the spot or taut band you can feel the taut band to twitch violently. When you press the spot or taut band you can feel the taut band to twitch violently. It’s good indicator from trigger points, but
It’s good indicator from trigger points, but it doesn’t happenit doesn’t happen, or , or you can’you can’t at always feel it.lways feel it. Reappearing of referred pain symptom
Reappearing of referred pain symptom
When you press the tp you feel something on the actual pain zone were the symptom that bothers When you press the tp you feel something on the actual pain zone were the symptom that bothers you exists.
you exists.
Sometimes it’s the exact feeling of the pain but most cases you just feel some weird sensations in Sometimes it’s the exact feeling of the pain but most cases you just feel some weird sensations in the general area of you pain zone.
the general area of you pain zone.
Brief massage guide lines
Brief massage guide lines
Find the spot and the direction of applying pressure massage that hurts the most. Find the spot and the direction of applying pressure massage that hurts the most. Massage multiple short session though out the day.
Massage multiple short session though out the day.
As long as it takes for the spots to become none-tender, or as long as it takes to get relief. As long as it takes for the spots to become none-tender, or as long as it takes to get relief. This will in most cases take weeks.
This will in most cases take weeks. Ways to massage
Ways to massage Repetitive stroke
Repetitive stroke massagemassage oror continuous pressurecontinuous pressure Il like the best
Il like the best from continuous pressufrom continuous pressure applied by tool and using bodyweight for applying there applied by tool and using bodyweight for applying the pressure. It’s the lazy person’s way to do it
pressure. It’s the lazy person’s way to do it and works just perfect.and works just perfect. Continuous
Continuous pressurpressuree
Hold 8-15 seconds pressure move to another spot come back later repeat about 2-3 per spot 2-5 Hold 8-15 seconds pressure move to another spot come back later repeat about 2-3 per spot 2-5 times per day
times per day Massage Massage
Massage 10 strokes move to another spot come back repeat 2-3 times per spot 6-10 times per day Massage 10 strokes move to another spot come back repeat 2-3 times per spot 6-10 times per day There are no rules once you get the hang of it youll make you own system.
Case example
Acute pain phaseMassages points in many sessions a day for two weeks
Holy smoke I am full of these buggers it seems that every inc of my body is is a tender spot. Pain symptoms regress backwards old injuries start to feel again maybe resulting in more pain. My muscles are twitching like there no tomorrow.
Where is this all going to lead..
Then every other day for couple of weeks Things start to normalize
I got to tell everybody about this.
This is pretty cool, why the doctors didn’t tell me about this. Upkeep/ maintenance
Then once a week, or when needed.
Massage is getting boring but some of the points are still a bit tender, although generally it gets harder and harder to find them
Then once a moth, one session holding for 5 seconds,per spot. I’m so lazy I should do the massage more often.
Some spots may get tender but they don’t seem to cause those old referred pain symptoms, strange…
Pain shift - important
What you get is a pain shift or the pain gets worse.
You can aggravate the current tp and your pain symptom worsens this is common although it doesn’t seem to postpone the relaxation of the tp.
Which is bit odd, but that’s the practice of things.
And thus some use very rough methods from the beginning to get things handled as quickly as possible and suffer a little extra pain.
Pain shift can be like going back in time.
Pain shift happens when the pull of the muscles changes and it flares old latent trigger points. For example if you hurt you foot and got longstanding knee pain that eventually settled in you hip. You can experience the same knee pain again as the trigger point will flare upp again as the balance between the pull of the muscles changes as you massage tps.
But at this point don’t call me and get angry at me but continue to massage the points that are responsible of this newly appeared symptom.
They should vanish eventually.
I don’t know a case where this pain shift or regression back to old symptoms haven’t vanished-I don’t see any logic reasons for this but realize that there is a risk for this.
