Muscle pain · Ponsonby
Trigger point treatment for muscle pain that refers and will not release
A trigger point is a tight, painful spot in a muscle that refers, meaning it causes pain somewhere else when pressed. The classic example is the knot in the upper trapezius that gives you a headache. Trigger points develop most often in the neck, upper back, shoulders and hips, and they tend to form after overuse, postural loading, or an injury that was not fully resolved. They are uncomfortable to live with because they limit movement and cause referred pain that is hard to pin down.
Does this sound like you?
- ✓ A tight, tender spot in a muscle that aches when pressed and refers pain to another area
- ✓ Neck or shoulder pain without an obvious structural cause
- ✓ Recurring headaches that seem to originate in the neck or upper back
- ✓ Muscle tightness that does not release with stretching or massage
If that sounds like you, this is exactly what we treat. Book an assessment and we will confirm the right plan.
What causes trigger points
Trigger points develop when a segment of muscle fibre goes into a sustained contraction and cannot release. They are reliably associated with overuse, postural load and previous injury. Once established, they tend to persist; the reduced blood flow to the contracted tissue keeps the cycle going.
How we treat trigger points with shockwave
We locate the trigger point clinically, then apply shockwave directly to it. The acoustic energy disrupts the contracted tissue and restores blood flow, breaking the sustained contraction cycle. For trigger points that have been there a long time, this is often faster and more lasting than dry needling or manual therapy. We combine it with advice on the posture or load pattern that created them, so they do not simply reform.
What to expect
You may feel some tenderness during and for a day after treatment, similar to a deep sports massage. Most people notice a change in the tightness and referred pain within the first couple of sessions.
This is one of the injuries we treat with shockwave therapy at our Ponsonby clinic. Read more about how shockwave works, who it suits and what a course of treatment involves.
Common questions
Is shockwave effective for trigger points? +
How is it different from dry needling? +
Do I need a referral? +
Related
Other injuries we treat
Shockwave therapy in Ponsonby
How shockwave works, who it suits and what a course of treatment involves.
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Book your assessment
Your first visit is a full assessment, hands-on treatment, and a plan you take home.
Visit us
Our Ponsonby clinic
Return To Form Physio
179A Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby, Auckland 1011
Entry on Franklin Road
ACC registered · Multi-disciplinary team · Treating Ponsonby for over 16 years