Sometimes confused with pressure point massage, this involves deactivating trigger points that may cause local pain or refer pain and other sensations, such as headaches, in other parts of the body.  Manual pressure, vibration, injection or other treatment is applied to these points to relieve myofascial pain. 

 

Trigger points were first discovers and mapped by Janet G. Travell (President Kennedy’s physician) and David Simmons.  Trigger points have been photomicrographed, measured electrically, and in 2007 a paper was presented showing images of Trigger Points using MRI.  These points relate to dysfunction in the myoneural junction, also called neuromuscular junction (NMJ), in muscle, and therefore this modality is different from reflexology, acupressure and pressure point massage.