About The Body.
Muscles account for more that 60% of the human body mass, making up the largest part of our bodies. They are responsible for all movement of the human body. With such an enormous responsibility, it is easy to see how muscles can be subjected to wear and tear, fatigue, overuse, and injury.

When we want to move or use our muscles, the muscle contracts, and this is typically a voluntary action. However, sometimes the muscles contract involuntarily, which we call a spasm. Muscles are also subject to another condition, known as a Trigger Point, which is essentially an involuntary contraction of only a small portion of the muscle, creating pain and dysfunction within the muscle. One of the reasons that prescription muscle relaxants are ineffective on Trigger Points is that the medication would have to be strong enough to stop all involuntary muscle contractions...one incredibly important involuntary muscle, your heart, might not agree with this!

Trigger Points have been studied and shown to be the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain. Pain clinic doctors have found that Trigger Points are the main source of pain nearly 75% of the time! Trigger Points cause the muscle to remain tight, which weakens the muscle and puts stress on the points where the muscles attach to the bones as well. This often leads to pain in nearby tissues.

A unique feature that distinguishes Trigger Points from other muscle pain is that Trigger Points almost always refer pain to other areas of the body. This is why many treatments are ineffective. Most treatments assume that the area of pain should also be the source of pain, yet the actual cause could be in a completely different location. Trigger Points and their referred pain can be associated with many conditions, and may even cause some of them!

You can learn how to control your musculoskeletal pain by treating Trigger Points yourself, saving yourself from multiple, costly, professional office visits!

Treat The Pain.
To treat Trigger Points, heavy pressure must be applied to the Trigger Point. Trigger Point therapy can reduce pain, increase movement, and allows the muscles to lengthen and become stronger again. Light pressure is not effective for treating Trigger Points, and in fact may increase spasms as the muscle tries to protect itself, leading to increased and more constant pain. In contrast, moderate to heavy pressure applied to a Trigger Point causes the pain to initially increase, but then as the muscle relaxes the pain will fade.  

Pressure should be applied slowly and released slowly for best results. The pressure should be maintained until there is a change in pain. If there is no decrease in pain after one minute, stop the pressure - this is probably not a Trigger Point! While, or after applying pressure to Trigger Points, the relaxed muscle can be stretched for more effective treatment. Either way, if the muscles are not returned to normal length, there is a greater likelihood the Trigger Points will reoccur.

How Do Trigger Points Cause Pain and Other Symptoms?
In 1999, David Simons, M.D., discovered that a Trigger Point is a dysfunction that occurs at the point where a nerve enters a muscle. Trigger Points result in muscles which have been traumatized by accidents, injuries, occupational stress, and overuse. Once a Trigger Point develops, it can remain for life unless properly treated.  

The Trigger Point restricts motion of the muscles and decreases circulation, depriving the muscle of nutrients and oxygen and resulting in a collection of metabolic waste that cannot be properly filtered away. These wastes excite pain nerve endings and can also damage them. The decrease of nutrients to the muscle increases spasm and inflammation. Pain is now being caused by mechanical (pressure) and chemical (waste product) stimulation. This nasty cycle continues until treatment occurs.

Referred pain occurs somewhat mysteriously. Pain signals in the body that come from several sources are known to merge into a single nerve at the spine before continuing on to the brain. As these signals merge, it becomes possible for mistaken impressions as to the true source of the pain to occur. Additionally, Trigger Points create shortened muscles which often compress nearby nerves. This compression irritates the nerve and distorts the nerve signal transmissions. This can lead to irregular sensations such as numbness, tingling, and burning. The Brachial Plexus is a network of nerves originating in the neck, and supplying the neck, upper back, shoulders, arms, forearms, and hands. This explains why many Trigger Points found in the neck and upper back can lead to pain and dysfunction throughout the upper body. Shortened muscles can also compress nearby arteries and veins. Decreased blood flow in an artery can lead to decreased temperature (i.e. cold hands and fingers), while decreasing blood flow in the veins can lead to swelling hands and fingers.

Finally, Trigger Points make movement of the muscles themselves difficult. Stretching or contracting muscles affected by Trigger Points can cause intense pain, and the body responds by trying to protect itself, a phenomenon called "splinting" or "guarding." Over time the muscles stiffen, and can even form scar tissue, which further immobilizes them. What was originally decreased movement based on trying to avoid pain ultimately results in the incapacity of the muscle to move correctly.

HOW DOES APPLYING PRESSURE MAKE TRIGGER POINTS GO AWAY?
When pressure is applied to the Trigger Point, the chemical/pressure cycle is interrupted, which helps to stop the contraction and the pain in the muscle. Additionally, the muscle is heated and kneaded during treatment, which helps to increase circulation and to remove the metabolic waste products. Another effect is that muscle fibers become lengthened and stretched which decreases the pressure component of the pain cycle. Finally, adding a stimulus (firm pressure) to the trigger point overrides the pain signals being transmitted, much like a train track which can be switched.

The advantage of the Pressure Pointer is that while applying the pressure to the Trigger Points, the muscles involved are able to be fully relaxed during treatment, allowing deeper penetration and the ability to stretch. For treatment to be effective, the specific Trigger Point, or contracted portion of the muscle, must be contacted with firm, sustained pressure.

How to use the Pressure Pointer®

Depress the release buttons while holding your foot on the lower section and lifting the upper section. Rotate the top section towards you and set the Roller Head at about your eye height. Let the release buttons snap into the nearest adjustment hole.  The Pressure Pointer can be used easily by people from 4'6" tall to 6'4", sitting in a regular chair. If you are a little taller, you can use a lower chair, by using a couch, people near 7' tall have enjoyed the Pressure Pointer effects. By using a higher chair, or putting a few phone books on a low chair, the Pressure Pointer can be used by just about anyone.    Start by using the large ball to briskly move around and increase blood flow and tone of skin. As you begin to feel tender areas, slow down and apply deeper pressure, stop on each point and hold firm pressure for about a minute. You may feel the point 'move' under the ball, that's the 'releasing' feeling. Keep some pressure on, follow the point along and increase pressure again for about a minute again. After several 'concentrations' on a point, you will find pain in the area greatly reduced. Once you begin to feel like you are pushing hard with your foot, move to a smaller head and concentrate the pressure. As you reduce the head size the precision and depth of the pressure will increase dramatically. If you have experience with Pressure Point therapy, especially a vigorous technique like Shiatsu, you will find the greatest effect from the smaller heads.  As you get used to using the Pressure Pointer, other positions will increase your ability to treat hard to reach areas. Treatment works best if you access the area you are working on from several angles. To change angles, try rotating the Pressure Pointer around and/or using your other foot.  By using the back of the chair with the Pressure Pointer, you can apply healing relief to the lower back areas. Try sitting in a chair with a back but no arms, slide the massage head between your back and the chair. Use the back of the chair as a wedge point to apply pressure. In this picture the user would push out with his left hand. By cradling the Pressure pointer in one arm you can effectively treat areas of the neck. Letting your neck muscles relax while supporting the weight of your head with the massager works great for upper and lower neck problems..