If there’s one tender spot you want me to focus on, tell me where it is and when you notice it. You don’t need to know whether it’s a trigger point. I start with what you’re feeling and what you want from the appointment, rather than asking you to name the problem.
What the term means
In massage, “trigger point” commonly refers to a tender area in muscle. Sometimes pressure there brings on a sensation somewhere else, often called referred pain. Finding a tender spot doesn’t establish why you’re hurting, though. Not every ache is a trigger point, as I explain on my trigger point service page.
“It starts near my shoulder blade after work, and sometimes I feel it in my neck” gives me useful information. Tell me when it began, what seems to bring it on, and whether it followed an injury. If you’re seeing a healthcare provider, let me know what they’ve advised and any restrictions they’ve given you.
How I approach a focused appointment
Before we begin, I want to understand your main concern and the approach you prefer. You might want most of our attention on one area, or you might want that area included in a broader massage. We can discuss the plan so you know what to expect.
You can ask why I’m working on an area, request less pressure, or ask me to move on. If something is uncomfortable, tell me. You don’t have to grit your teeth to get value from the appointment. Your feedback helps me understand what feels right for you.
What a tender spot can’t tell us
I can’t diagnose the source of recurring pain through massage or promise that one session will fix it. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health’s massage overview explains that research findings vary and that benefits for neck and shoulder pain may be short-lived. I keep the goal practical: a session planned around your comfort and the areas you want attention on.
If the discomfort is new, severe, unexplained, or follows an injury, get medical advice first. Numbness, weakness, or other worrying changes need a healthcare professional’s assessment. If you’re already receiving treatment, ask your provider how massage fits with your care.
Booking focused work
To request an appointment, Text or call Javier with your preferred day and whether you’d like 60 or 90 minutes. Tell me which area is bothering you and what pressure you find comfortable. I’ll confirm the time personally, and we’ll talk through the focus before we begin.