Trigger Points

Trigger Points:

Upper Back and Neck Muscles:

Trigger points in the upper back & neck muscles can lead to significant pain and discomfort, impacting daily activities.

Here’s an overview of the key trigger points :

Key Trigger Points location, Symptoms, and Causes

1. Upper Trapezius:

Location: Near the top of the shoulder, between the neck and shoulder joint.

Symptoms : Pain and tightness in the neck, shoulder, and upper back; headaches that may extend from the back of the head to the temples.

Common Causes : Poor posture (e.g., hunching over a desk), stress, carrying heavy bags, or sleeping in an awkward position.

2. Scalene Muscles (Anterior, Middle, and Posterior)

Location: Sides of the neck, deep to the sternocleidomastoid muscles.

Symptoms : Pain in the front and side of the neck, pain that radiates to the shoulder, arm, and chest, tingling, numbness, and weakness in the arms and hands.

Common Causes : Poor posture, repetitive stress, carrying heavy bags, and breathing patterns associated with stress.

3. Sternocleidomastoid (SCM)

Location: Side of the neck, running from behind the ear to the top of the sternum and clavicle.

Symptoms : Pain in the front of the neck, pain that radiates to the face, ear, and head; dizziness, and a sense of imbalance.

Common Causes : Whiplash injuries, poor posture, sleeping without adequate neck support, and repetitive neck strain.

4. Suboccipital Muscles

Location: Base of the skull, deep within the upper neck.

Symptoms: Tension headaches, pain at the base of the skull, dizziness, and reduced neck mobility.

Common Causes: Prolonged neck extension or looking up, poor posture (such as forward head posture), stress, and whiplash injuries.

5. Longissimus Capitis and Cervicis

Location: Along the length of the spine, from the lower back to the neck.

Symptoms: Pain along the back of the neck and upper back, extending to the shoulders and sometimes into the lower back.

Common Causes: Poor posture, especially when sitting or standing for long periods, repetitive back and neck extension, and heavy lifting.

6. Splenius Cervicis

Location: Back of the neck, from the mid-cervical vertebrae to the upper thoracic vertebrae.

Symptoms: Pain in the upper back and neck, which may radiate to the back of the head and occasionally to the shoulders.

Common Causes: Poor posture, prolonged neck extension or rotation, and repetitive or sudden neck movements.

Trigger Points of

Upper Limbs Muscles

Trigger points in the upper limbs can cause pain and discomfort, often affecting mobility and quality of life.

Here’s an overview of key trigger points in the upper limb muscles.

Key Trigger Points location, Symptoms, and Causes

1. Biceps Brachii

Location: Front of the upper arm..

Symptoms : Pain in the front of the shoulder and elbow, weakness in lifting or carrying objects.

Common Causes : Repetitive lifting, carrying heavy objects, or overuse during activities like weightlifting.

2. Triceps

Location: Back of the upper arm.

Symptoms : Pain in the back of the shoulder, elbow, and sometimes forearm; difficulty with pushing movements.

Common Causes : Overuse from activities involving pushing, repetitive elbow extension, or weightlifting.

3. Brachioradialis

Location: Upper forearm, just below the elbow on the thumb side.

Symptoms : Pain in the lateral elbow and forearm, difficulty with gripping or lifting.

Common Causes : Repetitive gripping or lifting with a bent elbow, overuse in activities like hammering.

4. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus & Brevis

Location: Lateral forearm, just below the elbow.

Symptoms: Pain in the outer elbow (tennis elbow) and wrist, especially during wrist extension.

Common Causes: Repetitive wrist extension, gripping activities, or overuse in sports like tennis.

5. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis & Profundus

Location: Middle of the forearm to the fingers.

Symptoms: Pain in the forearm, wrist, and fingers, weakness in gripping or finger flexion.

Common Causes: Repetitive gripping, typing, or activities that require finger flexion.

6. Extensor Digitorum

Location: Back of the forearm, near the wrist.

Symptoms: Pain in the back of the hand and wrist, discomfort during finger or wrist extension.

Common Causes: Repetitive finger or wrist extension, overuse in activities like playing the piano, keybord typing etc.

Key Trigger Points of

Shoulder Girdle and Scapular Muscles

Trigger points in the shoulder girdle and scapular muscles can lead to significant pain and discomfort, impacting daily activities.

Here’s an overview of the key trigger points :

Trigger Points of Shoulder Muscles

1. Rhomboid Muscles:

Location: Upper back, between the spine and the medial border of the scapula.

Symptoms : Pain between the shoulder blades, often felt as a superficial aching. This pain can occur at rest and may not change with movement.

Common Causes : Poor posture (e.g., rounded shoulders), prolonged sitting, and activities that compress the shoulder blades, like sleeping on the side without proper support.

2. Levator Scapulae:

Location: Side of the neck to the upper back, from the cervical spine to the upper medial scapula.

Symptoms : Pain along the neck and upper shoulder, often described as a "stiff neck" or inability to turn the head. Pain can be exacerbated by stress, poor posture, or sleeping positions.

Common Causes : Whiplash, carrying heavy bags, prolonged head-forward posture, and emotional stress.

3. Infraspinatus

Location: Upper back, below the spine of the scapula, part of the rotator cuff.

Symptoms : Deep shoulder pain, difficulty reaching behind the back, and pain while lifting the arm. Night pain is common, often making it difficult to sleep on either side.

Common Causes : Overuse from sports, long hours at the computer, and sudden, intense activities like bracing for a fall.

4. Supraspinatus

Location: Upper back, above the spine of the scapula, part of the rotator cuff.

Symptoms: Deep, aching pain in the shoulder, extending down the arm. Pain when lifting the arm sideways (abduction). Reduced shoulder mobility and strength. Referred pain may radiate to the lateral arm, wrist, and back of the hand.

Common Causes: Repetitive overhead activities (e.g., painting, swimming). Trauma or direct injury to the shoulder. Poor posture, especially with rounded shoulders. Overuse or strain due to heavy lifting.

5. Deltoid

Location: A large, triangular muscle covering the outer aspect of shoulder.

Symptoms: Localized pain in the shoulder area, particularly on the front, side, or back. Pain during shoulder movements, such as lifting the arm. Referred pain radiating down the outer arm to the elbow. Tenderness and tightness in the muscle.

Common Causes: Overuse or strain from repetitive lifting or carrying heavy objects. Direct trauma or injury to the shoulder. Muscle imbalances or poor posture. Prolonged immobilization or restricted arm movement.

6. Pectoralis Major

Location: A large chest muscle, running from the sternum and clavicle to the upper arm.

Symptoms: Pain in the chest, shoulder, and front of the arm. Pain worsens with activities like pushing or lifting. Tightness and restriction in chest movements. Referred pain may extend to the inner arm and hand, mimicking cardiac pain.

Common Causes: Overuse from repetitive pushing or heavy lifting. Poor posture, especially with forward-rounded shoulders. Stress or emotional tension leading to muscle tightness. Direct trauma to the chest or shoulder.

Trigger Points of

Lower Limbs Muscles

Trigger points in the lower limbs can cause pain and discomfort, often affecting mobility and quality of life.

Here’s an overview of key trigger points in the lower limb muscles.

Key Trigger Points location, Symptoms, and Causes

1. Quadriceps

Location: Front of the thigh, near the hip or knee.

Symptoms : Pain in the front of the thigh, knee pain, and sometimes referred pain to the hip and lower back. Pain can occur during activities such as walking, running, and climbing stairs.

Common Causes : Overuse from activities like running and jumping, prolonged sitting, and muscle imbalances.

2. Hamstrings

Location: Back of the thigh, midway or near the knee.

Symptoms : Pain in the back of the thigh, which can radiate to the knee or buttocks. Pain may increase with activities like bending, stretching, and walking.

Common Causes : Overstretching, direct trauma, and prolonged sitting with bent knees.

3. Adductors

Location: Inner thigh, close to the groin or along the thigh.

Symptoms : Pain in the inner thigh, which can extend to the groin and knee. Discomfort often increases with movements that involve spreading the legs.

Common Causes : Sports injuries, sudden movements, and prolonged sitting.

4. Gluteus Medius

Location: Upper outer buttock, near the iliac crest.

Symptoms: Pain in the buttocks, which can radiate to the lower back and outer thigh. Difficulty with activities such as walking, standing, and sitting.

Common Causes: Prolonged sitting, muscle imbalances, and overuse from activities like running.

5. Calves (Gastrocnemius and Soleus)

Location: Back of the lower leg, near the middle or just above the heel.

Symptoms: Pain in the back of the lower leg, which can radiate to the heel and foot. Discomfort often increases with activities like walking, running, and climbing stairs.

Common Causes: Overuse, dehydration, and muscle imbalances.

Management and Treatment

Physiotherapy and Chiropractic Care:

Trigger point release can be performed using various techniques, either by a therapist or through self-care methods.

Common techniques include:

1. Manual Pressure:

Ischemic Compression Technique: A therapist uses fingers, knuckles, or elbows to apply sustained pressure directly on the trigger point. This pressure is maintained for several seconds to a few minutes until the muscle relaxes and the pain diminishes.
Pressure is applied to reduce blood flow to the area temporarily, which can help reduce muscle tension when blood flow returns.

2. Dry Needling:

Intramuscular Stimulation: Thin needles are inserted into the trigger points to stimulate and release the muscle fibers. This technique can be performed only by trained & certified Dry Needling practitioner.

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