Direct pressure is applied to specific points on tender muscle tissue to alleviate muscle tension and pain. Trigger points can manifest in the body as a result of poor posture, injury, misalignment, muscle overuse, infections, nerve pain, and any physical or emotional stresses placed on the body.
Active trigger points affect muscle function and range of movement. Trigger points can be exquisitely painful and can refer pain to other parts of the body. For example a trigger point in your upper trapezius might refer pain into your skull giving you a headache.