2009 September | Trigger Point Treatment

The core muscles in your body are located in your lower back and abdominal muscles. These muscles are the center of your axial skeleton. They literally hold together the core of the structure of your body.

The legs and trunk arise from you pelvis, which is your center of gravity. This fact is recognized in many martial arts. For example, in Aikido, a Japanese martial art, the point one handspan below your belly button is known as the center of your ki, energy or chi. It is called the hara. And it’s similar other martial arts and languages like Tai Chi and Karate.

Your strength arises from this point, and knocking an opponent off their center of gravity is the aim the game and the way to dominate in martial arts.

This area is the foundation for all movement and therefore all kinetic chains flow from this foundation. If your foundation is strong, then the chain of movement should flow effortlessly from it. If your foundation is wobbly, you always have difficulties and trigger points will arise in that kinetic chain.

That’s why strengthening your core muscles must be part of treatment and of prevention of trigger points.

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A Spiral is a beautiful shape. It is really functional. It is also a shape that pops up often in nature.

Spirals are found in our body and they range in size from the smallest molecules.

The best known is DNA. The actual shape of DNA eluded scientists for many years until two brilliant men, Watson & Crick, worked out the double helix or spiral shape – and then the way we build up & transmit our genetic information became clear.

Collagen is a long protein molecule which is the basic building block of tendons and ligaments. This is also arranged in a long spiral – which looks like a spring. As you run, imagine your foot striking the ground. The muscles, tendons and ligaments take up the stretch with the impact.

The spiral spring shape of the collagen in the tendons and ligaments stretches, storing energy which is then released as you leap forward. This hugely increases the efficiency of all our movements.

Many muscles – especially power muscles – twist in a spiral along their structure. This increases their efficiency and power. It also allows particular complex movements to occur.

Spirals are also found in nerves and blood vessels throughout the body. OF particular interest is the muscle spindle. This is a spiral shaped nerve which sets the length of muscles. When this malfunctions, it is the basis of trigger points.

Spiral shapes occur in many seeds, pine cones, sunflowers etc. In fact, spirals occur all the way up to the greatest structures in our universe – Galaxies.

So, keep your eyes out for spiral shapes that occur around you and the enjoy the beauty & elegance of this highly functional shape.

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