Myofascial pain often results from a muscle injury or repetitive strain. When stressed or injured, muscles often form trigger points, like contracted knots, that cause pain and tightness. Trigger points are painful when pressure is applied to the affected site causing a unique property called referred pain. Referred pain means that a trigger point in one muscle can create pain in another area.

Trigger point therapy involves the applied pressure to these painful, sensitive areas to alleviate the pain on-site and in other areas of the body. Massage and trigger point therapy usually are used together.