21 Oct Shoulder Pain and the Latissimus Dorsi Trigger Point
Many different things can cause shoulder pain. When shoulder pain is severe enough, it can limit mobility and function. Here at Lone Star Pain Medicine, one of our primary goals is to help patients feel better so that function and mobility are restored. That is the approach we take in treating pain related to the latissimus dorsi trigger point.
Do not let the complicated sound of the term scare you. The latissimus dorsi, also known as the lats, is a very large muscle in the back. Its key function is to help extend and internally rotate the shoulder. But it also adds strength and stability to the spine.
As for the trigger point, it is a tight band of muscle fibers that causes pain and stiffness. Trigger points can develop in any muscle. However, they are most common in the lats. The latissimus dorsi trigger point creates pain, stiffness, and weakness.
Common Trigger Point Causes
Our treatment approach is based on the concept of latissimus dorsi trigger point release. But before we can recommend a treatment, we first need to understand the root cause. Here are the most common causes:
- Poor Posture – Poor posture causes all sorts of problems. It can certainly lead to the lats developing a painful trigger point that is felt mainly in the shoulders and upper back.
- Muscle Injury – Like most other types of muscle pain, pain associated with the lats can be the result of injury. Sports injuries and injuries sustained in car accidents top the list here.
- Muscle Overuse – Strenuous work or exercise that does not necessarily result in injury can still cause lats pain through overuse. This type of scenario is the least complicated when it comes to the lats trigger point.
The trigger point itself is found in the lower part of the lats muscle. Depending on its severity, it can cause pain that radiates through the back, shoulder, and neck. Some patients also experience pain and weakness throughout the arm, elbow, and hand.
A Manageable Condition
The most important thing we want you to know about lats trigger point pain is that it is a manageable condition. It doesn’t have to take over your life. In fact, many people experience total relief with the right treatment.
Some of the more traditional treatments include massage, stretching, and foam rolling. Stretching and massaging can loosen the lats muscle to relieve the tension that causes the trigger point. Additional therapies include acupuncture and trigger point release therapy.
When traditional treatments do not offer sufficient relief, we have a few more options we can look at. While it is not appropriate to discuss them in a blog post, we are more than happy to have those conversations with patients.
We Want to Help You Find Relief
Lone Star Pain Medicine is a pain management clinic that specializes in helping patients overcome chronic or acute pain. Pain is what we specialize in. That being the case, we want to help you find the relief you’ve been searching for.
Our clinicians understand that pain is a very personal thing. Whether you are experiencing shoulder pain as a result of the lats trigger point or back pain being caused by a compressed nerve, what you experience is somewhat unique to who you are. We can develop a personalized treatment plan designed just for you.
The lats trigger point is a common source of pain in the shoulder, back, and neck. But it can be addressed with proper treatment. If you are experiencing pain that has eluded your GP or primary care doctor, come see us at Lone Star.
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