Sports Physio
By: Cathy Arnot USOC Physiotherapist
Techniques to Decrease Myofascial Trigger Points
Shooting athletes are
very prone to trigger points in their neck, upper thoracic spine, ribs, lower back and various points in the lower extremities. Trigger points (TPs) can be very painful to touch, can refer pain to oth- er areas of the body, restrict range of motion and cause headaches. Physical thera- pists use numerous tech- niques to reduce or elimi- nate trigger points to include direct compression, trans- verse friction massage, dry needling and manipulation. Most of these techniques re- quire a therapist, but there are devices available that allow an individual to apply direct compression to a TP without assistance from a healthcare provider.
What is a trigger point? “Hyper-irritable spots in
skeletal muscle that are as- sociated with palpable nod- ules in taut bands of muscle fi bers” - Janet Travell, MD There are three types of
TPs: active, satellite and la- tent. An active TP is a tender spot found within muscle tis- sue that is painful with com- pression. It can cause local pain, referred pain, nausea or increased sweating. For example, an active trigger point over the upper trape- zius and fi rst rib can be very tender to touch as well as refer pain into the ear and back of the head. It can also
restrict neck range of mo- tion.
A latent TP is just an area
that is painful to palpation but does not refer and is not the primary complaint. A satellite TP may develop
in response to an active TP. A trigger point in the lower back can result in satellite TP’s in the legs if innervated by the same nerve level.
Why do we get trigger points?
There are many theo- ries; the most commonly accepted being the “mo- tor endplate hypothesis.” Needle electromyography studies have found that TPs contain minute loci that pro- duce spontaneous electrical activity (SEA). These loci are found primarily at the motor end plate zone and are con- sidered abnormal. These ab- normalities may be a result of tissue injury or overuse. The abnormality results in an increased rate of a cer- tain chemical, acetylcholine (Ach), to be released from the nerve terminal. This re- sults in increased electri- cal activity and a sustained muscle contraction.
1.
Pictured: Trap National Team member Myles Walker
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Body Back TP and Theracane Massagers such as these can be purchased online.
50 USA Shooting News | September 2015
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