01/12/2025
Muscle Pain: What You Need to Know
How Muscle Pain Develops
The muscles of our body are designed to work in cycles: contraction followed by a brief period of rest. Only under these conditions can a muscle recover its strength, receive essential nutrients from the blood, and remove metabolic waste.
However, many types of work require prolonged static or repetitive strain on specific muscle groups. When a muscle remains tense longer than it is designed to, the nutrients inside its cells become depleted—and there is no opportunity to replenish them. As a result, muscle cells begin using their own structural components for energy. In other words, they slowly start to break themselves down.
Over time, this process leads to the formation of small, tense nodules within the muscle tissue known as trigger points.
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What Are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are areas of hypersensitivity in the muscle that “trigger” pain in other parts of the body when activated.
Just as pulling a trigger causes a bullet to strike a distant target, trigger points can send pain to regions far from their actual location.
For example:
Trigger points in the shoulder may cause headaches
Trigger points in the back may cause arm or shoulder pain
This phenomenon often makes it difficult for people to pinpoint the true source of their discomfort.
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Why Trigger Points Form
Trigger points often develop under conditions such as:
●Prolonged muscle overload
●Chronic stress
●Anxiety
●Exposure to cold
Sustained compression of a muscle
Holding a muscle in a shortened position for long periods (e.g., computer work)
A trigger point may remain “silent” for some time—noticeable only to a specialist—but certain factors can suddenly activate it, causing severe pain.
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Common Misconceptions About Muscle Pain
Renowned physicians Janet Travell and David Simons, pioneers in the study of trigger points, identified two widespread myths:
Myth 1: Muscle pain is never severe and can be tolerated.
In reality, trigger point pain can be intense—even debilitating. Trigger points do not resolve on their own; they may only temporarily become inactive before flaring up again.
Myth 2: Muscle pain is harmless.
Severe muscle pain can lead to dangerous situations. There are reported cases where individuals became immobilized by sudden pain, unable to move or protect themselves from hazards. In some situations, such as with swimmers, an activated trigger point could even lead to life-threatening consequences.
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How to Know If You Have Trigger Points
Only a trained specialist can accurately diagnose trigger points, as each muscle has specific pain referral patterns.
Statistics show that up to 50% of working adults experience problems related to trigger points.
They are especially common among:
Office workers
Individuals under chronic stress
People exposed to cold air from air conditioners
Fatigued muscles exposed to cold are particularly prone to trigger point activation.
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Effective Treatment: Therapeutic Trigger Point Massage
One of the most effective ways to treat trigger points is specialized therapeutic massage.
Unlike classic Swedish massage, this method uses:
Precise, targeted pressure
Deep gliding techniques
Follow-up stretching of the affected muscle
Because trigger points are tiny—often just 1 to 3 mm—identifying and treating them correctly requires extensive training and experience.
When the pain truly originates from a trigger point, clients often feel noticeable relief immediately after the treatment session.
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