The Pain Pattern and Soft Tissue Restoration Therapy
It is a simple and obvious fact that bones go where muscles put them; bones stay where muscles keep them. Muscles that are in tension shorten and apply excess force on bones causing structural and systemic problems. What causes chronic muscular tension and pain? Pain can be caused by impact to the body or sudden exertion and could also develop over time with muscle overuse or something as simple as bad posture. This pain causes tightening of the muscles and the compression of blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels, impeding circulation, impinging on nerves and perpetuating the pain cycle.

Initially muscular tightness and the related sensation that remains below the pain threshold is not perceived as pain, and so the pain cycle further tightens and shortens the affected soft tissue without the awareness of the individual. From time to time stress or physical exertion might take this tension past the pain threshold and a nagging ache will be felt. A little relaxation or perhaps a pain killer could drop the tension back just below the pain threshold and normal activities can be resumed. So the individual learns to live with this chronic tension and ever lurking pain for years. Over time the very same cycle could spread to neighboring areas and cause unbearable pain and even a "lock up" of that part of the body e.g. the neck and shoulder.

  Massage
Massage in general will help bring relief, and different techniques will produce results in their own way. Trigger Point Therapy which breaks this pain cycle, offers a more permanent relief and returns the tone of the muscle to normalcy

  Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point massage is not a relaxing, "fluff and buff" technique. It requires the participation of the client to communicate the presence and intensity of pain and discomfort. The therapist and client work together as a team to maximize the effectiveness of the treatment. Based on palpation of the affected areas and the position of taut bands in the muscles the activated trigger points are located. They could be on the muscle tissue just under the skin or under other layers of muscle. Because these points can occur on several different layers of muscle tissue that slide over each other, to zero in accurately on each point, the clients feedback based on the sensation becomes very important. Having traced the point, systematic pressure is used to slowly 'dissolve' it, which subsequently releases and lengthens the affected muscle. After repeating this process on affected muscles, the client feels a distinct release from pain and a marked improvement in range of motion, which only improves with subsequent treatments.