What is the difference between pressure and trigger point therapies?

Trigger point therapy or acupressure therapy both are based on same principle of applying "finger pressure" to the effected part of bodies to get cure. Main difference between two therapies is that Trigger point therapy deals with applying pressure on muscle tissues for pain management and related dysfunction in body while acupressure therapy can be used as a diagnose tool as well as getting prevention and cure many mild to serious diseases. This article helps you learn about both therapies and what the difference between them is. What is acupressure therapy? Acupressure is a way of accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centres in the body. Acupressure enables us to diagnose and cure diseases like Common Cold, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Migraine, Heart Attack, Paralysis and even Cancer.


Acupressure is based on the theory that the body has fourteen meridians travel through it. Each of these meridians is attached to a specific body organ. When a meridian develops a blockage the body is adversely affected and diagnosing and removing the blockage through acupressure is the best way to cure the patient. Acupressure is a way of accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centres in the body. Acupressure enables us to diagnose and cure diseases like Common Cold, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Migraine, Heart Attack, Paralysis and even Cancer. 


The points on the palms and feet reflect the condition of their related organs. This makes acupressure a good diagnostic tool. By feeling the palms and feet with gentle pressure it is possible to get a fair idea about the diseased parts. If pain is observed on any point, the body part related to that point needs immediate attention. I have applied these techniques for self diagnose and found it very effective. Usually you feel pain in specific points of your hands whenever there is an abnormality around your body (in other words it is a symptom of some body or system disorder/pain or disease) The healing process is next step after diagnosis as you have to apply pressure for continues intervals at the effected or related painful points of your both hands.

      

Trigger point therapy

Trigger points are specific, hyperirritable and hypersensitive areas in muscle that suffer from decreased circulation, increased contraction and spasm. Lack of circulation creates a high anomaly of toxins and increased nerve sensitivity that can range from low ache to sharp pain.Trigger point therapy involves the applying of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. Sometimes massage and trigger point therapy are performed together. Research shows that sustained manual trigger point therapy is by far the most effective means of getting rid of chronic myofascial (muscle and tissue) pain. The purpose of trigger point therapy is to eliminate pain and to re-educate the muscles to perform pain-free habits. After several treatments, the swelling and stiffness of neuromuscular pain is reduced, range of motion is increased, tension is relieved, and circulation, flexibility and coordination are improved. 
Difference between both therapies: 
• Trigger point therapy involves the applying of pressure to tender muscle tissue in order to relieve pain and dysfunction while in acupressure therapy, pressure is applied for accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centres in the body. 
• Acupressure points are concentrations of energy or blockages of the body’s energy pathways. 
• Trigger points are physical phenomena that can be felt by touch. 
• Trigger point aims to relieve pain and dysfunction on specific muscle areas while acupressure therapy is used to diagnose and treat illness including pain management. 
• Trigger points are mainly muscle centred point arount the body, while acupressure points are mainly at hands, feet and other parts of body.

Useful links and resources:
* What Is Acupressure?. Acupressure’s Potent Points: a Guide to Self-Care for Common Ailments
* Health and Vitality, at Your Fingertips

First published: at factoidz 'Trigger Point Therapy Vs Acupressure Therapy'