other Flashcards
What is a trigger point?
when the therapist pushes on a specific part of the body and pain related to a discrete, irritable point in skeletal muscle or fascia is felt.
What are potential cuases of a trigger point?
-Acute or chronic muscle overload
-Activation by other trigger points
-Disease
-Psychological distress (via systemic inflammation)
-Homeostatic imbalances
-Direct trauma to the region
-Accident trauma (such as a car accident which stresses many muscles and causes instant trigger points
What are the different types of trigger points?
Active
Latent
Key
Satellite
what is an active trigger point?
A TP that actively refers pain either locally or to another location (most trigger points refer pain elsewhere in the body along nerve pathways)
what is a latent trigger point?
A TP that exists, but does not yet refer pain actively, but may do so when pressure or strain is applied to the myofascial structure containing the trigger point.
what is a key trigger point?
A TP that has a pain referral pattern along a nerve pathway that activates a latent trigger point on the pathway, or creates it.
what is a sattellite trigger point?
A TP which is activated by a key trigger point. Successfully treating the key trigger point will often resolve the satellite, either converting it from being active to latent or completely treating it.
What is the method for performing trigger points?
Palpate trigger point
Apply pressure until pain is 8/10
Maintain until 4/10
Repeat 4/5 times until tension in the tissue reduces
What does ‘MET’s’ stand for?
Muscle Energy Techniques
What does ‘PIR’ stand for?
Post Isometric Relaxation
What is the purpose of Post Isometric Relaxation?
To mobilize restricted joints.
To lengthen tense muscles and fascia.
To strengthen an asymmetrically weak muscle or decrease hypertonicity.
To improve circulation, respiration, and neuromuscular relationships.
How would you carry out PIR?
Move the limb to the point where a stretch can just be felt
Engage the agonist with an isometric contraction of the muscle for at least 6 seconds.
The patient should use 20%-30% of their effort.
Ask the patient to take a deep breath in
On exhalation increase the stretch to the next level
Repeat for 3-4 times and maintain final stretch for 20 seconds
What is ‘MLD’?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
What is tendinosis?
a degeneration of a tendons collagen in response to chronic overuse
What is tendinopathy?
tendon is repeatedly strained until tiny tears form
