Myofascial Trigger Points (MFTPs) - Common locations and how to treat them
Below are a few images I made of the locations of some of the more common myofascial trigger points (nasty muscle knots). If you have one these will recreate your pain and/or will cause spreading pain when pressed on. Ischemic compression or dry needling may help.
Ischemic compression can be done by:
- You compress the MFTP until pain reaches about a 5/10.
- Within 60s the pain should drop if you are in the right place and have the right diagnosis.
- Once the pain drops, increase the pressure until pain goes back to 5/10.
- Within 30s the pain should drop again.
- Increase the pressure again repeating the cycle until the pain stops dropping, it feels like you are just pushing into the bone, or the patient says they only feel pressure.
- Once you release they should be able to immediately feel a difference.
- Recheck next to where you were working and in the general area to see if there are more spots to treat, particularly if there was still some pain in the last phase of the treatment.
- Repeat the process if necessary on subsequent days. You may skip a day if the area is a bit throbbing/achy from treatment the day before.
These images were adapted from Gray's anatomy 20th edition. More diagrams can be found at www.triggerpoints.net
