How to Identify a Latent Trigger Point in Massage

Trigger points can exist indefinitely in a latent state and accumulate for years without pain. Often misdiagnosed, they manifest as the stiff joints and restricted mobility experienced by seniors. Most people have latent trigger points in their abdomen. Upper abdominal triggers collect along the lower ribs, mid-section triggers are found to either side of the belly button and lower abdomen triggers lay along the pelvis and pubic bones.

Instructions

• 1

  Talk with the patient to determine his major complaint. When working on yourself, choose your most aggravating pain to start with. Latent triggers can erupt anywhere a key trigger point resides. Refer to a trigger point chart to isolate your starting point.

• 2

  Warm up the area to be worked on with heating pads or hot towels. Your target area must be in a relaxed state. Muscles shouldn't be flexed or stretched. Support limbs for relaxation. Sit or lie down comfortably to work on your torso or neck.

• 3

  Press along the muscle fiber in the target area. Feel for a hard nodule within the belly of the muscle. Latent trigger points are extremely sensitive and respond to pressure with intense pain in the immediate area. They don't refer pain to a distant site.

• 4

  Deactivate the trigger point with a firm, but gentle massage. Use short strokes in a single direction. Aim for a pain threshold of six or seven on a scale of one to ten. To completely deactivate the trigger point, continue massaging until it no longer hurts.

• 5

  Massage deep lying trigger points with your fist or supported fingers. Employ a tennis ball between your target area and a wall or floor. Specially designed theracanes are useful for hard to reach spots.