Trigger Point Massage Therapy is a bodywork treatment that involves the applying of pressure to muscle/fascia to deactivate trigger points. Trigger points are described as hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers and fascia.

These trigger points cause local pain or referred pain, and other sensations, to other parts of the body. Trigger points are areas of low neurological activity that when stimulated can become areas of high neurological activity. They consist of lactic acid, carbonic acid, hyaluronic acid (a water-binder), and serotonin (a vasoconstrictor).

There are two types of trigger points:

1) “active” which refer “sensations” elsewhere from the site of palpation;
2) “inactive” which are sore at the site of palpation.

These points relate to dysfunction in the myoneural junction, also called neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in muscle.