Trigger Point Therapy
At Back and Pain Clinic, we use evidence-based treatments to help our patients get out of pain. After a careful evaluation, our chiropractor in Baltimore MD, Laurel MD, or Takoma Park MD will develop an individualized treatment plan that could include a number of approaches, including trigger point therapy, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. A crucial part of providing pain relief is addressing trigger points that develop after an auto accident, sports injury or work injury.
What is a trigger point?
Trigger points are hyperirritable spots of pain located in taut bands of muscles. These trigger points can develop after an auto accident, or from overuse injuries like typing or standing all day at work.
After an injury, muscles start to "stick together", forming adhesions within the connective tissues over time. These adhesions prevent your muscles from properly functioning.
Your body attempts to compensate for this dysfunction by straining the surrounding muscles to work harder, leading to additional injury and pain. Dr. Stutman and his team work to break up this cycle of pain with trigger point therapy, among other treatments.
What is trigger point therapy?
A chiropractor can disrupt the cycle of pain caused by trigger points by using trigger point therapy, both manual and dry needling. With manual trigger point therapy, a chiropractor gently applies pressure to the affected area to release adhesions and increase range of motion overtime.
Dry needling also targets trigger points, but instead of relying exclusively on manual pressure, our doctors use sterile acupuncture needles in the injured muscle. This creates minute lesions that signal the body to increase blood flow to the affected area. As your body rushes to repair the minute lesion, the increased blood flow helps to heal the injured muscle. Studies show that both methods of trigger point therapy, whether manual or dry needling, are effective for reducing the pain of auto and work injuries.
Who can benefit the most from trigger point therapy?
Dr. Stutman has found that patients suffering from auto injuries, work injuries, or overuse injuries benefit the most from trigger point therapy. Anyone who is subject to repetitive motions like typing, sitting, or standing all day is at-risk of developing trigger points. Athletes focused on training one area of their body are also at-risk. Fortunately, we've found trigger point therapy can significantly reduce pain for many of our Baltimore MD, Laurel MD, and Takoma Park MD patients.
Whether you've been injured on the job, in practice, or in an auto accident, our chiropractic team can relieve trigger points to restore mobility and decrease pain. If you live in Baltimore MD, Laurel MD, or Takoma Park MD, call us for effective pain relief today!
