by admin on March 12, 2012
Even the most advanced skier, snowboarder, or ice skater will fall.
Many of these falls are on the sacrum and/or coccyx. Repetitive falls on the posterior pelvic girdle can result in sacroiliac joint and/or coccyx mal-alignment. Joint mal-alignments such as these will cause compensatory muscle activation which often leads to muscle hypertonus and myofascial trigger points.
These patients typically complain of tailbone pain, sacral pain, pain with sitting, pain transitioning from sitting to standing and vice versa, hip pain and low back pain.
In order to realign these joints, the muscular dysfunction must be eliminated as well as the joints adjusted. The physical therapists at the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center specialize in treating the musculoskeletal dysfunctions related to coccyx and sacroiliac joint mal-alignment. The treatment programs include manual techniques to normalize muscle tone and motor control, eliminate myofascial trigger points, joint re-alignment, and a home exercise program.
by admin on March 6, 2012
Trigger points are tight spots within a muscle, often referred to as “knots”.
They occur when the muscle fibers in a small part of the muscle are contracted. Often, muscle fibers will become taut in a small line, and the trigger point is a nodule on that line that is most involved. When the fibers are contracted in this way, the blood flow to those fibers is restricted, like when a sponge is squeezed tight and cannot let in any more liquid.
Muscles that are tight and lacking blood flow are very tender, so putting pressure on a trigger point is painful and may feel like burning or pinching. Trigger points can also refer pain to other parts of the body, and muscles with trigger points may be painful to contract or stretch. The exact cause of a trigger point is unknown, but some things that may contribute to the formation of trigger points include trauma, repetitive movements, or recurrent postures that involve shortening the muscle.
To treat a trigger point, the fibers must be reorganized and released. Physical therapists will release a trigger point by applying manual pressure directly to that location until the tissue begins to show improvement. In some states, physical therapists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists may also choose to “dry needle” a trigger point. Dry needling is when a solid acupuncture needle is passed through the tissue of the trigger point repeatedly to force the fibers to release. Though both of these techniques can be uncomfortable, the release of trigger points can be essential in treating pain or muscle dysfunction.
Even the most advanced skier, snowboarder, or ice skater will fall.
