How to Learn Trigger Massage
- 1). Purchase books, textbooks or search online about trigger point massage. Study these sources to recognize common areas of trigger points and where pain is referred. For example, pain in the neck or shoulder can be a result of trigger points on the back.
- 2). Take massage classes with a focus on trigger point therapy. Become accustomed to working with muscles to develop a stronger sense of touch and better recognition of abnormalities in muscle tissue. Pay attention to areas that feel like nodules or divots.
- 3). Find somebody who is willing to let you practice trigger point therapy on him. Instruct him to lie on the floor, couch or a massage table. Ask him remove his shirt, lie face down and get comfortable by taking deep breaths.
- 4). Practice trigger point therapy on the back by moving your fingers slowly along muscle tissue until you feel nodules or knots. Apply gradual pressure to the knots until the client's threshold of pain is reached. Reduce pressure after 10 to 20 seconds. Apply heat or massage and then reapply pressure for another 10 to 20 seconds. Repeat this process one or two more times. Continue to move systematically along the back searching for trigger points, applying the same process.
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