Myospasms or "Trigger Points" as we commonly refer to them, are the accumulation of waste products that build in muscles, particularly when those muscles used more frequently. This can be the result of an injury, work, sports, the "weekend warrior," or even something as simple as lack of activity -"couch potatoes," and occurs with repetitive use.

Any continued motion over a prolonged period of time irritates the muscles and decreases function, causing a build up of metabolic byproducts. You may feel this from simply walking up stairs. Athletes refer to it as "feeling the burn."

As these constituents begin to build, the muscle goes through three basic physiological changes.

1. It becomes shorter, which we feel as tightness, due to a decrease blood flow to the muscle.
2. The muscle can't recover as fast as it used to due to the decreased blood going to the muscle. The muscle then has a much greater chance of becoming injured due to the tightness and shortening of the muscle fibers.
3. The muscle cannot and will not perform to the maximum potential.

Trigger points can cause pain and tightness in a muscle and predispose muscle to injuries. They can also refer pain and joint of the body, mimicking knee pain, hip pain, or headaches.

Treatment is simple. Stretch! The easiest way to prevent injuries from occurring is to lengthened these shortened muscle fibers. Combine this with proper diet and nutrition, along with deep muscle massage and healthy joint maintenance, which will not only break up spasm but also increase the blood flow to the muscle, will increase food and oxygen to the muscle and carries waste products away.

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