Trigger points are essentially muscle knots, which occur when muscle fibers or fascia tense and tighten and refuse to relax. Trigger points can appear as bumps and are painful to the touch, which can make many aspects of daily living, even lying and sitting down, painful for patients.
Trigger point injections are intended to force these knots to relax. These injections often contain a combination of saline, a local anesthetic, and a corticosteroid. Once the injection has relaxed the trigger point a patient’s pain should dissipate.
- Upper Trapezius (Neck & Shoulder)
- Symptoms: Neck stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain
- Causes: Poor posture, prolonged desk work, stress, carrying heavy bags
- Referred Pain: Side of the head, behind the ear
- Levator Scapulae (Neck to Shoulder Blade)
- Symptoms: Difficulty turning the head, upper back pain
- Causes: Sleeping with poor neck support, hunching over screens
- Referred Pain: Shoulder blade area
- Rhomboids (Between Shoulder Blades)
- Symptoms: Deep aching pain in the upper back
- Causes: Poor posture, hunching, carrying heavy loads
- Referred Pain: Mid-back and shoulders
- Infraspinatus (Rotator Cuff, Shoulder)
- Symptoms: Shoulder stiffness, difficulty reaching behind the back
- Causes: Repetitive overhead motions, sports injuries
- Referred Pain: Front of the shoulder, down the arm
- Gluteus Medius & Minimus (Hips & Buttocks)
- Symptoms: Hip pain, difficulty walking or sitting
- Causes: Long periods of sitting, running, or improper walking mechanics
- Referred Pain: Lower back, outer thigh
- Quadratus Lumborum (Lower Back)
- Symptoms: Lower back pain, hip discomfort
- Causes: Weak core muscles, prolonged sitting, heavy lifting
- Referred Pain: Hips, sacrum, and side of the lower back
- Tibialis Anterior (Shin)
- Symptoms: Shin splints, foot pain
- Causes: Overuse from running or improper footwear
- Referred Pain: Front of the ankle and foot