What Is Trigger Point Therapy?

Trigger point therapy is a hands-on treatment that targets tight, sensitive knots in muscle tissue, known as trigger points, which can cause pain locally or refer pain to other parts of the body.

Unlike general massage or stretching, trigger point therapy focuses on identifying and releasing the true source of pain, not just where symptoms show up.

Trigger points commonly develop from prolonged sitting, repetitive movement, stress, or old injuries—and once active, they can keep muscles in a constant protective state.

What Are Trigger Points?

A trigger point is a hyper-irritable area within a muscle that:

  • Feels tight or knotted

  • Refers pain elsewhere (often confusingly)

  • Limits normal movement

  • Does not fully relax with stretching

Trigger points are not simply “tight muscles.”
They are neuromuscular holding patterns driven by the nervous system.

This is why pain often returns even after stretching, yoga, or foam rolling.

Why Pain Is Often Felt Somewhere Else

Trigger points frequently cause referred pain, meaning the discomfort is felt in a different location than the actual problem.

For example:

  • Hip trigger points can cause low back pain

  • Glute trigger points can mimic sciatica

  • Shoulder trigger points can cause neck or arm pain

Treating only the painful area often misses the source.

Trigger point therapy works by following the pain back to where it starts

This is especially common with hip pain from sitting, where the source of tension is often deeper in the glutes or hip stabilizing muscles rather than the hip joint itself.

 

Is Trigger Point Therapy The Same as Deep Tissue Massage?

No.

While trigger point therapy can involve deep pressure, it is more precise and intentional than traditional deep tissue massage.

Trigger point therapy focuses on:

  • Specific muscle fibers, not entire muscle groups

  • Targeted pressure instead of force

  • Nervous system down-regulation, not just tissue compression

More pressure does not mean better results.
Accuracy matters more than intensity.

Why Stretching Alone Often Doesn't Fix Pain

Many people stretch regularly and still feel:

  • Tight

  • Restricted

  • Sore after sitting or standing

That’s because trigger points are often protective, not flexible.

This is because stretching doesn’t always address the underlying trigger points, which explains why stretching often doesn’t fix pain.

Until the trigger point itself is released, the muscle remains guarded—no matter how much it’s stretched.

Trigger point therapy addresses the cause, not just the sensation of tightness.

What Trigger Point Therapy Feels Like

During a trigger point session, you may feel:

  • Focused pressure

  • Referred sensation (a familiar pain pattern)

  • Gradual softening or release

  • Improved movement afterward

Sessions are always adjusted to your tolerance and goals.
Discomfort is never forced.

Many clients notice relief immediately, while others feel changes unfold over the next few days.

Conditions Trigger Point Therapy Commonly Helps

Trigger point therapy is especially effective for:

  • Hip pain

  • Low back pain

  • Neck and shoulder tension

  • Sciatica-like symptoms

  • Desk-related or posture-related pain

  • Chronic muscle tightness

It is ideal for pain that feels persistent, recurring, or hard to explain.

Trigger Point Therapy Focuses On The Source Of Pain

Pain is rarely random.

Trigger point therapy is about asking:

  • Where is the tension actually coming from?

  • Why is the muscle protecting?

  • What pattern keeps repeating?

When the source is addressed, the body often responds quickly and sustainably.

For those seeking hands-on care, trigger point therapy sessions focus on identifying and treating the source of pain rather than chasing symptoms.