What is the difference between trigger points, acupressure points, and other pressure points

The difference between trigger points, acupressure points and shiatsu

To put it simply, trigger points, acupressure (acupuncture) points and shiatsu points come with completely different stories, but the points themselves are about 95% the same (1–6)⁠. The easiest way to explain this is that the originators of these systems have found exactly the same problems, but come up with a way to explain them based upon their knowledge at the time.

In the case of acupuncture and shiatsu, these systems were developed by the Chinese and Japanese respectively thousands of years ago when science as we know it did not exist. On the other hand trigger points were identified as abnormal lumps in muscles, then investigated and explained using modern scientific knowledge.

How do you work out which is the best therapy for you

Though the points are similar, differences in the way each system has evolved affects which points they choose and how they are treated.

How each of the therapies has evolved

Acupressure (acupuncture) and shiatsu have evolved using clinical experience

The practice of acupuncture (acupressure) and shiatsu have evolved using thousands of years of clinical experience. To put it diplomatically, the explanations such as the meridians and so forth are not consistent with science but there is likely some truth in a lot of the relationships between the points and various conditions they are said to fix.

How trigger points have evolved by scientifically investigating abnormal lumps

Trigger points have developed from therapists finding abnormal abnormal lumps in muscles, then using scientific methodology to explain them and work out how they can affect your body.

Comparing the trigger point approach with the acupuncture/shiatsu approach

Perhaps the easiest way to explain the differing approaches is to use the example of a common problem: headaches.

The acupressure/shiatsu approach

Based on thousands of years experience acupressure and shiatsu practitioners know the common points that have been found to help headaches. Based on this they use what amounts to recipe approach. For example, in a trial on acupressure for headaches (7)⁠ the therapists pressed on these points: GV20, Ex7, LI4, GB34, ST36, and LI10.

Please note that:

• everyone with headaches gets these points regardless of whether they are actually involved, and
• they use the same needles and pressure that they have been doing for 100s of years.

The trigger points approach

Scientists have investigated which muscles contain trigger points that are able to refer pain to the head. Armed with this list, a trigger point therapist would examine each of the muscles and treat any trigger point he or she found.

Please note that:

• this system gives a concrete way to tell if the points are involved (and fixed), and
• understanding what the points are the therapists are able to use more effective therapies.

Which is the best approach

Musculoskeletal pains

When dealing with musculoskeletal pain such as back, neck and shoulder pain it’s no contest. Rather than having a therapist use a canned response of pressing on pre determined points it is much better to have a professional with an excellent knowledge of things like anatomy, physiology and musculoskeletal function to diagnose the problem, work out which muscles may be involved, then examine the muscles and treat what is actually needed.

Please note that most headaches are actually musculoskeletal pains coming from the muscles and joints of your head and neck, so this approach was used in the example above.

Health issues

As discussed in our article The Health Benefits of Massage general massage and muscular therapy can have some huge benefits for health issues such as improving sleep and reducing blood pressure.

While acupuncture is based on clinical experience gained over thousands of years and may may have identified links between points and health issues, a therapist using using the trigger point approach would investigate the those areas and treat what was actually involved, possibly using better scientifically developed treatments

How to treat these pressure points on yourself

How to find trigger points

A trigger point therapist will usually use their clinical knowledge including charts like above to zero in on the muscles possibly involved. To help you with this, below we’ve got links to various guides that show you the muscles possibly involve for conditions such as headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, fibromyalgia and more. To find the trigger points in these muscles a therapist will use his or her fingers to examine the muscles for tight bands of muscles and tender lumps. You will find instructions on how to do this in our article How to treat trigger points at home

How to treat trigger points

In our guide How to treat trigger points at home we show you how to use three very effective home trigger point therapies:

• self massage,
• self pressure release therapy, and
• vibration massage.

Links for various problems that involve trigger points

Self massage and trigger point therapy for headaches and migraines
Massage and trigger point therapy for low back pain, with self help options
Massage and trigger point therapy for calf pain, with self help options
Massage and trigger point therapy for shoulder pain, with self help options
Self massage and trigger point therapy for tennis elbow
Trigger point therapy for fibromyalgia, inc. self help advice

References

1. Robinson N, Lorenc A, Liao X. The evidence for Shiatsu: A systematic review of Shiatsu and acupressure. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011;11.
2. Cabo F, Baskwill A, Aguaristi I, Christophe-Tchakaloff S, Guichard JP. Shiatsu and acupressure: Two different and distinct techniques. Int J Ther Massage Bodyw Res Educ Pract. 2018;11(2):4–10.
3. Sun M, Yang M, Rong J, Ma X, Zheng H, Cai D, et al. Trigger points and sensitized acupoints: same book, different covers? Acupunct Herb Med. 2021;1(2):74–80.
4. Dorsher PT, Fleckenstein J. Trigger Points and Classical Acupuncture Points: Part 1: Qualitative and Quantitative Anatomic Correspondences. Dtsch Zeitschrift für Akupunkt. 2008 Jan 1;51(3):15–24.
5. Dorsher PT, Fleckenstein J. Trigger points and classical acupuncture points Part 2: clincal correspondences in treating pain and somatovisceral disorders. Rev Int Acupunt. 2009;62–8.
6. Dorsher PT, Fleckenstein J. Trigger Points and Classical Acupuncture Points Part 3: Relationships of Myofascial Referred Pain Patterns to Acupuncture Meridians. Dt Ztschr f Akup. 2009;52(1):9–14.
7. Lekshmi M, Shashikran H., Prashanth S, Geetha S. A Comparative Study On Immediate Effect Of Acupuncture And Acupressure On Headache – A Pilot Study. Int J Innov Res Adv Stud. 2019;6(10):74–7.