Trigger Point Therapy Schools and Careers Guide
What is trigger point?
Trigger point massage utilizes ischemic compression of individual areas of hypersensitivity in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. A trigger point is an area within soft tissue structures that is characterized by local tenderness and/or referred phenomena which can include pain, tingling, numbness burning, or itching. An active trigger point can cause immediate pain or prevent a muscle from fully lengthening. A latent trigger point is unnoticed until pressure is applied. It often feels dense and fibrous. Trigger points may be associated with deficiencies of vitamin B-6 and other vitamins. They may be a result of underlying visceral disease, arthritic joints, or other trigger points. Trigger points can cause referred pain.
Possible causes of trigger points are fatigue, trauma, chilling, skeletal asymmetry, other trigger points, arthritic joints, visceral diseases (ulcers, renal colic, myocardial infarction, gall stones, kidney problems, irritable bowel syndrome), vitamin deficiencies, hypoglycemia, chronic infection, or food allergies.
Trigger points may develop any where in the body, but are most commonly found at the sites of the greatest mechanical and postural stress.
Some signs of trigger points are:restricted movement; stiffness or weakness in muscles; subcutaneous tissue feels coarsely granular, ropy, knotty; weakness in muscles; or deep tenderness.
How is trigger point practiced?
Firm digital pressure clears the trigger point by repeatedly flushing the blood and accumulated toxins out of the trigger point. This creates conditions that foster healing. Superficial trigger points are treated first, applying 8-30 seconds of digital pressure. Reconditioning the muscle after the pain is reduced makes latent trigger points less prone to reactivate. The area is flushed with deep effleurage, pettrisage or friction. The therapist may return to same trigger point and repeat treatment 3-4 times removing, as much of the pain as possible.
Ice can be applied after the session or recommend client to ice at home. Client must follow up with high intake of water to flush the toxins and a detox bath. This will eliminate detox symptoms such as headaches and fatigue. Following up with movement re-education exercises will integrate the changes into the nervous system.
Where can I get training?
- Alabama
Red Mountain Institute - Homewood
- Arizona
- Cortiva Institute - School of Massage Therapy - Scottsdale
- Southwest Institute of Healing Arts - Tempe
- Cortiva Institute - Tucson - Tucson
- California
- Hands on Healing Institute - Pasadena (Tujunga)
- Institute for Business & Technology - Santa Clara
- Colorado
- Rocky Mountain Institute of Healing Arts - Durango
- Connecticut
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Groton - Groton
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Newington - Newington
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Westport - Westport
- Florida
- Cortiva Institute - Humanities Center School of Massage - A campus in Pinellas Park, FL
- Everest University - Pinellas - Clearwater
- Florida School of Massage - Gainesville
- Florida Metropolitan University - Jacksonville - Jacksonville
- Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage - Jacksonville - Jacksonville
- Everest University - Lakeland - Lakeland
- Florida Metropolitan University - Orange Park - Orange Park
- Florida Metropolitan University - Orlando North - Orlando
- Florida Metropolitan University - Orlando South - Orlando
- Cortiva Institute - Humanities Center School of Massage - Pinellas Park
- Sarasota School of Massage Therapy - Sarasota
- Florida Metropolitan University - Brandon - Tampa
- Florida Metropolitan University - Tampa - Tampa
- Georgia
- Academy of Somatic Healing Arts - Atlanta
- Atlanta School of Massage - Atlanta
- Rising Spirit Institute of Natural Health - Atlanta
- Georgia Career Institute - Conyers
- Florida School of Massage - Training in Florida
- Hawaii
- Maui School of Therapeutic Massage - Makawao
- Illinois
- Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - A Chicago, IL Campus
- Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - A Crystal Lake, IL Campus
- Everest College - Burr Ridge
- Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - Chicago
- Everest College - Chicago
- Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - Crystal Lake
- Everest College - Skokie
- Indiana
- Kaplan College - Hammond
- Everest College - Merrillville
- Kaplan College - Merrillville - Merrillville
- Iowa
- Carlson College of Massage Therapy - Anamosa
- Kansas
- Johnson County Community College - Overland Park
- Massachusetts
- Cortiva Institute - Boston - A campus in Watertown
- Elizabeth Grady Schools of Esthetics & Massage Therapy - Boston Area/Medford
- Everest Institute - Brighton - Brighton
- Everest Institute - Chelsea - Chelsea
- Cortiva Institute - Boston - Watertown
- New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts - Training in New Hampshire or Maine
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Newington - Training in Newington, CT
- Michigan
- Everest Institute - Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids
- Everest Institute - Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo
- Irene's Myomassology Institute - Southfield
- Minnesota
- Northwestern Health Sciences University Massage Program - Bloomington
- Everest Institute - Eagan - Eagan
- Montana
- Utah College of Massage Therapy - Salt Lake City - 2 campuses in Utah
- New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Institute for Therapeutic Arts - Hudson - Hudson
- New Jersey
- Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - A campus in Piscataway
- Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - A campus in Wall Township
- Academy of Massage Therapy - Hackensack
- Academy of Massage Therapy - Jersey City
- Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - Piscataway
- Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - Wall Township
- New York
- Finger Lakes School of Massage - NY - Ithaca
- Academy of Massage Therapy - Training in Hackensack, NJ
- Academy of Massage Therapy - Training in Jersey City, NJ
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Westport - Training in Westport, CT
- North Carolina
- Edmund Morgan School of Neuromuscular & Massage Therapy - Cornelius
- Oregon
- Oregon School of Massage - Portland - Portland
- Oregon School of Massage - Salem - Salem
- Pennsylvania
- Cortiva Institute - Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy - A campus in Oaks
- Massage Academy of the Poconos - Bartonsville/Stroudsburg/Poconos
- Health Options Institute - Bethlehem
- Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork - Lancaster
- Cortiva Institute - Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy - Oaks
- Pittsburgh School of Pain Management - Pittsburgh
- Finger Lakes School of Massage - NY - Training in Ithaca, NY
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Groton - Training in Groton, CT
- South Carolina
- Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage - Charleston - Charleston
- Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage - Columbia - Columbia
- Tennessee
- Georgia Career Institute - McMinnville
- Georgia Career Institute - Murfreesboro
- Texas
- Austin Schools of Massage - Austin
- ATI Career Training Center - Dallas/Fort Worth
- American Institute of Allied Health - Dallas/Lewisville
- ATI Career Training Center - NRH - North Richland Hills
- Utah
- Utah College of Massage Therapy - Lindon - Lindon
- Utah College of Massage Therapy - Salt Lake City - Salt Lake City
- Washington
- Cortiva Institute - Seattle - A Campus in Seattle
- Bellevue Massage School Center For Healing Arts - Bellevue
- Cortiva Institute - Seattle - Seattle
- Northwest Academy for the Healing Arts - Seattle
- Oregon School of Massage - Portland - Training in Portland, OR
- Wisconsin
- East-West Healing Arts Institute - Madison
- Wyoming
- Utah College of Massage Therapy - Salt Lake City - 2 campuses in Utah
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