Trigger points

Trigger points are hypersensitive spots within tight bands of skeletal muscle that cause pain when pressed.

They are a hallmark of myofascial pain syndrome and can also contribute to broader chronic pain conditions. Trigger points may cause localized tenderness but are often deceptive, because they can refer pain to distant areas — for example, a trigger point in the neck may produce headaches or pain in the shoulder.

They typically develop from muscle overuse, poor posture, repetitive strain or stress. On a physiological level, trigger points are linked to abnormal muscle fiber contraction, reduced blood flow and the release of sensitizing chemicals that irritate nearby nociceptors. Left unresolved, they may perpetuate a cycle of pain and muscle dysfunction, maintaining chronic pain even when the original cause has subsided.