Deep Tissue Massage Trigger Point Certificate Course (2 CE)

Identify trigger points as hyper irritable nodules in taut bands of muscle fascia that cause jump signs and local twitch responses with referred pain not following dermatomes or nerve roots.

Identify trigger points in the middle of the muscle belly within the maya fascia. Causes include aging injuries, falls, birth trauma, poor posture, overuse, stress, and vitamin deficiencies.

Identify primary and secondary trigger points, central and satellite, and distinguish active and inactive points through palpation and referral pain.

Explore theories of origin for trigger points, including the integrated trigger point hypothesis, the poly modal theory, and the ridicule pathway theory, noting cellular changes, inflammation, and neurovascular signaling.

Identify trigger point pain symptoms such as chronic pain, muscle weakness, imbalanced motor recruitment, and range-of-motion limitations, including tension headaches and pelvic pain.

Identify trigger points and tender points in soft tissue, differentiating taut bands and referral pattern of pain from myofascial pain syndrome and widespread tenderness seen in fibromyalgia.

Perform trigger point release with slow palpation, locate referral pain with client input, and hold point with fingertip for 30–90 seconds before applying heat 30–60 seconds and using circulatory techniques.

Organize this trigger point therapy course by condition, not by muscle, with some muscle repetition. Provide an online lecture library you can reference throughout your career, not for one sitting.

Practice identifying trigger points on your body to gauge depth, pressure, and rate for release, and recognize referral pain.

Identify trigger points in the upper trapezius to relieve back of head pain, headaches, migraines, and TMJ, using pincher grip, 30–90 second holds, and quadrant palpation.

Identify back of neck trigger points from T2 to T5 with two fingertips, applying deep pressure and release. Hold pressure 30–90 seconds on the 12th rib and S1 to release.

Identify and release trigger points in the masseter and lateral pterygoid to relieve earaches, tinnitus, and TMJ symptoms, using jaw movements, clench tests, and gentle pinching and circular techniques.

Identify suboccipital and temporal trigger points at the base of the skull and temple to ease headaches and migraines, using safe palpation, jaw clench, and 30–90 second holds.

Identify and release trigger points around the mandible and mastoid area by palpation, jaw clench and relax, and gentle pinching to relieve sore throat.

Identify the elevator scapula trigger point along the cervical spine, travel to the angle of the scapula near the upper trapezius, and hold for release.

Learn to identify and release trigger points in the jaw and surrounding muscles related to teeth grinding, using palpation along the masseter and zygomatic arch and controlled pressure.

Identify and release trigger points in the master muscle and upper traps to relieve TMJD symptoms, using deep pressure, 30–90 second holds, circular motions, and jaw movement checks.

Palpate and release trigger points around the head with pinching or gripping techniques in the four quadrants, focusing on the mastoid process.

Identify and release trigger points in the teres major and anterior and middle scalene to relieve back-of-arm pain, using palpation, directional release, and head rotation.

Locate deltoid trigger points in the middle and posterior fibers; apply deep, sustained pressure to relieve referred pain in back of the neck and shoulder, targeting TDPs near scapula angle.

Identify and release trigger points in the subclavian, biceps brachii, triceps, and anterior scalene via sideline positioning, clavicle palpation, and targeted pressure until release.

Identify front of shoulder trigger points in the pec major/minor, deltoid, and biceps, then release them with breath assisted palpation and targeted pressure to ease referred pain.

Identify abdominal trigger points by a crunch to locate borders, then press and release to relieve referred back and pelvis pain; release along the scapula and latissimus dorsi.

Identify trigger points in the elevator scapula and anterior and middle scalene muscles to relieve upper back pain, using pincher grip and 30 to 90 seconds holds with client communication.

Identify trigger points in the psoas and iliacus near the iliac crest, using two-finger palpation, breath, and zigzag techniques to relieve appendicitis-style referred pain.

Identify abdominal and back trigger points around the iliac crest and 12th rib, then apply controlled fingertip pressure with breath to release adhesions and ease back and pelvic pain.

Target trigger points in lateral abdominals near the external obliques for diarrhea symptoms; use light palpation with one or two fingertips, hold 30–90 seconds, and guide the client to breathe.

Identify trigger points in the pec major and minor that refer pain to the medial arm; use breath, palpation, and positional releases under the clavicle to release chest pain.

Locate abdominal trigger points in the obliques and near the lower ribs using precise palpation, then apply fingertip pressure with controlled release to relieve adhesion and tenderness.

Learn to locate pelvic-area trigger points via sensitive palpation near the greater trochanter, progressing to obturator internus and adductor magnus, with two-fingertip pressure to relieve pelvic and back pain.

Identify thoracic trigger points around T2–T5 and the 12th rib, press with two fingertips, breath to release adhesions that refer pain to the low back and glutes.

Learn to locate and release abdominal trigger points, especially in the external obliques, using crunch palpation and precise rib-area work to relieve referred pelvic and abdominal pain.

Identify and release groin trigger points that refer to pelvis, anterior knee, and thigh using sensitive fingertip pressure, breath-guided release, and targeted adhesions work near the iliac crest.

Identify trigger points in the adductor magnus to relieve painful intercourse and knee pain. Use zigzag palpation and releases around the sacrum, external obliques, and lower ribs.

Identify and release deep trigger points in the glute minimus, glute max, and hamstrings to alleviate sciatica and low back pain.

Identify the gluteus maximus by locating the iliac crest and tracing to the sacrum and greater trochanter, then release trigger points and adhesions with zigzag fingertip work and controlled breath.

Identify two rectus femoris trigger points, high near the SARS, to explain pain to anterior knee, thigh, pelvis; use two to three fingertips, shorten and roll tissue, noting ART relation.

Identify trigger points in the anterior thigh, including the vastus intermedius and adductor groups, and release them with deep breath-guided pressure to relieve knee and pelvis referral pain.

Identify trigger points near the knee in the vastus lateralis and medial area; apply steady pressure, gently move the muscle, and release the point to reduce lateral knee pain.

Identify trigger points in the medial thigh muscles, including gracilis, adductor longus, and adductor magnus, then sink with fingertips and roll to release and ease anterior thigh and knee pain.

Identify and release trigger points in the gastrocnemius around the posterior knee; palpate medial and lateral trigger points, and hold pressure until referral pain subsides.

Identify trigger points in the medial hamstrings, including semitendinosus and semimembranosus, to release posterior thigh pain. Sink fingertips, shorten the muscle, and release the glute minimus and medius with breath.

Learn to identify subscapularis-triggered wrist pain that mimics carpal tunnel and locate the trigger point through arm positioning, deep sinking, and controlled pressure until release.

Identify trigger points in the lateral elbow and surrounding muscles, including the brachioradialis, triceps, and extensor group, then apply deep pressure and controlled release to alleviate referral pain and stiffness.

Explore trigger point release for golfers elbow, targeting pec minor/major and the triceps, using breath, precise palpation, and positional techniques to relieve elbow and wrist referral pain.

Identify and release trigger points in the shoulder and arm muscles, including extensor digitorum, brachioradialis, and scalene groups, to relieve referred pain and improve grip strength.

Identify trigger points near the abductor pollicis region of the thumb and release them with pincher grip, curling the hand, and deep pressure to relieve pain toward the carpal tunnel.

Target anterior ankle pain by locating trigger points in the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneals; apply 60–90 second releases to relieve lower and middle points.

This lecture teaches bunion-focused trigger point therapy, targeting the flexor hallucis brevis near the bunion with careful fingertip pressure and breath, then releasing after 60–90 seconds.

Identify trigger points around tibia reaching the big toe through dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. Sink two fingertips into tight tissue, release with slack, and hold for 30 to 90 seconds.

Learn to locate and release gastrocnemius trigger points causing heel and knee pain using thumb and fingertip techniques, heel traction, and proper prone positioning.

Identify two trigger points in the peroneal muscles—the lower and middle portions—by foot eversion to elicit contractions; refer to the lateral knee, lateral leg, heel, Achilles tendon, and lateral foot.

Identify three trigger points causing medial ankle and heel pain and use three-finger palpation beneath the heel to dissipate referral pain.

Identify deep trigger points in the glute minimus through careful palpation, abduction tests, and breath-assisted release, then treat calf-related pain with medial knee and heel referrals.

Identify medial knee and heel trigger points, and lateral trigger points, then release them using thumb and fingertips, following the protocol for the peroneals.

Identify trigger points in the shin muscle along the tibia, apply pressure while dorsiflexing and plantarflexing to treat lower and middle points referring to the heel and lateral foot.

Identify sartorius trigger points from ACIS to the knee and hip, including medial knee and mid-thigh, to relieve leg cramps; perform self-release for 30–90 seconds per point with a thumb.