Trigger Point Therapy
What is a Trigger Point? A Trigger Point is an area of
hyper-irritability within soft tissue structures, characterized by
local tenderness and sometimes referred phenomena. These referred
sensations can include pain, tingling, numbness burning, or itching.
• Not all trigger points refer pain. Some are just localized.
• The origin of the trigger point is thought to be changes in the
chemical balance in a local area, irritating the sensory systems.
• Trigger Points may form anywhere in the body, but are most commonly
found at the sites of the greatest mechanical and postural stress.
Possible Causes:
1. Acute overload, overwork, fatigue, direct trauma, chilling.
2. Skeletal asymmetry such as a shorter leg or pelvic imbalances.
3. Other trigger points can cause new points to occur.
4. Arthritic joints.
5. B-6, magnesium, vitamin C, folic acid deficiencies, which are common
after injuries
6. Hypoglycemia.
Treatment of Trigger Points:
• Pain management clinicians and medical researchers have found that
trigger point pain often responds to non-invasive, firm, physical
pressure, deep in the muscle tissue.
• This treatment approach may be referred to as "ischemic compression,"
“myofascial release" "neuromuscular therapy," "acupressure",
"myotherapy" and deep tissue massage among many other terms.
• All of these and related disciplines typically involve deep,
sustained pressure directly on trigger points. Such pressure usually
causes the muscle to relax, making it possible to stretch and
eventually exercise back to pain-free fitness and health.
Motor Vehicle Accidents and
Physical Therapy
By: Lisa M. Oberstar, P.T.
“Whiplash” has become one of the most commonly used terms to describe
neck pain, especially if it is the result of a motor vehicle accident
(MVA). Whiplash is an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy
transfer to the neck, which may result from a rear end or side impact
of a motor vehicle collision. Whiplash related pain may be local in the
neck, or it may radiate into the head, shoulders, or upper extremities.
In most cases,
a whiplash injury will benefit from early rehabilitation and many
conservative
treatment approaches, such as massage and mobilization, are very
effective after the initial stages of injury. As rehabilitation
progresses, treatment methods using greater muscular effort, such as
active engagement techniques, will help the tissues regain their proper
tone and function. It is important not to be too forceful with these
methods, as they could cause further damage.
Therapy
generally encompasses pain relief, strength and flexibility training,
proper postural alignment, regaining movement or range of motion,
improving and correcting posture, endurance training, relaxation and
stress relieving techniques, balance and coordination training, proper
walking, education, safety awareness, and development, and
implementation of a home exercise program.
Many and all can
benefit from physical therapy. The most appropriate patients are those
who have been in accidents (work-related, automobile, or falls),
athletes with overstress injuries, arthritic patients, pre and
post-operative patients, and those with general deconditioning, or
strains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started?
At Quality of Life Medical Center, we have made it very easy for you to
get started. All you need to do is call (520-733-2250) and make an
appointment. Typically, we can see you the same day, or, at the latest,
within 24 hours of your call, and that call is the first step in
getting you back on the road to recovery.
What
should I expect on my first visit?
Upon arrival at our office, you will meet your personal licensed
physical therapist and certified massage therapist, both of which you
will work closely with throughout your entire recovery process. You
will be asked to fill out some basic paperwork. The physical therapist
will then ask you a series of questions about your past and present
medical conditions, before performing a comprehensive evaluation of
your muscles, joints, nerves, tendons, and ligaments including range of
motion, strength and functional testing. Based on your physician’s
diagnosis, our prognosis, and your personal goals, an individual
treatment plan will be devised. You may receive treatment and home
exercises on your first visit. Future appointments will also be
scheduled.
What types of treatments will I receive?
We perform various types of treatments, and will customize a program
combining the best treatments geared toward your particular injury. The
types of treatments we do include soft tissue massage, deep tissue
massage, joint mobilization, electrical stimulation, ultrasound,
iontophoresis, phonophoresis, stretching, therapeutic exercises, gait
training, functional activities, and heat/ice. The treatment program
will vary based on your injury, and will be performed in a private
treatment room as well as a gym setting using a variety of athletic and
rehabilitation equipment.
How
often will I need to attend physical therapy?
Most patients are treated two to three times per week. The total
duration of physical therapy will depend on the severity of your
injury. The more committed you are to your recovery (meaning, you
regularly attend your physical therapy sessions), the more likely you
are to recover faster. We try to set up permanent appointment times for
you to help make scheduling consistent, and we offer early morning and
evening appointments in order to enable you to fit physical therapy
into your busy schedule.
How long
will each appointment take?
Each visit is approximately 30 - 60 minutes in duration receiving
manual
treatment (deep tissue massage, joint mobilization, electric
stimulation or other forms of specialized treatment for your injury)
and stretching/strengthening the injured area via specific exercises
and stretches.
Is there
anything I can do at home to help speed the recovery process along?
Absolutely. We will customize a home treatment program comprised of
advice on how to reduce your pain, exercises and stretches for you so
that you can continue your rehabilitation process in between physical
therapy sessions. It is essential that you follow the instructions and
perform the home exercises regularly to control your symptoms and speed
up recovery.
Do you
know my doctor?
We are always in close communication with your doctor through frequent
progress letters and weekly team conferences. We both
share the same goal of helping you recover as quickly as possible,
thus, work as a team to make sure that this happens.
What
makes you different from all of the other physical therapists in Tucson?
There are a lot of reasons why you should choose to receive therapy
from Quality of Life Medical Center. For one, the physical therapist
has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science, a Master’s degree in
Physical Therapy, as well as an MBA. She has devoted her entire
practice to caring for injured people, and works from experience. Our
philosophy is that “Every patient is entitled to a 100% return to his
or her preferred sport or exercise routine.” To that end, Quality of
Life Medical Center employs only the best physical therapists and
massage therapists, and treats each and every patient on an individual
basis. Each patient receives personalized attention on every visit from
a licensed physical therapist, and all patients are educated fully
about their injury and their customized treatment program prior to
starting it.
