| Trigger point Therapy is a common condition that | | | | It is recommended if the acupuncturist does not |
| produces muscle pain which can occur almost | | | | want to insert needles into the muscle tissue itself |
| anywhere in the body. People may also refer to | | | | because it is too painful. |
| this kind of pain as 'knots' or 'spasms'. In the | | | | Trigger Point Therapy with acupuncture is a |
| medical field one might hear the term 'myofascial | | | | quicker and, often more effective way to treat |
| pain'. This means that the pain may be present in | | | | pain syndromes than manual therapy or massage |
| the muscle tissue and/or in the connective tissue | | | | therapy. The healing effects tend to last longer |
| that surrounds the muscles. | | | | and the acupuncturist can often go into deeper |
| Relief for trigger point pain can easily be achieved | | | | layers of muscle and connective tissue. |
| by releasing the 'knots' with acupuncture needles | | | | I use both methods to treat trigger points - |
| causing an unwinding or relaxation of the muscle | | | | Direct needling into the site of the pain and Dr. |
| fibers which sometimes presents as involuntary | | | | Richard Tan's "Balance" method. I do find that Dr. |
| twitches in the muscle tissue called vesiculation. | | | | tan's method tends to be more effective in |
| Trigger pint pain can be chronic if left untreated. If | | | | treating "frozen shoulders, hands, and other range |
| left untreated for long enough, this pain can | | | | of motion problems. Treatments range from once |
| progress to a diminishing of the range of motion | | | | to three times per week in order to produce |
| of a joint or limb. This stage is commonly | | | | lasting results. I always teach my patients |
| referred to as "frozen". Even at this stage, | | | | stretching exercises after the trigger points have |
| acupuncture is very effective in increasing the | | | | been released in order to keep the muscles loose |
| range of motion of a join or a limb. | | | | and flexible. |
| Another way to relieve pain caused by trigger | | | | It is worth mentioning that sciatic pain is very |
| points is by using Dr. Richard Tan's "Balance | | | | easily and swiftly treated by releasing trigger |
| Method". This method is based on the ancient | | | | points in the piriformis muscle that surrounds the |
| numerological system called the Ba Gua. This | | | | sciatic nerve. Many people could be prevented |
| method does not release the trigger point locally, | | | | from suffering with chronic sciatic pain if they |
| but, rather uses complimentary meridians that are | | | | would seek out an acupuncturist at the onset of |
| often distal or far away from the site of the pain. | | | | pain who understands releasing trigger points in |
| This method is a highly effective method for | | | | the piriformis muscle. |
| reducing pain and for increasing range of motion. | | | | |