DIY: 3 Step Trigger Point Therapy for Back Pain Relief Next we will look at some trigger point therapy techniques that can help relieve low to mid back pain. To understand trigger point therapy it is important to take a look at the work of Dr. Janet Travell. Trigger points are thought to be caused by muscular overload. An overload does not necessarily mean that the individual has been performing heavy mechanical tasks. In this case muscular overload is a result of stimulatory overload of the neuromuscular junction within the muscle itself. Or more simply put an over stimulation of the nervous system which may be the result of intense physical activity, prolonged sleep posture or biochemical factors including the foods we eat and medications …show more content…
we are prescribed. The following list gives examples of possible causes of muscular overload: Muscular Overload Due to Physical Exertion: This is obviously the most familiar reason for overloading muscles. The key point is that the exertion does not need to be extreme simply more than the muscle is prepared to support. Muscular Overload Due to Repetitive Motions or Use: This can be a result of sleeping in the same posture night after night and hour after hour. It can also be the result of work related tasks that need to be performed over and over again. Muscular Overload Due to Biochemical Factors: These factors can include nutritional deficiencies such as B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin C as well as mineral deficiencies in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and calcium.
Additional considerations are metabolic or hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperglycemia. Bacterial, viral and fungal infections and the medications used to resolve these issues can lead to muscular overloading. Muscular Overload Due to Physical Trauma: A slip or fall or auto accident can directly activate trigger points. Dr. Janet Travell found that providing stimulation to these developed muscularly overloaded points she named trigger points could reset the activity at the neuromuscular junction. Dr. Travell mapped out common trigger point referral zones. The self-treatment of these common trigger points and referral pain zones can lead to back pain relief. What we have found working with trigger point therapy over the years and teaching clients how to treat these points themselves, is that pressure and pain thresholds are very individual. Each client had to try several types of treatment tools to fine the right size and firmness for them. The first go to tool is a tennis ball next lacrosse balls are very popular with athletes and then there is a wide range of specially designed trigger point massage balls, blocks and hand held
tools.
Steroids are used to bring the lean body mass of a patient up for multiple reasons. In most
The present session depicted in the video is Kelly’s third CPT session, where the goal is to identify thoughts and feelings through the use of an A-B-C worksheet while discussing “stuck points” and addressing self-blame issues (Resick, Monson, & Chard, 2014). The clinician notices Kelly expressing slight anxiety and engages her in a deep breathing exercise to help her relax. In the first session, the clinician educated Kelly on PTSD and her presenting symptoms; this was then revisited again in the present session (08:16). An “impact statement” was also assigned in the previous session, and Kelly was asked to present this aloud (10:49). The verbalization of the statement in a safe environment helps the client process their thoughts differently
...d possibly sterility. Think of the body as an outlet, and the steroids are plugs. It is the steroids job to make sure that everything gets energy and runs smoothly. When working with the right amount of plugs, the steroids are usually successful. However, when extra plugs are forced to go into the same socket, the power can go out. The effect that the plugs were originally supposed to achieve are now backwards. Similarly, when steroids appear naturally in the body, they do their job well, but when foreign steroids are introduced into the body, destructive ends usually follow. We see from this example of steroid abuse that if normal function progresses to an extreme shape, healthy functioning becomes a disease.
through the Eyes of a Participant Observer." Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. Vol. 20, No. 1, 19 Jan. 2012, p. 1. EBSCOhost. 2017 October 25.
Hypermobility: extreme joint mobility can be an indicator of this form of the disorder which may result o...
According to Medical-Surgical Nursing: 7th edition, Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that can be considered as a chronic neuromuscular disorder (Lewis et al., 2007, p. 1555). MG is caused by an autoimmune process in which “antibodies attack acetylcholine (ACh) receptors, resulting in a decreased number of ACh receptor (AChR) sites at the neuromuscular junction” (p. 1555). Due to the neurotransmitter’s inability to connect the muscles and the nerves, it is difficult for the muscle to contract. This disease basically causes muscle fatigue and therefore a detrition of muscle strength over time. (John Hopkins Medicine, n.d.) In many respects, it is like a satellite unable to detect a signal when it is blocked by interfering radio waves.
Controlled increases in physical stress through progressive resistive exercise cause muscle fibers to hypertrophy and become capable of generating greater force.3 Early emphasis is on restoring joint range of motion and muscle flexibility, however, resistive exercises are not delayed. The initial emphasis of muscle loading should be on endurance, accomplished with lower loads and higher repetitions. Progressive resistive exercises are initiated at the available range and progressed to new positions as wrist range of motion returns in all planes. Both the overload principle and the SAID Principle (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands) are important considerations in therapeutic exercise dosing.1,3,11 Within pain tolerance, dosing progressive resistive exercises that maintain a therapeutic stress level will encourage muscle tissue hypertrophy. Finding activities that produce the correct force and repetition, without injury, is the goal of the remobilization period. Starting with low force, moderate to high repetitions, and encouraging therapeutic rest following induced stress is important to both the overload principle and the SAID Principle. Additionally, it is important to prevent dosing resistive exercises that exceed optimal stress, which may result in injury. The patient’s response to therapeutic exercise should be assessed during, immediately following,
Choi, Al. "Muscle Dysmorphia: A New Syndrome in Weightlifters." British Journal of Sports Medicine. British Journal of Sports Medicine, n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. .
Mendelson G, Selwood TS, Kranz H, Loh TS, Kidson MA, Scott Ds. (1983). Acupuncture treatment of chronic back pain. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Medicine, 741), 49-55.
Often, the pain extends from the lower back all the way to the back of the thigh and down through the leg. Depending on where the sciatic nerve is affected, the pain may also extend to the foot or toes.
Traditional acupuncture uses sterilized needles which are inserted into various acupuncture points in the human body. The needles can be anywhere from a half an inch to several inches long and produce stimulation inside the body (See). Sometimes, the needles are stirred around once inserted to speed up stimulation. In modern acupuncture, electrical stimulators are used to increase the amount of stimulation (Dr. Michael). The acupuncture points stimulated depends on a patient’s individual needs and treatment expectations.
There are also many underlying medical issues that can cause fatigue. Anemia is a very common cause of fatigue, especially among women who have heavy menstrual periods. Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of potassium, can be another cause of fatigue. Diabetes and thyroid issues are two other medical problems that will leave you exhausted and dragging. Most of these underlying medical conditions can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
takes a toll on the body. The immune system is jeopardized, and the muscles become
In many cases, an injury is caused by a range of factors working together. For example, persistent back pain may be triggered by a combination of poor posture, being overweight, repetitive work-related activities and incorrect technique when playing sport. Exercise is the most widely used and best known type of physical therapy. Depending on the patient's condition, exercises may be performed by the patient alone or with the therapist's help, or with the therapist moving the patient's limbs. Exercise equipment for physical therapy could include an exercise table or mat, a stationary bicycle, walking aids, a wheelchair, practice stairs, parallel bars, and pulleys and weights. Heat treatment is used to stimulate the patient's circulation, relax muscles, and relieve pain. Cold treatment is applied with ice packs or cold-water soaking. Soaking in a whirlpool can ease muscle spasm pain and help strengthen movements. Massage aids circulation, helps the patient relax, relieves pain and muscle spasms, and reduces swelling. Very low strength electrical currents applied through the skin stimulate muscles and make them contract, helping paralyzed or weakened muscles respond again. (TheFreeDictionary.com,
Overexerting the body too much can lead to problems such as heart failure, unnatural weight loss and increases dehydration. “Your levels of cortisol, or stress hormones, tend to increase. It is possible to experience a decrease in testosterone levels, which can have negative consequences for men and women alike. You may also find yourself suffering from a weakened immune system, which can lead to frequent illness.” (The Side Effects of Excessive Exercise Erica Perna 2012) A weakened immune system could lead to catching very dangerous illnesses that could lead to death. She also explains a symptom called Overtraining syndrome which is resulted from extreme exercising and how it mentally affects the body. “If you are not feeling your usual excitement for your fitness regimen or sport, or if you do not feel mentally prepared for exercise or competition, you could be experiencing the psychological effects of overtraining syndrome. You might also experience sleep disturbances, or feel drowsy during the day and unable to rest at night. Similarly, you might feel excessive fatigue, apathy, irritability or hostility.” (The Side Effects of Excessive Exercise Erica Perna 2012) The body cannot handle too much stress or it could lead to a complete shutdown and in worse cases death. We must understand the limitations and make sure to not overdue and form of