Learn the Benefits of Trigger Point Massage Therapy
Many people don’t realize they have trigger points until they have a massage or rubdown on aching areas of their body and the therapist touches a trigger point. Discover how traditional Thai massage can benefit the trigger points in your body. Visit Makkha Health and Spa to experience the benefits of a traditional Thai massage in Bangkok on the body’s trigger points.
What is a Trigger Point?
The body’s muscles are wrapped in a connective tissue sheath called the epimysium. A trigger point is a hypersensitive nodule on the surface of the epimysium. Stimulating these trigger points through direct compression or muscle contractions can trigger local tenderness, a twitch response, or a “jump sign” (startled reaction). It can also cause referred pain, which is pain occurring some distance from the trigger point.
Trigger points can occur for many reasons, including:
• Aging
• Bad posture
• Overuse of muscles
• Lack of exercise
• Stress conditions, including psychological stress trauma, anxiety, and depression
• Insomnia
• Vitamin deficiencies, particularly B, C, D, iron and folic acid deficiencies
• Hypermobility and joint issues
• Injury
Trigger points are mainly located in the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. They often cause tension headaches, joint pain, tinnitus, lower back pain, and a decreased range of leg motion.
What is Trigger Point Massage Therapy?
“Trigger pointing” is an effective therapy technique that uses massage to treat, break up, and relax trigger points using the therapist’s thumbs, elbows, forearms, or specific tools to apply direct pressure to known trigger points. The technique breaks the ongoing cycle of pain that keeps a muscle contracted and allows the muscle fibers to relax. The technique also increases blood circulation in the trigger point area. Traditional Thai massage also uses the same techniques and can be effective in treating and providing relief to trigger points.
Breaking the Cycle of Pain and Stiffness
Traditional Thai massage uses stretching, kneading, and applied pressure to break up muscle knots and extend the range of motion in ligaments and joints. The techniques used to treat muscle knots are the same as those used in trigger pointing.
Although applying pressure to specific points of the body may cause a moment of pain, it results in an easing of pain and stiffness that lasts long after the massage. Trigger points around joints can severely restrict the joint’s range of motion. Repeated massages on targeted trigger points near the joint can restore its range of motion and improve circulation around it.
Thai massage uses the same principles as yoga. Slowly stretching and kneading the ligaments, tendons, joints, and muscles increases the range of motion and suppleness of the tissues.
Studies on Thai massage have found that the traditional technique reduces back pain associated with myofascial trigger points in the upper back. Regular Thai massage can also effectively prevent trigger points from forming by keeping the muscles loose and supple.
Explore Thai Massage at Makkha Health & Spa
At Makkha Health & Spa, we understand the healing properties of traditional Thai massage. Our Thai massage experience combines acupressure, deep stretching, and yoga postures to improve and revitalize physical and mental health.
A visit to Makkha Health & Spa unveils three types of beneficial Thai massages. Besides our traditional Thai body massage, our Thai foot massage concentrates on the soles of your feet. It uses the ancient art of reflexology to improve circulation, relieve foot aches and pains, and encourage relaxation. We also offer a Thai herbal massage that uses herbal compresses of medicinal plants like lemongrass and kaffir lime to enhance relaxation and deliver therapeutic benefits.
Visit Makkha Health & Spa
We have several Makkha Health & Spa branches in Bangkok and Chiang Mai where you can experience a Thai massage. We offer an elegant atmosphere, professionally trained therapists, and aromatherapy spa products to create a beneficial experience for all our customers. Make an appointment to indulge in a spa session and get rid of painful trigger points with a therapeutic Thai massage at Makkha Health & Spa today.
Sources:
Short-term effects of traditional Thai massage on electromyogram, muscle tension and pain among patients with upper back pain associated with myofascial trigger points – 8/6/24 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27670864/