Every pet limping, or with a patella (sub-) luxation or spine issue developes muscle knots = "Trigger Points". Think of bothersome pain in your hand or arm which doesn't go away by massaging the painful area. Even acupuncture treatments focused on the painful site may be unsuccessful. But the pain disappears as soon as specific muscle knots in your shoulder area are released. That's a Trigger Points pain conditions!
What Characterizes Trigger Points (TP)? It's pain that originates mostly far from where the pain is actually felt. Like front limb pain that comes actually from the shoulder. Or hind limb pain that often originates from TPs at the flank area.
How are Trigger Points Diagnosed? This condition is diagnosed by professional veterinary palpation during a "passive range of motion" (PROM) set of stretches of the pet's body. X-rays or ultrasound scans can not diagnose TP's and because pets can't talk about their pain, they often suffer in silence, without help. TPs must be located through a trained vet's palpation (touch) during a specific set of "passive range of motion" stretches of the patient.
What is the Treatment for TPs? The only successful treatment is the painless TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) followed by gentle passive range of motion (PROM) stretches.
Can Laser or Physiotherapy Cure TPs? TPs don't respond to laser treatment and physiotherapy. The latter often makes the problem actually worse!
Can Pet Pawrents Help to Ease TP pain at home? Absolutely! It's actually essential that pawrents treat TPs regularly at home, performing easy and gentle stretches which we teach at AsiaPaws .
What are the Changes After Successful TP treatments? One of the first signs are stretching again. Generally pets without that lingering pain move happier and show much more fluid movements.
