Muscle pain can be frustrating, limiting, and sometimes challenging to explain, especially when it lingers without an apparent cause. If you’ve ever pressed into a sore spot in your shoulder or back and felt pain radiate elsewhere, you’ve likely experienced a trigger point, commonly referred to as a “muscle knot.” These tense, sensitive spots in muscle tissue are a significant source of discomfort for many people, and a key focus in remedial massage practice.
This blog explores what myofascial trigger points are, how they manifest, how therapy works, and how remedial massage therapists are trained to address them with precision and care.
What Are Trigger Points?
When a muscle is overused, injured, or kept in a shortened position for too long, it can develop tight bands of fibres known as trigger points.
These points are typically sensitive to touch and can produce referred pain, meaning the discomfort is felt in a different area than the actual trigger point. This is a common feature of myofascial pain syndrome.
To illustrate, a trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle (located in the shoulder) can cause pain up the neck and even cause tension headaches. Similarly, a trigger point in the gluteal muscles might radiate pain down the leg, mimicking sciatica symptoms.
There are two main types:
- Active Trigger Points: These cause pain even at rest and often produce referred pain.
- Latent Trigger Points: These don’t cause spontaneous pain but may limit movement or cause stiffness when pressed down.
Common causes of trigger points include poor posture, repetitive movements (such as typing or lifting), stress, or a lack of movement, often associated with sedentary lifestyles.
Symptoms of Trigger Points
The symptoms of chronic muscle pain related to trigger points can vary widely and are often misdiagnosed as other conditions. Common signs include:
- Localised tenderness in the muscle
- Referred pain, which can mimic conditions like migraines, tennis elbow, or carpal tunnel
- Restricted range of motion, such as difficulty turning your neck or raising your arm
- Muscle weakness without visible signs of atrophy
- Aching or burning sensations in seemingly unrelated areas
For instance, a client might visit a massage therapist complaining of chronic headaches. A well-trained remedial massage therapist will assess whether trigger points in the suboccipital muscles (located at the base of the skull) are referring pain to the temples or forehead.
Understanding these patterns is part of what students learn during the Diploma of Remedial Massage, particularly in modules that cover functional anatomy and assessment techniques.
How Trigger Point Therapy Works
Trigger Point Therapy entails applying sustained pressure to the affected area to deactivate the knot and allow the muscle to return to its regular resting length. This therapy can be integrated into a full remedial massage session or used as a targeted approach for pain relief.
The process includes:
- Locating the Trigger Point: The therapist palpates the muscle to feel for tense bands and hypersensitive spots.
- Applying Pressure: Firm, sustained pressure is applied—often using fingers, thumbs, knuckles, or elbows—to the trigger point for up to 90 seconds.
- Monitoring the Release: The pressure often causes a brief reproduction of the client’s pain, followed by a “release” as the muscle relaxes.
- Stretching and reassessing: After release, gentle stretching helps restore muscle flexibility and range of motion.
For example, if a client complains of pain when raising their arm, the therapist might find and treat trigger points in the infraspinatus (a shoulder muscle), helping relieve the pain and restore mobility.
Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy is valued for its ability to target the source of chronic musculoskeletal pain rather than just treating symptoms. Some key benefits include:
- Pain relief for chronic and acute muscular conditions such as back pain, tension headaches, and shoulder impingement
- Improved flexibility and mobility, especially in areas affected by long-term tension
- Enhanced posture by correcting muscular imbalances
- Faster recovery from physical activity and sports-related injuries
- Reduced reliance on medication, making it an attractive option for those seeking drug-free treatment
One case example is a client who spends long hours at a desk and experiences mid-back pain and arm numbness. Trigger Point Therapy applied to the rhomboids and scalene muscles may help relieve the tension that causes nerve compression, offering both relief and functional improvement.
Key Learning in Remedial Massage
Understanding and applying Trigger Point Therapy is a critical component of training in the HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage. This nationally recognised course equips students with the knowledge and skills to assess and treat myofascial pain and dysfunction, as well as a wide range of soft tissue dysfunctions.
Key skills and knowledge areas include:
- Anatomy and physiology: Understanding how muscles interact and how dysfunction can lead to referred pain
- Musculoskeletal assessments: Identifying postural and movement issues contributing to trigger point formation
- Palpation and treatment techniques: Learning to find trigger points by touch and applying adequate pressure safely
- Client communication and education: Helping clients understand their pain patterns and how to prevent recurrence through stretching, hydration, and posture correction
- Professional practice: Ethical and legal aspects of delivering remedial massage in clinical and wellness settings
Students also participate in supervised clinical practice, allowing them to apply trigger point therapy on real clients with real conditions—building confidence, competence, and hands-on experience.
Graduates can go on to work in diverse settings, from wellness clinics and gyms to physiotherapy centres and sporting organisations. Many even establish their businesses, equipped with a skill set that is in high demand.
Final Thoughts
Trigger Point Therapy goes beyond traditional methods— it’s a powerful approach to managing pain and improving muscular function. Whether you’re someone suffering from trigger point pain and chronic tension or a budding therapist passionate about helping others, understanding trigger points can make a significant difference.
For those considering a career in remedial massage, the HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage provides the ideal platform to learn these in-demand skills.
