Trigger points are associated with pain in the skeletal muscles which are also described as hyper irritable spots. Trigger points are also called as trigger sites or muscle knots. Local tenderness or referred pain might be elicited by the compression of trigger points. Trigger points are the areas which frequently experiences unexplained pain and develops a specific area of referred pain patterns.
Trigger points have a number of characteristics like active or latent, potential, key or satellites, primary or secondary. The active trigger point is the ones that refers pain actively to another part of the body along the pathways of nerve. A latent trigger point is the one that does not cause pain actively but might come into existence if pressure is enforced to the trigger point of the myoskeletal structure. A key trigger point activates a latent trigger point on the pathway of the nerves which has a pattern of pain referral. A satellite trigger point is activated as a result of a key trigger point. A primary trigger point bio mechanically activates a secondary trigger point in another structure but the treatment of the primary trigger point does not treat the secondary trigger point.
The right trigger points could be analyzed and diagnosed by examining the signs, symptoms, pain patterns, and manual palpation and as a treatment for the trigger points myotherapy, low level laser therapy, massage, mechanical vibration, electro stimulation, dry-needling, ischemic compression could be used for relief of the skeletal muscle.
Some of the pain triggers people usually underestimate and are not aware about are as follows:
1. Flip flops
Sometimes pain could be inflicted with some simple choices we make in our day to day life. Though we use flip flops or foam soled slippers for our convenience, they does not provide the right support to our feet which lead to pain in the areas like knees, ankles, and feet. If you are planning for a long walk, prefer sneakers instead of this flip flops.
2. Smart phones
Younger people are reported to have arthritis at the base of the thumb due to vigorous texting, surfing, and playing games on smart phones. You should give your thumb some rest so that the ache does not persist anymore. Using the phone in moderation is to be considered seriously or else it would lead to some serious arthritis.
3. Wallet
Keeping your wallet in the back pocket could lead to shooting pain in the buttocks which would eventually move down to the leg. The wallet tucked in your back pocket might lead to compression and irritation of the sciatic nerve causing muscle tension. You should remove the wallet from your pocket while sitting.
4. Driving
While driving, you should sit in a upright position which supports your head and lower back of the body. Sitting in the wrong posture, slouching forward to steer would cause pain in the neck. The car seat should be adjusted in such a way that the arms does not feel tensed while driving. You should adjust your seat before driving so that discomfort would not lead to lack of concentration.
5. Active video games
Playing Video games that simulate the motions of popular sports could cause sprains and injuries to torn ligaments. It is always advisable to warm up a bit before playing active video games in order to avoid real injuries. One should not become a game addict and end up hurting oneself again and again. You should be able to control your excitement during the game or you might get a bad sprain at the end of the game.
6. Cheese
Beverages like processed cheese could trigger headaches as they contain high amounts of a substance called tyramine. So, you should keep a food diary to avoid such headaches. If processed cheese does not suit you, you should try and avoid it or take it in moderation. You should also know how to check for the fresh cheese as it is good for health.
7. Couch potato syndrome
Watching television in a unhealthy posture sitting on the couch would result in body aches. You should sit in a right and straight position to avoid the pain. And if you fall asleep reclining in your couch while watching television, you might end up waking with a sore throat and a twisted neck.
8. Holding a baby
Holding a baby out of the crib would strain your wrists resulting in pain later. This is a repetitive stress injury that causes pain and swelling in the wrist and thumb. You should always lift up a baby with both hands so that the stress is equally distributed to both your arms. The pain trigger is most likely to happen in the wrist area and your arms.
9. Laptop case
Carrying heavy laptop bags on your shoulder could trigger severe shoulder and back pain. If possible try to change the laptop bag to a backpack having shoulder straps. Carrying your laptop on your back is far more better than carrying it on shoulder. It would also strain some other part of your body as well. Try to switch to a lighter laptop model so that it does not strain your muscles.
10. Sleeping habits
Wrong sleeping postures could cause body aches or sometimes twist your muscles. You should try to practice sleeping in postures which you are comfortable in. Sleeping on your arms, lying down on your stomach has a possibility to trigger pain in various parts of the body. Better ways to sleep is on your back or on your side. With these two positions the pain trigger would be less when you wake up in the morning.
