Clinical Massage 
& Rehabilitation Therapy

Trigger points are hypersensitive areas found in contracted bands of skeletal muscle fibres muscle fascia that are painful on compression. They are also known as muscle ‘knots’ and are nodules that can produce sensations of tenderness or twitching when touched or compressed. Trigger points can often cause referred pain. A good example of this is a trigger point in the shoulder causing headaches or arm pain.

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Trigger points are often released with sustained pressure, which works to restrict the oxygen supply to the area, as well as causing a neurological effect on the central nervous system to cause the relaxation of the sustained local muscle contraction. Medical acupuncture is also very effective and specific at releasing trigger points.

Myofascial Release is a specialised type of massage used for the effective treatment and recovery of soft tissue and fascial tension and restrictions. The word Myofascia is derived from the Greek word ‘myo’ meaning muscle and ‘fascia’ meaning band.

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Fascia surrounds, fills, and protects every tissue, tendon, muscle, bone, ligament, and organ of your body. It is the connective tissue that holds the body together. In an ideal condition, the fascial system is relaxed and wavy in shape. In a system that is causing aches, pain and restriction the fascia has lost its pliability and is dehydrated, hard and restricted. Myofascial Release is a specialised treatment that releases those restrictions, enabling those affected areas to become soft and mobile.

Cupping involves the suction and lifting of your soft tissues like muscle and fascia. The cupping tool creates a vacuum which sucks the soft tissue up and draws blood into the muscle and facia within the cup. This is what can create the dark circles following treatment as the blood remains in the top layer of the skin for a few days after treatment.

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The process of cupping has a similar effect to a deep tissue massage because it helps to penetrate deep layers of our soft tissue. Due to tissue movement and increased circulation to the area, it helps to start an inflammatory response which helps to heal our body. Cupping helps to separate layers of soft tissue to improve mobility of soft tissue which can aid in improved physical performance and day to day comfort.