If you spend any time on social media, you’re probably familiar with the concept of getting “triggered.” It can cause overwhelming feelings of sadness, loss, or illness. After an injury, your body works in a similar way.
Radiating Pain
Trigger points don’t just hurt in one spot. The injured area swells and becomes difficult to move as a way of protecting itself. The muscle continually contracts, causing pain. Inflammation and immobilization keep oxygen out of the area, and can allow bands of scar tissue to form, causing what’s known as a trigger point. The banding occurs between the muscle and fascia, the tissue between the skin and muscles. This in turn sends pain signals to other connected areas: a trigger point in your hand may cause pain near your elbow or shoulder.
Strategies to Release the Trigger
Dry needling might sound a bit like acupuncture to someone who is not familiar with the practice. But where acupuncture is based on Eastern Medicine practices and “energy flow”, dry needling is concerned with the physical connections in the body. Dry needles, ones without a vaccine or shot attached, are inserted into and around the trigger point in order to manipulate the tissue and release the trigger, relieving the tension and pain.
A Part of Physical Therapy and Recovery
At STACK Sports Training & Therapy, we recognize many different types of therapies as useful in recovering from an injury. Dry needling is a special part of our physical therapy practices and in helping our athletes recover from injury and exertion. Come find out how the trainers at STACK can help you!
Posted on behalf of STACK Sports Training & Therapy