Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which a nerve in your wrist, called the median nerve, is pinched by a narrow passageway called the carpal tunnel. Alternative health practitioners claim that trigger point therapy, a procedure in which...
Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition that is often characterized by sharp pain on the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis can affect all types of people, though it is common among military personnel and professional athletes. Dr. James Wright,...
Your muscles are vital in supporting normal body movement and exercise. If you suffer from muscle pain or decreased function, treatment can improve quality of life as well as increase your muscles' ability to work properly. Muscle Activation...
Trigger points are small, painful, tight nodules of muscle fibers buried in muscles. They contribute to chronic muscular pain, which in turn leads to joint pain and stiffness. Trigger points keep muscles tense and weak at the same time. Because...
Use massage therapy tools to enhance your client's therapeutic experience or to perform self-massage. Massage therapy tools work best for trigger point therapy and to facilitate the dissolution of muscle knots. The different tools are designed to...
Back pain is a common problem within the United States. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, back pain can interfere with work, routine daily activities and recreation. Massage therapy can be an effective...
Tightness in the hips and buttocks can cause a condition known as sciatica. One of the major symptoms of sciatica is pain that radiates down the back of the leg and up into the lower back. You may also experience a trigger point in your buttock....
Massage therapy involves the touch manipulation of soft tissues, primarily muscles. Among the most common forms of muscular massage therapy are Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and sports massage. According to the Center...
Calf pain, especially calf pain associated with athletic injuries or sports participation, can be painful and debilitating. The Sports Injury Clinic website states that calf pain may be caused by muscle strains, contusions and cramps, delayed...
As the largest bone in your foot, your heel absorbs most of the shock of your bipedal motion. Bony growths or spurs can develop and cause pain and discomfort. Fortunately, by pinpointing the cause of your heel spur -- like flat feet -- exercises...
Pressure point therapy uses body trigger points to relieve pain, release tension and promote healing. Acupressure is the ancient Chinese healing art form that uses the fingers to press various points to elicit a self-curative response. When...
Massage therapy and yoga are forms of complementary and alternative medicine practiced for well-being. Massage therapy is a touch therapy involving structured movements for manipulating soft tissues. Yoga is a mind-body practice which typically...
Migraine headaches occur when blood vessels around the temples and base of the skull become enlarged, causing a chemical release that inflames the vessels, muscles and nerves in the head and neck. Besides pain, nausea, diarrhea and sensitivity to...
The most common type of headache is a tension headache, according to MedlinePlus. Tension headaches are caused by tight muscles in your neck and shoulders. Stress or illness can also cause headaches. Luckily, there is a selection of foods that are...
Tennis ball therapy is an inexpensive option to help work out trigger points and tight muscles throughout the body. This is an excellent physical therapy aid and tennis balls of different sizes can help to decrease tension in areas throughout the...
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are common elbow conditions. If your palm is positioned facing forward, pain from tennis elbow is located on the outer, or lateral aspect, of the elbow. Golfer's elbow is located on the inner, or medial portion of...
Over-the-counter pain relievers are often successful in treating the pain of fibromyalgia. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are both good choices. Your doctor may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain that is more intense....
Therapeutic massage can help in the relief of back pain. There are different techniques that may be used, depending on the specific problem and area of pain. The effects of massage can include increased blood flow, decreased muscle spasm, and an...
Migraines are chronic headaches that cause pain for several hours or days. There is no cure for migraines, but you can take medications to provide relief from the pain. Low levels of certain vitamins, particularly vitamins B6, C and B12, can lead...
Sciatica refers to pain that begins in the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body and extends from behind your pelvis down the back of each thigh, says Ohio State University Medical Center. Sciatica is typically caused by a...
The rhomboids are the very thin muscles located in your upper back between the shoulder blades. Since the rhomboids connect the shoulder blade (or scapula) to the spinal column, the relatively small muscles are responsible for a heavy burden that...
Migraines are headaches that can interrupt your life, as some cases have been known to last for days. Early symptoms might include blind spots or tingling through your body. To help provide relief from migraine headaches, you can supplement your...
Your arms and chest can be frequent sources of tightness and soreness. According to massage therapist Clair Davies in his book, "The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief," tightness in your chest muscles can...
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is common among tennis players and other racquet sport athletes, hence the nickname. It also appears in golfers, throwing athletes, musicians, laborers and computer operators. The symptoms include pain,...
Pain anywhere in the body is a sign, like the "check engine" light going off in a vehicle, which indicates that there is something wrong. The amount of pain does not indicate the severity of the problem. Pain under the left shoulder can be from...
Soft tissue pain can occur in the body for a variety of reasons. Soft tissue refers to the body's connective tissue and muscle. According to the Mayo Clinic website muscle spasm and cramping can be caused by dehydration, sprain or strain or...
Posture is the position of the body or its parts. Massage therapists can use postural analysis as a tool for gathering information regarding the state of a client's tissues. This approach assists the therapist in creating a massage program...
If you have recurring headaches, one possible explanation is that you're suffering from one or more vitamin deficiencies. If this is the case, you may be able to reduce the incidence of headaches by taking a daily multivitamin or a specific...
Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin produced by a reaction that occurs when cholesterol in your skin is exposed to sunshine, serves a variety important health functions. Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption, and vitamin D deficiency may play...
Learn about different trigger points for massage in this free video clip on holistic medicine and chiropractics.