Many people assume that pain always comes from the exact spot where they feel it.
But in clinical practice, we frequently see another pattern—
the true source of discomfort often hides far away from the painful area.
Shoulder pain may originate from the chest;
Lower-back discomfort may come from the hips;
Arm tingling may relate to the neck or shoulder blade;
And foot pain may even stem from the calf.
This phenomenon is closely related to an important concept:
Trigger Points.
What Are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are not lumps, cysts or inflammation.
They are small, highly sensitive regions within a muscle that has entered a state of protective tension.
When pressed, they may produce:
- Deep ache
- Sharp tenderness
- Radiating sensation
- A pulling or spreading feeling
- A twitch response
Their ability to produce pain in distant areas is what makes them both fascinating and confusing.
Trigger points are not structural damage.
They are the muscle’s way of saying:
“I’m tired, overloaded or taking on too much for other areas.”
Why Do Trigger Points Form?
They rarely come from a single event.
More often, they develop gradually due to daily habits.
1. Prolonged static posture
Sitting for hours, leaning to one side, using the phone with the head down, or carrying a bag on one shoulder can keep muscles tense for long periods.
2. Repetitive movements
Typing, lifting, throwing, running with poor mechanics—these tasks overload specific muscle groups.
3. Stress and emotional tension
Stress can increase muscle tone without us noticing.
Many people clench their jaw or lift their shoulders when anxious, making trigger points more likely.
4. Compensation patterns
When one area becomes weak or fatigued, other muscles step in to “help.”
Over time, these helper muscles get overworked and develop trigger points.
How Do Trigger Points Lead to Pain?
Their most unique feature is referred pain.
Examples:
- Neck trigger points → headaches or pain behind the eyes
- Hip trigger points → symptoms similar to sciatica
- Calf trigger points → pain under the foot
- Shoulder blade trigger points → heaviness in the arm
- Forearm trigger points → discomfort similar to wrist or thumb strain
This happens because muscles, fascia and nerves are interconnected.
When a trigger point becomes highly sensitive, the nervous system may project the sensation along related pathways.
This explains why treating only the painful spot often provides little relief.
The Relationship Between Trigger Points, Stress and Daily Movement
Trigger points are not random.
They reflect how your body responds to:
- Workload
- Posture
- Stress
- Sleep
- Movement habits
- Emotional pressure
When life becomes demanding, it is common to feel:
- Tight shoulders
- A heavy lower back
- Tension around the hips
- Fatigue in the arms
These sensations are often the body’s way of saying it is operating beyond its comfort zone.
Understanding and Managing Trigger Points
The goal is not to “erase” a trigger point,
but to understand why the muscle is maintaining this high-alert state.
Trigger points often soften when:
- Movement patterns become more balanced
- Posture improves
- Work tasks are adjusted
- Breathing habits change
- Sleep quality increases
People often find that once the underlying load is better distributed across the body,
the discomfort associated with trigger points naturally decreases.
Trigger points remind us that pain is not only about tissues—
it is also about how we live, move, react and adapt.
