1. Give Yourself a Rubdown
Trigger point massage can be a surprisingly effective way to ease muscle pain, and it's simple to do to yourself. Since some health experts believe at least 75 percent of pain people suffer on an everyday basis is caused by trigger points, you'll want to learn how to self-treat them. When a muscle can't relax, whether from stress or lack of exercise, it becomes knotted and contracted, and blood can't circulate through the tissue. Trigger point therapy massage breaks up the knots by applying pressure. This can give you significant pain relief. You first need to locate the trigger points. Start by using your fingers to probe an area that is aching. When you find the place that is hard and knotty, that is the trigger point. Massage it by pressing down hard for about ten seconds. Release the pressure for a few seconds, and then press down again. Do this several times. You will need to do the self-massage several times a day until the pain does not return.
2. You'll Need Your Strength
To be effective at stopping the pain, you need to use deep massage. Many people think they just can't press hard enough with their fingers to get pain relief. If this is the case, try using trigger point tools. These tools are simply hard probes ordered from health products companies. You can also find them at your local health foods store. They are relatively inexpensive, but if you can spend more, you should consider a battery operated one. A free option is a tennis ball or any hard rubber ball. They're great to use for trigger points in your back. Simply lean against a wall, with the ball between your back and the wall. Move around a bit, rolling the ball around on your back. When you find a tender, achy knot, lean into the ball for about ten seconds. Release the pressure, and then repeat.
3. Let Someone Else Do the Work
A massage given by a trained trigger point specialist can be a sublime experience. The masseuse can locate various trigger points and use deep massage techniques to work them out. While it can be painful initially, the relief you feel will be worth every second. Your doctor can refer you to trigger point massage therapists in your area. Many chiropractors have them on staff. Check with your insurance company to see if you are covered for massage therapy.
