Chronic pain is often identified as arthritis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatic symptoms, tendonitis or angina pectoris. In many cases, however, a misdiagnosis is involved and the pain is actually caused by trigger points in the muscles. This can be diagnosed correctly and treated through trigger point massage therapy given by professional massage therapists. If you happen to be experiencing similar kinds of pain in Duval County, Southside, Tinseltown or St John's Town Center, ask about trigger point massage therapy from the massage therapists at reputable massage spas in Jacksonville FL.

Dr. Janet G. Travell, personal physician of US President John F. Kennedy, discovered and mapped out trigger points in 1942. She explained that these are not due to infection, inflammation, trauma, degeneration or neoplasm. Neither are trigger points explainable through neurological examinations. The presence of any of these factors would actually rule out trigger points as the root cause of any pain that is experienced.

Trigger points are nodules that are contractions in bands of muscles that have tightened. The trigger points themselves cause local pain while simultaneously referring pain to other body parts. The referred pain is often located far from the trigger point. Painful trigger points that actively refer pain to other body parts are called active trigger points.

A trigger point may also be latent, meaning it is not painful and it is not actively referring pain to other body parts. It may, however, cause problems in the use of muscles, resulting in poor balance and coordination. Any pressure or strain could also immediately activate such latent trigger points.

When an active trigger point is deactivated, it becomes latent. Trigger point massage therapy, therefore, aims not only to deactivate but to completely resolve trigger points.

A latent trigger point may also be activated by pain from another trigger point. The referring trigger point is then called a key trigger point. The latent trigger point that has been activated is called a satellite trigger point. The moment the key trigger point is deactivated or resolved, its satellite trigger point is likewise deactivated or resolved.

Activation of a trigger point by another trigger point can also happen through biomechanical means. In such cases, the source trigger point is called a primary trigger point and the activated trigger point is called a secondary trigger point.

Trigger point massage therapists identify a patient's trigger points and use deep prolonged pressure to deactivate then resolve them. The therapist uses hands, fingers, knuckles, elbows, feet and many massage tools to apply and maintain such deep pressure consistently. After resolving the trigger points, the therapist works further on the muscles and fascia, using their natural range of motion to stretch, elongate and relax them.

It is dangerous to get trigger point massage therapy from an untrained therapist, though. Trigger points will not be resolved if not enough pressure is applied or if it is not held long enough. If too much pressure is applied, on the other hand, or if the pressure is held too long, the trigger point may be bruised and this will lead to even greater pain. The untrained therapist may also cause the development of new trigger points or the activation of existing latent trigger points.

Trigger point massage therapy may resolve your existing trigger points but that does not exempt you from their recurrence or the development of new trigger points. Regular therapeutic massage can prevent this from happening. Therapeutic massage from a professional massage spa can mean reflexology massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy for expectant mothers. Residents of Duval County, Southside, Tinseltown or St John's Town Center may avail of any of these from a massage spa in Jacksonville FL.