Are you dealing with stubborn knots or tight, ropey muscles that seem to last for weeks or even months? These are likely TRIGGER POINTS.

ACWORTH Wellness Center is your go-to source for joint pain relief and overall health improvement. We effectively treat these issues at our Acworth clinic.

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What is a Trigger Point?

A trigger point is a specific area within a muscle that becomes tight and inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. These points often feel like tender knots or tight bands when touched. In physical medicine, trigger point injections are used to relieve the pain associated with these sensitive areas and promote healing.

Causes of Trigger Points include:

  • Muscle overuse: Prolonged or repetitive activity can cause trigger points to develop.
  • Poor posture: Holding improper posture for long periods can strain muscles, leading to trigger points.
  • Stress and tension: Emotional stress can cause muscle tightness, which may result in trigger points.
  • Muscle spasms: Sudden, involuntary muscle contractions, often caused by overexertion or poor posture, can trigger these painful points.
  • Injuries: Trauma to the muscle, such as from a sports injury or accident, can lead to the formation of trigger points.
  • Muscle imbalances: Weak or tight muscles can force other muscles to compensate, making trigger points more likely.

In the U.S., trigger points are a common cause of musculoskeletal pain, affecting millions of people each year. They can occur in individuals of all ages, making them a widespread concern for both the general population and athletes.

Trigger points typically develop when the underlying cause remains untreated and can persist until the contributing factors are properly addressed.

How Do Trigger Point Therapy & Injections Work?

Trigger point therapy is designed to relieve pain caused by tight muscle knots, known as trigger points.

In a typical treatment, a healthcare provider injects a small amount of medication directly into the affected area. The local anesthetic numbs the area, providing immediate pain relief, while also reducing inflammation and promoting long-term healing.

By targeting both the pain and inflammation, trigger point injections help relax tight muscles and alleviate discomfort. It’s important to follow a treatment plan that includes specific stretching, posture correction, and functional movement after the injection. These steps can help prevent trigger points from reoccurring in the future.

FAQs About Trigger Point Injections

What Does a Trigger Point Injection Session Look Like?

At ACWORTH Wellness Center, we offer trigger point injections to patients dealing with fibromyalgia, tension headaches, myofascial pain, and muscle discomfort in areas like the arms, legs, lower back, and neck.

During your appointment, we will identify the painful area and administer small amounts of anesthetic and steroid to help relieve your symptoms. This procedure is safe, with a very low risk of complications. You may experience temporary soreness or numbness at the injection site, but you should be able to use your muscles right after the treatment, though we recommend avoiding strenuous activity for a few days.

For more details or to schedule an appointment, contact us at (770) 974-2405.

What Causes Trigger Points to Develop?

Trigger points are tiny knots in the myofascial tissue surrounding your muscles. These active trigger points can cause significant pain, tenderness, and even referred pain—discomfort felt in areas outside of the trigger point itself. The pain often spreads from the source and can be persistent.

Trigger points can form after acute muscle trauma, repetitive strain, lack of exercise, prolonged inactivity, sleep disorders, poor posture, or even nutritional deficiencies.

How Do Trigger Points Affect Other Areas of the Body?

Trigger points don’t just cause pain in one spot—they can radiate discomfort to nearby areas and limit your range of motion. Over time, the muscles affected by trigger points become weaker, which forces other muscles to work harder and compensate for the weakness.

Trigger points can lead to:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Radiating pain
  • Poor posture, which can contribute to:
  • Back pain
  • Sciatica
  • Neck pain
  • Jaw pain
  • Tension headaches

What is the Accelerated Joint Recovery Protocol?

At ACWORTH Wellness Center, we understand that every patient is unique. Our Accelerated Joint Recovery Protocol is personalized to fit your individual needs.

Our team of healthcare professionals, with decades of experience, uses a range of proven treatment modalities to create a plan tailored specifically to you. The goal is to restore function, enhance the health of tissues and joints, reduce pain, and ultimately bring back your full range of motion.

We want to help you get back to living an active and healthy life!