A Nervous System Perspective on Trigger Points

Trigger points are myofascial bundles created over time due to a stressor. Physical trauma, postural imbalances, abnormal movement patterns, and tissue inflammation (of muscles, organs, ligaments, etc.) can be considered ‘stressors’. These ‘knots’ can be found superficially (underneath the skin) or even deeper through a connective tissue called fascia. Wherever fascia appears, a trigger point can set up camp!

Have you ever cut into a steak and seen a white thin layer of tissue surrounding the meat? That’s the fascia! It covers everything in the body — muscles, organs, ligaments, bones, the vascular system, the lymphatic system, and more, with its primary function being a protective barrier. However, now it’s being seen as part of the communication system (aka an extension of the nervous system — how cool is that?!).

This means if there is a trigger point around the hamstring muscle (back of your leg), this may be from or due to an imbalance not only within that muscle but also in various other tissues, organs, and glands within the body.

The brain sends and receives electrical signals to and from every cell and tissue. From there these nerves keep branching and branching into tiny delicate nerve fibers which at one point reach the fascia. So, to create a trigger point, a stressor and the nervous system need to be involved. This means we can work with the nervous system to alleviate trigger points!

Foam rolling, massages, bodywork, acupuncture, energetic healing, and even emotional relations to parts of the body can be beneficial for a resolution!

Do you experience trigger points due to daily life stressors?