Become a Trigger Point Massage Therapist
Trigger Point Therapy Schools and Careers Guide
Trigger Point Therapy Schools and Careers Guide
What is trigger point?
Trigger point massage utilizes ischemic compression of individual areas of hypersensitivity in muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia. A trigger point is an area within soft tissue structures that is characterized by local tenderness and/or referred phenomena which can include pain, tingling, numbness burning, or itching. An active trigger point can cause immediate pain or prevent a muscle from fully lengthening. A latent trigger point is unnoticed until pressure is applied. It often feels dense and fibrous. Trigger points may be associated with deficiencies of vitamin B-6 and other vitamins. They may be a result of underlying visceral disease, arthritic joints, or other trigger points. Trigger points can cause referred pain.
Possible causes of trigger points are fatigue, trauma, chilling, skeletal asymmetry, other trigger points, arthritic joints, visceral diseases (ulcers, renal colic, myocardial infarction, gall stones, kidney problems, irritable bowel syndrome), vitamin deficiencies, hypoglycemia, chronic infection, or food allergies.
Trigger points may develop any where in the body, but are most commonly found at the sites of the greatest mechanical and postural stress.
Some signs of trigger points are:restricted movement; stiffness or weakness in muscles; subcutaneous tissue feels coarsely granular, ropy, knotty; weakness in muscles; or deep tenderness.
How is trigger point practiced?
Firm digital pressure clears the trigger point by repeatedly flushing the blood and accumulated toxins out of the trigger point. This creates conditions that foster healing. Superficial trigger points are treated first, applying 8-30 seconds of digital pressure. Reconditioning the muscle after the pain is reduced makes latent trigger points less prone to reactivate. The area is flushed with deep effleurage, pettrisage or friction. The therapist may return to same trigger point and repeat treatment 3-4 times removing, as much of the pain as possible.
Ice can be applied after the session or recommend client to ice at home. Client must follow up with high intake of water to flush the toxins and a detox bath. This will eliminate detox symptoms such as headaches and fatigue. Following up with movement re-education exercises will integrate the changes into the nervous system.
Where can I get training?
- Alabama
Red Mountain Institute - Homewood
- Arizona
Cortiva Institute - School of Massage Therapy - A campus in Scottsdale, AZ
Cortiva Institute - Tucson - A campus in Tucson
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Phoenix - Phoenix
Cortiva Institute - School of Massage Therapy - Scottsdale
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Tempe - Tempe
Southwest Institute of Healing Arts - Tempe
Cortiva Institute - Tucson - Tucson
- California
Hands on Healing Institute - Pasadena (Tujunga)
Institute for Business & Technology - Santa Clara
- Colorado
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Aurora - Aurora
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Westminster
- Connecticut
Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Groton - Groton
Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Newington - Newington
Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Westport - Westport
Finger Lakes School of Massage - Training in Westchester County, NY
- Florida
Cortiva Institute - Humanities Center School of Massage - A campus in Pinellas Park, FL
Florida College of Natural Health - Bradenton-Sarasota
Everest University - Pinellas - Clearwater
Florida School of Massage - Gainesville
Florida Metropolitan University - Jacksonville - Jacksonville
Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage - Jacksonville - Jacksonville
Everest University - Lakeland - Lakeland
Florida College of Natural Health - Miami
Florida Metropolitan University - Orange Park - Orange Park
Florida Metropolitan University - Orlando North - Orlando
Florida Metropolitan University - Orlando South - Orlando
Florida College of Natural Health - Orlando/Maitland
Cortiva Institute - Humanities Center School of Massage - Pinellas Park
Florida College of Natural Health - Pompano Beach
Sarasota School of Massage Therapy - Sarasota
Florida Metropolitan University - Brandon - Tampa
Florida Metropolitan University - Tampa - Tampa
- Georgia
Academy of Somatic Healing Arts - Atlanta
Atlanta School of Massage - Atlanta
Rising Spirit Institute of Natural Health - Atlanta
Georgia Career Institute - Conyers
Florida School of Massage - Training in Florida
- Hawaii
Maui School of Therapeutic Massage - Makawao
- Illinois
Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - A Chicago, IL Campus
Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - A Crystal Lake, IL Campus
Everest College - Burr Ridge
Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - Chicago
Everest College - Chicago
Cortiva Institute - Chicago School of Massage Therapy - Crystal Lake
Everest College - Skokie
- Indiana
Everest College - Merrillville
Kaplan College - Merrillville - Merrillville
- Iowa
Carlson College of Massage Therapy - Anamosa
- Kansas
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Tempe - Training in Arizona
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
- Maryland
Baltimore School of Massage - Linthicum
- Massachusetts
Cortiva Institute - Boston - A campus in Watertown
Elizabeth Grady Schools of Esthetics & Massage Therapy - Boston Area/Medford
Everest Institute - Brighton - Brighton
Everest Institute - Chelsea - Chelsea
Cortiva Institute - Boston - Watertown
Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Newington - Training in Newington, CT
- Michigan
Everest Institute - Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids
Everest Institute - Kalamazoo - Kalamazoo
Irene's Myomassology Institute - Southfield
- Minnesota
Northwestern Health Sciences University Massage Program - Bloomington
Everest Institute - Eagan - Eagan
- Missouri
Professional Massage Training Center - Springfield
- Montana
Utah College of Massage Therapy - Salt Lake City - 2 campuses in Utah
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
- Nebraska
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Tempe - Training in Arizona
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
- Nevada
Nevada School of Massage Therapy - Las Vegas
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Tempe - Training in Arizona
- New Jersey
Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - A campus in Piscataway
Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - A campus in Wall Township
Health-Choices Holistic Massage School - Belle Mead/Princeton Area
Academy of Massage Therapy - Hackensack
Academy of Massage Therapy - Jersey City
Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - Piscataway
Cortiva Institute - Somerset School of Massage Therapy - Wall Township
Finger Lakes School of Massage - Training in Westchester County, NY
- New York
Finger Lakes School of Massage - NY - Ithaca
Finger Lakes School of Massage - Mt Kisco - NYC Area - Westchester County
Academy of Massage Therapy - Training in Hackensack, NJ
Academy of Massage Therapy - Training in Jersey City, NJ
Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Westport - Training in Westport, CT
- North Carolina
Edmund Morgan School of Neuromuscular & Massage Therapy - Cornelius
- North Dakota
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
- Oklahoma
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Tempe - Training in Arizona
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
- Oregon
Oregon School of Massage - Portland - Portland
Oregon School of Massage - Salem - Salem
- Pennsylvania
Cortiva Institute - Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy - A campus in King of Prussia
Massage Academy of the Poconos - Bartonsville/Stroudsburg/Poconos
Health Options Institute - Bethlehem
Cortiva Institute - Pennsylvania School of Muscle Therapy - King of Prussia
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork - Lancaster
Pittsburgh School of Pain Management - Pittsburgh
Baltimore School of Massage - York, PA Campus - York
Finger Lakes School of Massage - NY - Training in Ithaca, NY
- Rhode Island
Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy - Groton - Training in Groton, CT
- South Carolina
Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage - Charleston - Charleston
Southeastern School of Neuromuscular Massage - Columbia - Columbia
- South Dakota
Arizona School of Massage Therapy - Tempe - Training in Arizona
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
- Tennessee
Georgia Career Institute - McMinnville
Georgia Career Institute - Murfreesboro
- Texas
Austin Schools of Massage - Austin
ATI Career Training Center - Dallas/Fort Worth
American Institute of Allied Health - Dallas/Lewisville
ATI Career Training Center - NRH - North Richland Hills
- Utah
Utah College of Massage Therapy - Lindon - Lindon
Utah College of Massage Therapy - Salt Lake City - Salt Lake City
- Virginia
Virginia School of Massage - Charlottesville
- Washington
Cortiva Institute - Seattle - A Campus in Seattle
Cortiva Institute - Seattle - Seattle
Oregon School of Massage - Portland - Training in Portland, OR
- Wyoming
Utah College of Massage Therapy - Salt Lake City - 2 campuses in Utah
Denver School of Massage Therapy - Westminster - Training in Colorado
Search our directory and find more: Massage Therapy Schools, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and more.







