Contact for consultation
“OUCH, It Hurts There” – Why Do Chiropractors and Physiotherapists Press on Those Tender Points
Patients often go to a chiropractor or therapist because they don’t feel quite right. They might not even have significant pain symptoms and only feel some stiffness or restriction in motion. That is, of course, until the chiropractor or therapist presses on tender points around the body.
The patient might think that they were alright until someone pressed on those spots but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s dig a little deeper and figure out what’s going on.
A pressure or trigger point is a place where stress, tension, nerve and muscle irritation bubble up to the surface in the form of pain. This pain is produced by nerve interference or a buildup of noxious waste products in muscle fibers. These spots might not be noticed until someone or something touches them.
It’s important to remember that stress is not OK. Pain is not OK. Pain is your body’s way of saying that there is something wrong that it can’t fix by itself. Learning to live with or habituate to your stress and pain is not a good alternative to correcting any underlying condition.
What underlying conditions could cause pressure points and nerve interference?
- Stress
- Trauma
- Weather
- Environment
- Job
- Family
- Misalignment
All these things can cause the formation of pressure points but they are not all the same. They also are not all treated the same or have the same outcome from treatment. Many of these tender points respond well to self-treatment or massage. These pressure points go away with treatment and may not return for days, weeks or months if at all.
It may, however, be a pressure point due to a misalignment. With a misalignment the pain may recede but returns again and again. Decreased mobility and stiffness may be present before and after pressure point treatment also pain, numbness and tingling may radiate into another part of the body.
Simple pressure points may be self-treated or treated with a partner. First find the “ouch points” and hold pressure to tolerance for 10-15 seconds. A chiropractor or therapist usually knows the amount of pressure to apply but you will most likely need to tell another partner how it feels and to adjust their pressure accordingly. Make sure not to press too hard. In most cases, less is more.
If selfcare doesn’t work DO NOT wait for the pain to go away on its own or gets worse. Get a more thorough examination. You may have misalignments or other serious problems causing your pain. Make an appointment today for an exam to find out why your condition exists and what can be done about it.
Remember the five most dangerous words relating to your health:
“Maybe it will go away”
For more information, please feel free to contact us:
- Maple Healthcare District 2: 19 Dang Huu Pho St, Thao Dien Ward, District 2. Hotline: 0938 646 112
- Maple Healthcare District 3: 107B Truong Dinh St., Ward 6, District 3. Hotline: 0932 055 088
- Maple Healthcare District 7: MD6 Nguyen Luong Bang St., District 7. Hotline: 0705 100 100
Read more:
Contact for consultation
MAPLE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
Phone: 0705 100 100
Tax code: 0311948301
Date Range: 21 - 08 - 2012
Issued: Department of Planning and Investment of Ho Chi Minh City