What Are Trigger Points?

Trigger points are tight, hypersensitive spots within a muscle that can cause local pain and refer discomfort to other areas of the body. A knot in your upper trapezius, for example, can refer pain up into the back of your head. Trigger points in the hip muscles can contribute to lower back or leg pain. They are one of the most common and underappreciated sources of musculoskeletal pain.

Trigger points develop in response to overuse, poor posture, stress, injury, or sustained muscle contraction. They do not show up on imaging and are diagnosed through hands-on assessment.

How Trigger Point Therapy Works

Trigger point therapy involves applying sustained, targeted pressure directly to the trigger point to interrupt the pain cycle and promote release. The goal is to reduce the hypersensitivity in the muscle, restore normal length and function, and eliminate the referred pain pattern associated with that point.

At Physiolab, trigger point therapy can be delivered through manual pressure by an RMT or physiotherapist, or through dry needling and IMS for deeper or more stubborn trigger points that do not respond as well to manual work alone.

Conditions That Respond Well to Trigger Point Therapy

  • Tension headaches and migraines
  • Neck and upper back tightness
  • Lower back pain and hip pain
  • Shoulder pain and rotator cuff tension
  • Tennis elbow and forearm tightness
  • IT band and lateral knee pain
  • Calf tightness and plantar fasciitis
  • Jaw tension and TMJ-related pain

What to Expect During a Session

Your therapist will assess which muscles are involved and locate active trigger points through palpation. When pressure is applied to the trigger point, you may feel a local ache and often notice the familiar referred pain pattern associated with that point. This confirmation helps both the therapist and patient know they have found the right spot. The pressure is held until the muscle begins to release, then work continues through the surrounding tissue.

Most people notice a meaningful reduction in pain and tightness during or shortly after the session.

Book Trigger Point Therapy in Vancouver

Physiolab offers trigger point therapy across all four Vancouver locations, delivered by experienced RMTs and physiotherapists. Most extended health plans cover these sessions with direct billing available.

Muscle knots and the pain they refer elsewhere do not have to become a permanent part of your life.

Book trigger point therapy at Physiolab in Vancouver and get targeted relief from the practitioners who know exactly where to find the source. Book today.

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What Our
Patients Say

★★★★★
I have been seeing Siam for quite sometime now and she is such an effective and intuitive massage therapist and person! She has been treating my shoulder and neck area and after several treatments with her, my pain and discomfort level has gone down. She takes the time to assess your functionality, checks in with you often, and genuinely cares about helping you feel better long term.
S
Shaileen C
★★★★★
I have had a chronic shoulder issue for a while. I made an appointment over the phone, and was responded to quickly and professionally. From the start to finish my experience was amazing. The knowledge of all the staff was impressive. Not only was relief provided for my issue at hand, but ongoing exercises and maintenance advice were provided to keep things improving.
N
Nat Metzgner
★★★★★
Carrie is excellent! She was professional, friendly, knowledgeable and took the time to explain everything I needed to know clearly and thoroughly. I had some IMS done and I feel better than I have in months. I appreciated how she gave me a heads up about spots that might be more sensitive and checked in with me throughout the whole session.
J
Jessie Harbron
★★★★★
I love working with Carrie who's the Physio therapist and the co-owner of this wonderful clinic. Some of the back issues that would take more 30 mins for RMTs to try to resolve, most of the time it takes less than 5 mins for Carrie to resolve it with her awesome IMS skills. It's a night and day difference.
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chimerik collective

FAQs

Common questions about trigger point therapy, muscle knot release, and how trigger point treatment differs from general massage in Vancouver.
What is a trigger point and why does it cause pain in other areas?

A trigger point is a tight, hypersensitive band within a muscle. When compressed or irritated, it produces not just local pain but referred pain in a predictable pattern elsewhere in the body. This is why a knot in your neck can cause a headache, or hip muscle tension can contribute to knee pain.

How is trigger point therapy different from regular massage?

Regular massage works across broader areas of muscle tissue. Trigger point therapy uses sustained, targeted pressure on specific hypersensitive points to interrupt the pain cycle and release referred pain patterns. It is more precise and condition-specific.

Does trigger point therapy hurt?

Applying pressure to an active trigger point produces a characteristic ache, and often reproduces the referred pain you have been experiencing. This is a useful sign that the right spot has been found. The intensity is manageable and should feel like productive pressure, not sharp pain.

Can trigger points be treated with dry needling?

Yes. Dry needling and IMS are effective tools for releasing trigger points, particularly those that are too deep for manual pressure to fully reach. Your therapist can recommend whether manual work or needling is more appropriate for your specific trigger points.

What conditions are best treated with trigger point therapy?

Trigger point therapy works well for tension headaches, neck and upper back pain, lower back pain, shoulder tightness, elbow pain, IT band issues, plantar fasciitis, and jaw tension. It is particularly useful when pain is persistent and includes a referred component.

How many sessions of trigger point therapy will I need?

Some trigger points respond in one or two sessions. Chronic or deeply embedded trigger points may need several visits. Your therapist will reassess at each session and adjust based on your progress.

Is trigger point therapy covered by extended health insurance?

Trigger point therapy delivered by an RMT or physiotherapist is covered under most extended health plans. Physiolab offers direct billing to major insurers.

Can trigger points come back after treatment?

Trigger points can recur if the underlying cause, such as poor posture, overuse, or muscle weakness, is not addressed. Your therapist will often provide exercises and self-care strategies to reduce the likelihood of recurrence alongside hands-on treatment.

Our
Locations

We are proud to serve multiple convenient locations, ensuring quality physiotherapy care is always within reach.