We ask our canine athletes to do so much  - let's help them perform at 100%.

Benefits of Trigger Point Massage Therapy

 For the canine athlete, the benefit of trigger point therapy is to focus intention on identifying dysfunctional muscles and restoring those muscles to full "horse power". This is accomplished by utilizing proven trigger point massage protocols to improve range of motion and flexibility,  not just "relaxing" the muscles as in a standard massage.  

What is a Trigger Point?

"Hyperirritable spot in skeletal muscle that is associated with a hypersensitive palpable nodule in a taut band.  The spot is painful on compression and can give rise to charateristic referred pain, referred tenderness, motor dysfuntion, and autonomic phonomena. " 1

What does that really mean?

 When to suspect Trigger Points in our canine athlete?

• Active in Canine Sports (Agility, Flyball, Frisbee, Dock Diving, etc)
• Exhibits a limited range of motion without an associated injury
• Lameness without an associated active acute injury
• Local twitch response when putting pressure on a muscle
• Rehabbing following surgery or an injury in a limb

1. Travell and Simons, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction - The Trigger Point Manual