How To: Give a trigger point massage

A trigger point is a group of knots in your muscles. When using a trigger point release you use firm pressure and have the person inhale and then slowly exhale. That allows the muscles to contract when they inhale and then relax as they exhale through their mouths. As they relax you can go deeper into the tissue. If it's a true trigger point the muscle will twitch when it begins to release. Use your thumbs and start at the base of the neck on both sides of the spine pressing outward about two inches. Make sure the person is breathing in and out as you work on the muscles. As you work on the trigger point it will feel like popping bubble wrap as the bubble pops. Trigger points can be anywhere in the body but a lot of them end up in the shoulders and back. Then after the trigger point has been worked out use some basic Swedish moves to get the blood flowing. Once the trigger points are worked out the person will begin feeling much better.