Trigger Points: Referred Pain
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Active trigger points have more than just a local effect. The worst pain from
trigger points may be experienced at the site of the trigger point, but surprisingly
often, the pain is "sent" to some point in the musculo-tendinous unit above,
below or even to the side of the trigger point. Many trigger points send their
pain even further! - The Gluteus minimus is a case in point. If you were to apply
pressure with thumb, finger or tennis ball to an active trigger point in the
Gluteus minimus, you would swear that you were "pressing on the nerve". But that
is not the case!
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Diagram 1: Trigger Points in the Gluteus minimus and their combined pain referral patterns.
Picture source: clair Davies, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook
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The pain is sent via local nerves and central nervous system
from the irritated trigger points that you are pressing on to the targeted tissues
(see diagram). This pattern of referred pain, while not identical between
individuals, is remarkably consistent across the human species.
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Biology of trigger points: trigger point referred pain
© Bruce Thomson, EasyVigour Project
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