There is a multitude of reasons why back muscles tighten and stiffen up. Muscles pull the bones and joints. Overuse and/or injuries can pull the bones, joints, and tendons out of place, thus causing the muscles to stay in a flexed or stretched position, the inability for the muscles to relax and return to their normal position, resulting in symptoms of discomfort, stiffness, and pain. Individuals can have reoccurring bouts of tight muscles, eventually becoming chronic. Chronic muscle tension can pull the spine out of alignment even if there is no specific injury. The Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Wellness Team can relieve tight back muscle tension and restore positioning, mobility, and function.
Muscles are the Key
Muscles make the body move and greatly impact the skeletal and nervous systems. When a muscle is overstretched or pulled, there is not just injury to the muscles but the potential for injury to the bones and tendons in the area. This, in turn, can pinch nerves and cause problems with the nervous system, especially in pain signal transmissions.
Symptoms
Symptoms will depend on the cause and severity. The most common include:
Constant or chronic muscle achiness, soreness, stiffness, and tightness.
Even after stretching or flexing, there is a dull aching or pain.
More serious symptoms may include:
Electrical or burning sensations
Sharp or stabbing pain.
Weakness in the legs or arms
Tingling or numbness in the legs, arms, or chest.
Chest discomfort symptoms.
Causes
Aging
The older a person is, the more likely they will experience back discomfort symptoms. Back issues most likely occur in 30- to 50-year-olds.
The aging process naturally wears the body.
Thinning bones
Muscle mass reduction
Fluid loss between joints in the spine.
All these can cause back issues and problems.
Unhealthy posture
Constant pressure on the spine can lead to general back discomfort symptoms. Practicing unhealthy posture can generate this pressure. The muscles and ligaments must work harder to keep the body balanced because the muscles are out of position, and the other muscles can’t perform their job properly. Overworking and overuse lead to tight back muscles, aches, and pain.
Muscle sprain or strain
Sprains are the tearing or stretching of ligaments. Strains are the tearing or stretching of muscles and tendons. Lifting heavy objects without proper form can easily cause a back sprain or strain. Sprains and strains can also occur after an awkward, sudden, or jerking movement.
Herniated disc
A herniated, slipped, or ruptured disc puts pressure on a nerve/s. This can stress the surrounding muscles causing tension to build up.
Fall or other injuries
Tight back muscles can result from the following:
A fall
Vehicle accident
Force Trauma
Sports accident
Weight gain
Added weight stresses and pulls the body down. This causes unhealthy posture and muscle tension.
Chiropractic Functional Wellness
Usually, tight muscles can be relieved with a hot bath or cold therapy. Reoccurring bouts of, or chronically tense back muscles, are signals that something is wrong and should not be ignored. Chiropractic care can release and relax tight back muscles and get them back into a natural state by re-aligning the spine through tissue manipulation, decompression, massage, and adjustments. The various treatment methods will relieve the discomfort, pain, tension, and realign the spinal column, and strengthen the body. When spinal components are put back into their proper place, the surrounding muscles no longer need to provide a counter-balance to the misalignment and begin to relax. Chiropractors can also recommend ways to improve posture and strengthen muscles to incur less wear and tear.
Chiropractic Back Therapy
References
Furlan, Andrea D et al. “Complementary and alternative therapies for back pain II.” Evidence report/technology assessment,194 (2010): 1-764.
Geneen, Louise J et al. “Physical activity and exercise for chronic pain in adults: an overview of Cochrane Reviews.” The Cochrane database of systematic reviews vol. 4,4 CD011279. 24 Apr. 2017, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011279.pub3
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Back pain: Symptoms. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/basics/symptoms/con-20020797
Miake-Lye, Isomi M et al. “Massage for Pain: An Evidence Map.” Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) vol. 25,5 (2019): 475-502. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0282
Nahian, Ahmed, et al. “Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: Facial Muscle Energy, Direct MFR, and BLT Procedure – for TMJ Dysfunction.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 12 September 2022.
Rahman Shiri, Jaro Karppinen, Päivi Leino-Arjas, Svetlana Solovieva, Eira Viikari-Juntura, The Association Between Obesity and Low Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 171, Issue 2, 15 January 2010, Pages 135–154, doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwp356
The neck is vital in keeping the head upright in a casual relationship with the cervical spine. The neck is home to the thyroid organ and the surrounding muscles that help support the neck to the rest of the body. One of the muscles that help support the neck is the sternocleidomastoid muscle. When traumatic forces begin to affect the neck, over time can lead to the development of chronic conditions associated with pain. When individuals start to feel pain affecting their neck, it can cause them to be miserable and find ways to relieve the pain they are experiencing. Today’s article focuses on the sternocleidomastoid muscle, how trigger pain affects this muscle, and ways to relieve SCM pain. We refer patients to certified providers who specialize in musculoskeletal treatments to aid individuals suffering from SCM associated with trigger pain along the neck. We also guide our patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when appropriate. We ensure to find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Jimenez DC observes this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is The Sternocleidomastoid Muscle?
Have you been experiencing pain along the sides of your neck? What about limited mobility when you turn your neck from side to side? Or do headaches seem to worsen throughout the entire day? Some of these symptoms are associated with pain along the neck and could affect the surrounding muscles that are connected. One of the surrounding muscles that sit behind the thyroid is known as SCM or sternocleidomastoid muscle. The sternocleidomastoid muscle is a long muscle with dual innervation and multiple functions in the neck. The SCM is connected to the trapezius muscle that helps flex the neck, pulling the head forward while bringing the chin down to the chest. The SCM and the trapezius muscle work together to help stabilize and fix the head position while the host is talking or eating. When factors affect the neck over time, the SCM also gets involved.
How Does Trigger Pain Affect The Sternocleidomastoid?
When factors affect SCM associated with the neck, many issues will start to affect the neck and overlap pain near the eyes, ears, sides of the cheeks, and forehead. Studies reveal that SCM may develop myofascial trigger points in the head, causing referred pain. Trigger points are usually formed when traumatic forces affect certain areas in the body. For SCM to be affected by trigger pain, tiny knots along the taut band of the SCM muscle fibers become sensitive to pressure when compressed, and many people often describe the pain as deep and dull. To that point, the symptoms associated with SCM trigger pain may appear in numerous combinations or together depending on how severe the pain is on the person. Some of the symptoms related to SCM trigger pain include:
Headaches (sinus, cluster, or tension)
Sore throat
Ear pain (popping sounds in the ears)
Blurred vision
Vertigo
Dizzyness
Balance issues
Muscle soreness
SCM Pain & Trigger Points- Video
Have you been dealing with headaches throughout the entire day? What about muscle tenderness in certain areas near your neck or shoulders? Or have you been feeling dizzy that it is affecting your daily activities? Many people with these symptoms may be dealing with SCM pain associated with trigger pain. The video above offers an insightful overview of how does trigger pain may be involved with SCM pain. SCM or sternocleidomastoid muscle is a long muscle that surrounds the sides of the neck and is connected to the trapezius muscle. When factors begin to affect the SCM, the muscle is at risk of developing trigger pain along the muscle fibers. Studies reveal that trigger pain along the SCM may affect SCM’s normal muscle functions, like chewing due to hyperactivity. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve SCM pain associated with trigger pain affecting the neck.
Ways To Relieve SCM Pain In The Neck
When it comes to SCM pain associated with trigger pain along the neck, many individuals find ways to relieve the related symptoms that are causing the pain. Some individuals will take over-the-counter medication to relieve their neck, shoulders, and head pain. At the same time, others do stretches to release the tension on their head, neck, and shoulders. However, trigger pain is a bit complex and challenging to diagnose since it mimics other conditions that affect the body. As luck would have it, many doctors will refer musculoskeletal specialists like massage therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors who can help relieve SCM pain in the neck. Studies reveal that a combination of physiotherapy, classical massages, and stretching exercises can be applied to alleviate SCM pain in the neck. By stretching and massaging the SCM, many individuals can begin to feel pain relief in their neck, increase their range of motion, and have endurance in their neck. Integrating these various treatments for the SCM (sternocleidomastoid muscle) pain in the neck can help revitalize a person’s sense of well-being without being in pain.
Conclusion
The SCM, or sternocleidomastoid muscle, is a long muscle that sits behind the thyroid organ and is connected with the trapezius muscle. This muscle helps stabilize and holds the head position while flexing the neck and bringing the chin down to the chest. When environmental or traumatic factors affect the neck muscles, it can lead to chronic conditions over time, thus inflicting pain and tenderness along the SCM. These are known as trigger points and can be hard to diagnose due to them mimicking other chronic symptoms associated with the neck, head, and shoulders. Thankfully, various treatments like physiotherapy, stretching exercises, and classical massages can help relieve the trigger points along the SCM and relieve the neck and surrounding muscles.
References
Bordoni, Bruno, and Matthew Varacallo. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Sternocleidomastoid Muscle.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 5 Apr. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532881/.
Büyükturan, Buket, et al. “The Effects of Combined Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Stretching and Massage on Pain, Disability, Endurance, Kinesiophobia, and Range of Motion in Individuals with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized, Single-Blind Study.” Musculoskeletal Science & Practice, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 June 2021, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34147954/.
Kohno, S, et al. “Pain in the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle and Occlusal Interferences.” Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 1988, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3171759/.
Missaghi, Babak. “Sternocleidomastoid Syndrome: A Case Study.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, Canadian Chiropractic Association, Sept. 2004, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1769463/.
The body is a functional machine that consists of muscles, organs, and skeletal joints that play different parts in making the body healthy as possible. Each section has a casual relationship as they work together and do their jobs separately. The muscles provide protection and movement from daily activities. The organs supply hormones, oxygen, and nutrients, so the body’s internal functions work correctly. And finally, the skeletal joints help with mobility and stabilization for the body to stay upright. When environmental factors or traumatic injuries affect the body, many issues over time may cause damage, and the body may develop pain-related symptoms. Today’s article examines how the musculoskeletal system works in the body, how trigger points affect the musculoskeletal system, and how chiropractic care can help alleviate trigger point pain. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal treatments to aid individuals suffering from muscle pain associated with trigger points. We also guide our patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
How Does The Musculoskeletal System Works?
Have you been experiencing muscle stiffness in specific areas located in your body? Do you feel tenderness in your neck, shoulders, or back? Or do you feel knots along your muscles that are causing you pain? Some of these symptoms are associated with muscle pain in the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system in the body has muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues surrounding the skeletal joints. Studies reveal that the structure of the musculoskeletal system shows how the surrounding muscles protect the joints and help provide the body functionality. The various muscles in the body offer a range of motion, sensory-motor functions, reflexes, and strength when functioning normally. However, when environmental factors begin to affect the body over time, it can lead to musculoskeletal disorders associated with pain. Studies reveal that when the body succumbs to pain related to musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders are a common issue that has affected many individuals worldwide and causes various disabilities and symptoms that affect the body. Some of the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms that affect the body include:
Burning sensations
Muscle twitches
Fatigue
Stiffness and aching
Myofascial trigger pain
How Do Trigger Points Affect The Body?
One of the musculoskeletal symptoms associated with muscle pain is trigger points or myofascial pain. Myofascial pain is a common condition involving the muscles and surrounding connective tissues that may be acute or chronic depending on where the pain is located. While trigger points refer to hard palpable nodules in the taut bands of the skeletal muscle that can be active (causes spontaneous pain or abnormal sensory symptoms) or latent (causes no spontaneous pain but shows operational myofascial trigger points characteristics). Studies reveal that myofascial pain can be associated with muscle dysfunction, weakness, and limited range of motion that affects the body. A knot in the muscle in certain body areas can make the muscle hyperirritable, causing painful compression while invoking characteristic referred pain and autonomic phenomena in the body. To that point, it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose since trigger points are caused by traumatic events in the body and can occur in different spots in different people. Trigger points can form all over the body, including:
Neck
Mid-back
Low back
One common characteristic when trigger points affect the body is that they can travel or even spread to the surrounding muscles.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome & Trigger Points- Video
Have you been feeling pain located in your neck, back, or particular areas in your body? What about feeling pain in a different location of your body? Or have you experienced muscle stiffness or tenderness in certain areas of your body? If you have been experiencing these symptoms associated with muscle pain, you could be dealing with trigger point pain or myofascial pain in your musculoskeletal system. The video above explains myofascial pain and trigger points and how they affect the body. Studies reveal that myofascial pain is caused by myofascial trigger points that produce exquisitely tender spots in the taut bands of hardened muscles. To that point, it stimulates local and referred pain amongst other sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms. Myofascial trigger points can cause stiffness and weakness in the involved muscle, making it difficult to diagnose since it can cause pain in different body areas. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate trigger point pain associated with myofascial pain syndrome from the body.
How Chiropractic Care Alleviates Trigger Point Pain
Since myofascial trigger point pain can be challenging to diagnose, it can range from neck to low back pain in different locations and mimic other pain conditions that affect the body. It can affect the body to become hypersensitive and hyperirritable while decreasing a person’s overall sense of well-being. Luckily, treatments like chiropractic care can help alleviate trigger point pain and help manage myofascial pain syndrome. Chiropractic care is not just for the skeletal system but can help relieve muscle pain associated with myofascial pain. Since the muscles are layered and interwoven around the joints, they play an integral part in supporting the body. Studies reveal that chiropractors are great at finding trigger points and utilize specific exercises and physical modalities to treat myofascial pain syndrome symptoms. Some of the benefits chiropractic care use include:
Breaking up scar tissue
Applying pressure on the trigger point
Aligning the spine to reduce the spinal subluxation
Ease muscle pain
Conclusion
The body consists of muscles, organs, and joints in a casual relationship that helps function and stabilizes the host. The musculoskeletal system has muscles, tissues, and ligaments that are interwoven and layered, surrounding the skeletal joints to prevent injuries or traumatic events from affecting the body. When the body does suffer from damages caused by traumatic events, it can lead to a musculoskeletal disorder known as myofascial pain or trigger pain. Trigger pain is when the muscles have knots along taut bands of the muscle that can cause muscle stiffness and pain. Trigger point pain can be challenging to diagnose since the pain can travel from one location to another section of the body. This is referred pain, and myofascial trigger pain can mimic other chronic musculoskeletal symptoms. Treatments like chiropractic care can help alleviate myofascial trigger pain through spinal manipulation and trigger point therapy, thus relieving the stiff muscle causing pain. Incorporating treatments like chiropractic care can help loosen stiff muscles, increase joint range of motion and bring a person’s wellness back.
References
Bron, Carel, and Jan D Dommerholt. “Etiology of Myofascial Trigger Points.” Current Pain and Headache Reports, Current Science Inc., Oct. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3440564/.
Murphy, Andrew C, et al. “Structure, Function, and Control of the Human Musculoskeletal Network.” PLoS Biology, Public Library of Science, 18 Jan. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773011/.
Shah, Jay P, et al. “Myofascial Trigger Points Then and Now: A Historical and Scientific Perspective.” PM & R : the Journal of Injury, Function, and Rehabilitation, U.S. National Library of Medicine, July 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4508225/.
Individuals that experience frequent headaches can have sensitive headache trigger points. Every case is different and requires a thorough examination before a proper and personalized chiropractic treatment plan can begin. Headaches can be brought on from a variety of causes. This could be:
Drug reactions
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
Tightness in the neck muscles
Low blood sugar
High blood pressure
Stress
Fatigue
The majority of recurrent headaches fall into three types:
Tension headaches, also known as cervicogenic headaches
Tension headaches are the most common and affect around 77% of individuals experiencing chronic headaches. Most individuals describe a tension headache as a consistent dull ache on one side of the head and sometimes both sides. They are often described as having a tight band/belt around the head or behind the eyes. These headaches usually start slowly, gradually and can last for a few minutes or days. They tend to start in the middle of the day or before the end of the day.
These headaches can be the result of stress and/or poor posture. The most common cause is subluxations in the upper back and neck, usually combined with active headache trigger points. This stresses the spinal muscles in the upper back and neck. A tension headache or stress headache can last 30 minutes to a few days. Chronic tension headaches can last for months. The pain can be severe; however, these headaches are typically not associated with symptoms like throbbing, nausea, or vomiting.
If the top cervical vertebrae shift out of their position and lose their normal motion, a small muscle called the rectus capitis posterior minor/RCPM begins to spasm. This small muscle has a tendon that slips between the upper neck and the base of the skull. It attaches to a thin, sensitive tissue called the dura mater that covers the brain. The dura mater is very pain-sensitive. When the RCPM muscle goes into spasm, the tendon pulls the dura mater causing a headache. Individuals that work at a desk station for long hours tend to experience headaches from this cause. Another cause comes from referred pain caused by headache trigger points in the Sternocleidomastoid/SCM or levator muscle on the side of the neck. This cause tends to happen more to individuals that have suffered a whiplash injury with muscle damage in the neck region.
Migraine Headaches
Migraines are intense and throbbing headaches that are associated with nausea and sensitivity to light or noise. They can last for a few hours to a few days. Many experience visual symptoms known as an aura just before they come on. This is described as seeing flashing lights or when things take on a dream-like appearance. However, even in individuals that don’t experience the aura, most can tell that a migraine is getting ready to present. Individuals usually have their first attack before age 30. They tend to run in families supporting a genetic component. Some have attacks several times a month, while others can have less than one a year. Most individuals find that migraines happen less and become less severe as they get older.
These headaches are caused by the constriction of blood vessels in the brain. During the constriction period, there is a decrease in blood circulation. This is followed by dilation/enlargening of the blood vessels. This is what leads to the visual symptoms. Then the blood vessels dilate, generating a rapid increase in blood pressure inside the head. This increased pressure is what leads to a pounding headache. Every time the heart beats, it sends another shock wave through the carotid arteries in the neck into the brain. There are different theories as to why the blood vessels constrict, but they are still unknown. What is known is that several factors can trigger a migraine. This includes:
Lack of sleep
Stress
Flickering lights
Strong smells
Changing weather
Foods that are high in an amino acid known as tyramine
Cluster
Cluster headaches are very short excruciating headaches. They are usually felt on one side of the head behind the eyes. These headaches affect about 1 million individuals and are more common in men. This type of headache tends to happen at night. They are called cluster headaches because they tend to happen one to four times a day over several days. After one cluster is over, it could be months or even years before they present again. Like migraines, cluster headaches cause the dilation of the blood vessels in the brain, increasing the pressure.
Trigger Points
Headache trigger point therapy involves four muscles. These are the:
The Splenius muscles involve two individual muscles, the Splenius Capitis and the Splenius Cervicis. These muscles run along the upper back to the skull base or the upper cervical/neck vertebrae. Trigger points in the Splenius muscles are a common contributor to pain that travels through the head to the back of the eye and top of the head.
The Suboccipitals are a group of four small muscles that maintain proper movement and positioning between the first cervical vertebra and the skull base. Trigger points in these muscles can cause pain that feels like it’s happening inside the head, from the back to the eye and forehead. Individuals report that the whole side of the head hurts. This is a pain pattern similar to a migraine.
The Sternocleidomastoid muscle runs along the base of the skull, behind the ear, down the side of the neck. It attaches to the top of the sternum/breastbone. Although most are not aware of this muscle’s trigger points, the effects are evident. This includes:
Referred pain
Balance issues
Visual symptoms
Referred pain tends to be eye pain, headaches over the eye, and can even cause earaches. An unusual characteristic of SCM headache trigger points is that they can cause dizziness, nausea, and balance problems.
The trapezius muscle is the large, flat muscle in the upper and middle back. Pain can be felt in the temple and back of the head. A common trigger point is located at the top of the muscle. This particular point can activate secondary trigger pointsin the temple or jaw muscles, leading to jaw or tooth pain.
Headache Triggers
Stress can be a trigger.
Depression, anxiety, frustration, and even pleasant excitement can be associated with headache development.
A headache diary can help determine whether factors like food, weather, and/or mood correlate with headache patterns.
Repeated exposure to nitrite compounds can result in a dull headache accompanied by a flushed face. Nitrite dilates blood vessels and is found in products like heart medications, and is also used as a chemical to preserve meat. Processed meats containing sodium nitrite can contribute to headaches.
Foods prepared with monosodium glutamate or MSG can result in headaches. Soy sauce, meat tenderizers, and various packaged foods contain this chemical as a flavor enhancer.
Exposure to poisons, even household varieties like insecticides, carbon tetrachloride, and lead, can contribute.
Contact with lead batteries or lead-glazed pottery.
Foods that are high in the amino acid tyramine should be avoided. This could be ripened cheeses like cheddar, brie, chocolate, and pickled or fermented food.
Bio-Chiropractic
Chiropractic adjustments are highly effective for treating tension headaches, especially those that originate in the neck. Research has found that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement and had fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief than taking common medications. There is a significant improvement by manipulating the upper two cervical vertebrae, combined with adjustments to the area between the cervical and thoracic spine.
Body Composition Testing
Vibration Exercise
Vibration exercise is believed to stimulate the muscle fibers without going to a gym or stressing the bones. One study broke up postmenopausal women into three groups: resistance training, vibration training combined with resistance training, or no exercise/training. Their body composition was measured before starting the study. After the study was completed, the findings included:
Both the resistance group and the resistance group with vibration training increased lean tissue mass.
The control group did not show an increase in lean tissue and, in fact, gained body fat.
The combination group, using vibration training with resistance training, showed a drop in body fat.
Another study placed male athletes in a training program that included vibration training. The first group had lower-limb strength training combined with vibration training, and the other had lower-limb strength training without vibration training. The researchers found that the athletes in the vibration training group improved leg extension strength by five percent. In addition, the vibration training groups balancing ability and vertical lift/jumping test improved as well.
References
Bryans, Roland et al. “Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 34,5 (2011): 274-89. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.04.008
Chaibi, Aleksander et al. “Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial.” BMC research notes vol. 10,1 310. 24 Jul. 2017, doi:10.1186/s13104-017-2651-4
Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2014; 37: 42-63.
Bryans R, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headache. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2011; 34: 274-89.
A trigger point is a knot or bundle of stiff spine muscle tissue that you can’t move or relax, and when touched pain spreads to the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Pretty much everyone can relate to this type of pain in the neck or what is known as myofascial pain syndrome when several of these trigger points are grouped.
How to ease the pain and prevent it
Trigger points can form in muscles all over the body. Myofascial pain syndrome in the neck happens when trigger points develop in the muscles of the shoulders, upper back, and neck.
A Trigger Point
Trigger points have a unique connection to America. They were first identified in the 1940s by Janet Travell, MD, who was John F. Kennedy’s doctor. JFK had severe chronic back pain and had trigger point injections to ease the pain.
A trigger point is a sensitive area within the muscles. They are typically described as knots and feel like a bundle of tense, contracted muscles that twitch and spread pain when touched. The spreading pain is known as referred pain. Example: Trigger points in the shoulder send pain into the neck.
Trigger points cause muscles to stress and to contract. This results in:
Muscle weakness
Numbness
Limited muscle movement
Formation of Points in The Neck
They are usually caused by mechanical factors (factors that strain or stress the muscles).� Spinal trauma, like whiplash from an automobile accident or sports-related injury, can create trigger points.
They also develop through repetitive actions and routine everyday chores that can hurt the spine over time.
Straining the neck muscles from poor posture for extended times like craning the neck while working on a computer, carrying a heavy bag that stresses the muscles of the neck, upper back, and shoulders.
Trigger Points vs Fibromyalgia Tender Points
Trigger points do get confused with tender points of fibromyalgia. Trigger points and tender points are both defined as local areas of pain but are not the same.
Tender points do not cause referred pain the way trigger points do.
Tender points are symmetrical meaning that they are on both sides of the body. Whereas trigger points do not follow a symmetrical pattern.
But it can become complicated because individuals with fibromyalgia can have both tender points and trigger points. People with fibromyalgia can also have myofascial pain syndrome.
Trigger Point Diagnosis
Trigger points are a regular cause of different types of spine pain, that can range from neck pain to low back pain. However, doctors are still trying to understand how trigger points produce referred pain. This is why diagnosing trigger points can be difficult for doctors.
They are complex because they are easy to pinpoint but difficult to diagnose. As they can directly cause muscle pain but they can mimic other pain making conditions exactly the way Myofascial pain and fibromyalgia get confused.
Jaw pain
Earaches
Toothaches
These types of pain that do not go away could be caused by trigger point/s in the neck.
Individuals with chronic neck pain that don’t seem to have a cause, could be trigger points. A doctor will refer you to a physical therapist, chiropractor or another spine specialist to conduct an examination for trigger points.
Treatment
Treatment can range from home remedies, chiropractic care, physical therapy and if severe muscle injections. There is no one treatment that works, as everyone and their injuries are different, meaning that various treatment options need to be looked into.
Home
Before starting any home therapy, discuss it with a trained professional like a doctor, chiropractor, massage therapist, or physical therapist to identify the location of the trigger point to effectively treat it.
Treated with massaging the area but can be tough with hard-to-reach places in the upper back. If unable to reach the point slowly and gently roll over a foam roller, golf or tennis ball for quick relief.
Massage
Massage therapists are trained in relieving muscle pain. Deep tissue massage can relieve an irritated area. Regular massage sessions can reduce pain and prevent the points from reemerging.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy treats trigger points in different ways, this includes:
Massage
Heat
Electrical stimulation
Ultrasound
A cooling spray is applied followed with stretches to relax and relieve the contracted muscle/s
Medications
Muscle relaxants can be used to reduce the symptoms and relieve pain. However, these meds can have all kinds of side effects, and become habit-forming, so use should be limited and in conjunction with a proper chiropractic/physical therapy treatment plan.
Injections
If the pain continues despite the non-surgical treatments or worsens, then your doctor could recommend trigger point injections. Injections are late-stage therapy. Doctors want to avoid patients becoming dependant on injections and will prescribe injections with an exercise, chiropractic/physical therapy program for maximum relief and effectiveness.
Overall Health
The majority of people have felt tight muscles around the neck. Utilizing proper posture and healthy spinal mechanics can prevent trigger points and myofascial pain syndrome.
Our services are specialized and focused on injuries and the complete recovery process.�Our areas of practice include�Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain,�Personal Injury,�Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low�Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries,�Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs,�Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, and Functional Medicine Treatments.
�Neck Pain and Chiropractic Treatment El Paso, Texas
NCIB Resources
Many people who have trigger points or myofascial pain syndrome in their spine have knots and tightness throughout their back and neck. To prevent myofascial pain syndrome one needs to practice a healthy lifestyle that promotes good spine health. Stretching and exercising regularly can help keep stress under control and prevent tension from building up, which makes it harder for trigger points to activate and cause pain.
Many people think of joints, bones, and the, skeletal system when they think of chiropractic, but in fact, the muscles also play an integral part in supporting the body. The muscles are layers and interwoven work to move and stabilize the spine, facilitate the movement of the body�s joints, and aid in respiration. When there is pain within this system, chiropractic can be a very effective treatment. More patients are turning to chiropractic care to treat a variety of painful conditions because it does not use addictive pharmaceuticals with unpleasant side effects; it is completely natural. Chiropractic can also keep patients from requiring surgery in many cases. So when it comes to myofascial pain and trigger points, this form of treatment is often considered optimal.
What is Myofascial Pain?
In simple terms, myofascial pain is simply pain in the muscles. When you break down the word, �myo� means muscle and �fascia� refers to the connective tissue that are interwoven throughout the body.
The pain originates in specific trigger points that are located in the muscles and fascia at various areas of the body. The pain can range in intensity from mild and annoying to severe and debilitating.
What are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are tightened, hypersensitive spots that can be located in any muscle. Different people may have different trigger points. It isn�t like specific lower back pain or neck pain which occur in particular areas of the body. Trigger points can vary from person to person.
When trigger points form, they become nodules or spots that exist in one of the muscle�s taut bands. The patient may experience a variety of symptoms including pain, weakness, burning, tingling, and other symptoms.
What often makes trigger points challenging to locate is that they cause what is known as referred pain. In other words, the person may experience the pain at the exact location of the trigger point, or the pain can be referred to other areas in the body. Referred pain usually has fairly consistent pain patterns so it can be traced to the origin � eventually.
Around 85% of the pain that individuals experience is attributed to myofascial pain. The trigger points determine whether the pain is chronic or acute. It is a condition that is very common.
How do Trigger Points Form?
Trigger points form when the muscle undergoes trauma of some type. The trauma can come from disease, accidents, related work conditions (from persistent, repetitive motion), and sports injuries.
Activities or habits that place a repetitive, long-term strain on the muscles can also cause trigger points. Poor posture, improper ergonomics, and repetitive movements are the most common of these types of activities. Emotional and physical stress are often identified as causes of irritating trigger points.
Benefits of Chiropractic for Myofascial Pain and Trigger Points
Chiropractic care is often a preferred treatment for myofascial pain due to its effectiveness and drug-free approach. Patients who undergo treatment will usually experience a dramatic decrease in their pain level, or it will be eliminated.
They also enjoy increased strength, flexibility, and range of motion. With continued chiropractic care, they will find that they have more endurance for work and recreational activities and even sleep better. It should be noted that sleep disruptions are a common complaint associated with myofascial pain.
Overall, chiropractic can give patients with myofascial pain a better quality of life with decreased incidence of injury. They are often able to lower their pain medication or eliminate it.
Because chiropractic is a whole-body approach, patients learn healthy habits including diet, exercise, and mental wellness. Most of all, they can live with less pain or no pain at all.
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Muscles are the Key
