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What is Trigger Point Therapy?
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Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy for the Feet
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Pain Relief
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Improved Mobility and Strength
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Stress Reduction
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Better Circulation
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Common Trigger Points in the Feet
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Tips for Effective Therapy
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How Can Shoes Play a Role?
Patients looking for an effective, affordable, non-invasive treatment option for foot drop and foot pain can consider trigger point therapy. This guide will introduce you to the benefits of trigger point therapy for feet, and offer some recommendations for success.
What is Trigger Point Therapy?
Trigger point therapy is any form of therapy that addresses trigger points. Trigger points are the sore, painful spots that can sometimes develop in muscle tissue that refer pain to other parts of the body. Many people call them “muscle knots.” When trigger points are present, so are taut bands of muscle tissue.
Examples of therapies that attempt to treat trigger points include manual release, massage, dry needling, acupuncture, gua sha, and even simple techniques like rolling a tennis ball over the muscle.
Active trigger points can worsen foot drop and foot pain resulting from back surgery, injuries, or underlying health conditions. Treating them with trigger point therapy can result in improvements.
Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy for the Feet
Trigger point therapy for feet can relieve pain, enhance mobility, and help reduce stress. Let’s discuss these benefits in more detail.
Pain Relief
Active trigger points and taut bands of muscle tissue can produce and sustain myofascial pain, and also worsen nerve compression, producing or contributing to nerve pain.
Treating trigger points may result in a reduction in associated myofascial and nerve pain.
Improved Mobility and Strength
The taut bands of muscle that are present with active trigger points can be stiff, exhibiting reduced flexibility and strength.
By treating the trigger points, it may be possible to soften the tight bands of muscle, restoring mobility and strength.
Stress Reduction
Pain and loss of function in the feet can create stress or worsen stress. For many patients, treating trigger points can help reduce stress.
Better Circulation
Trigger points and tight muscle bands are associated with a reduction in circulation. This reduced circulation can result in biochemical imbalances within localized cells that worsen the condition, leading to a vicious cycle. Trigger point therapies may improve circulation, helping to disrupt that cycle.
Common Trigger Points in the Feet
Some common trigger points in the feet include:
- On the sole of the foot just in front of the heel.
- On the sole of the foot just to the right and front of the heel.
- On top of the foot between the big toe and the one next to it, back a little bit, as well as the same area on the bottom of the foot. These are trigger points in the lumbricals and interossei.
These are just several examples. We recommend looking up foot trigger point charts, which show you both the locations of the trigger points and where they refer to pain.
Tips for Effective Therapy
Here are some tips for getting the most out of trigger point therapy:
- Try different types of trigger point therapy to find the one(s) that are most effective for you.
- Use trigger point therapy in conjunction with other treatments, such as wearing a brace, performing PT foot drop exercises, and using nerve stimulation. Your doctor will tell you if you need surgical intervention.
- Drink plenty of water, and eat a nutritious diet.
- Experiment to find the ideal amount of pressure for trigger points. This can vary from person to person, but is typically moderate pressure, not especially light or hard pressure.
- Remember to target the points referring to the pain, not necessarily the areas where you feel the pain.
- Engage in regular aerobic exercise, as this can help to boost body-wide circulation and reduce inflammation.
- Pay attention to how your posture at any given moment is affecting muscle tension, worsening or improving knots.
How Can Shoes Play a Role?
One more thing you can do to reduce pain and improve stability in your feet is wear Cadense shoes for foot drop. These shoes feature patented variable friction technology, allowing your feet to “glide” over uneven surfaces, even if you have foot drop.