Breese Chiropractor | Breese chiropractic care | IL | Trigger Point Therapy

What is Trigger Point Therapy?  

TPT, as we like to call it, is a therapeutic system of pressure application to very tender sore areas in the muscle. For instance, if you press on the large muscles between your neck and shoulders, most people will find a tender, very sore area or two in the muscle belly. These are called "trigger pints."  What are they? They are areas of toxin (lactic and pyruvic acid) that has built up in the belly itself. A muscle is like an engine. The fuel coming in to a muscle is glucose. That is the "sugary" fuel we use for energy. When the muscle burns this fuel, it, like and engine, makes a waste product. This waste product when coupled with spastic muscles from overuse, stress or arthritis, will build up in pockets... thus trigger points.

We handle these with small pressure variations on the point. This is not massage in the sense most people understand massage. We goad or rub the points until they dissolve. We use manual manipulation and a variety of therapies like ultrasound and soft electrical current to disslove them. When combined with spinal manipulation, stretching and TPT, the condition healing time can sometimes be cut in half.  Our staff is highly trained in this procedure. Some patients request the treatment, some patients will have it prescribed by Dr. Smith as part of their therapy.