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Why is sore spot not necessarily the problem?
When it comes to muscles, there are two main reasons that pain or tension is caused by another area of the body; feedback issues from nerve compression or satellite referral via active trigger points.
Feedback
If you have tension within your joints (hips, shoulders ect..) or areas with complex small muscle mass (neck), it is likely that you have some form of feedback issue in your extremities. Feedback refers to the nerve signal returning from your extremities to your brain, not the signal from your brain to your extremities. If nerves are compressed along the pathway back to the brain, the brain senses that there is a problem in the extremity due the nerve disruption. In actual fact, the extremity may be fine, however, due to the brain believing that there is damage of some form, the area is ordered to guard itself by tightening the muscles in the area. Short term this is not problematic, however, over a prolonged period of time this excessive tension results in muscular issues in the extremity (pain or weakness).
In treating this condition, it is not uncommon for a therapist to treat the local area of pain or tension, which does provide relief, however, if the compression causing feedback issue is still present the pain or tension will return fairly promptly.
Treatment for issues relating to extremities should always be treated from the point of referral outward, treating the catalyst before the presenting problem area.
Satellite Referral
Satellite referral is an effect caused by active trigger points in a muscle. Every trigger point has a specific referral pattern; however, at times this can change and puzzle therapists and practitioners, often resulting in poor diagnosis.
When a trigger point is active and referring for a long period of time, or the problem is more compound, due to injury etc.. the referred pattern from trigger point A will activate trigger points that fall within the initial referred pattern of point A and add their own referral range to the initial trigger point B referral, thus creating a domino effect.
Treating referral pain requires good knowledge of myofacial referral patterns in the body, muscular groups and connective tissues. Trigger point therapy and sports massage excel in treating this condition, so if this sounds familiar to you, then this is another option which you may not have considered.
Acupuncture for migraine
If you suffer from migraines, you will know how disabling these headaches can be, especially if they happen frequently. Many sufferers find migraines very disruptive to work and free time — it’s not often convenient to take the evasive action they call for, like lying in a darkened room. However, Western pharmacological treatment often does not bring the results hoped for or causes side-effects. In addition, overuse of painkillers can actually worsen the severity and frequency of headaches (“medication overuse headaches”), and this has recently been recognized as a huge problem.
The good news is that acupuncture can be very effective in treating migraines. A 2009 Cochrane review (an overview of many studies, 22 in this case) found acupuncture to be effective in treating this type of headache. In fact, the studies in this review that compared acupuncture to drug therapy found acupuncture to have better results with fewer side effects. Interestingly, the studies also suggest that acupuncture that does not penetrate the skin (similar to many Japanese techniques in which the needles are inserted only a couple of millimeters), was just as effective as stronger forms of acupuncture.
This is great news for migraine sufferers. Traditional Chinese Medicine is deeply rooted in ancient philosophy, and while reports of the effectiveness of acupuncture date back 200 years, it’s comforting to note that modern research is confirming these clinical observations.
Are you a Migraine/Headache sufferer?
A New Study Shows Acupuncture to be More Effective than Western Medication.
Migraines are a major health and disability problem and are one of the main reasons headache patients will visit a doctor for treatment. A recent survey of migraine patients found Western pharmacological treatment options to be unsatisfactory in their results. Latest studies have shown that Acupuncture has been found to be more effective for treating and preventing migraines than most Western medications.
Frequency of migraines can range from daily headaches to once/month. The symptoms, occurrence and cause of migraines vary widely between each case and it is quite common for patients to be prescribed incorrect medication. This is a serious concern that is linked to development of chronic daily headaches. Interestingly, patients who have received preventative Western medication often report using more over the counter painkillers than those not receiving any preventative medication.
Acupuncture is a safe, effective and pain free alternative to medication. A recent Cochrane systematic review found Acupuncture to be as effective, or possibly more effective than preventative migraine medication. These results were demonstrated through a number of small and large scale randomised trials. Researchers were met with positive results, agreeing that Acupuncture was more superior than the only evidence-based, oral drug for treating chronic migraines. This is great news for migraine sufferers and also practitioners of Acupuncture. Traditional Chinese Medicine is deeply rooted in ancient philosophy whilst always results driven. Although reports of Acupunctures’ efficacy dates back 2000 years, it’s comforting to note that modern, evidence based research is confirming these clinical observations.