Expert: Gerald Anzalone, D.C. - 10/2/2007

Question
HI!! When I massage my fiance's back and I go to push down on the muscle, there is a popping and it feels almost like there is fluid there and when I push down on the muscle is relieves the bubbles. He gets it around his shoulder blades and up the back of his neck. If I sit and rub it till I don't feel it anymore, he says that it feels relaxed. He does have a rather high-stressed job and I have read and researched till I am blue in the face. PLEASE HELP ME!

Answer
Laci,

You didn't quite frame a question, so I'm not sure what you're asking.

Based on your description, your fiancé seems to have myofascial tender points or trigger points in his muscles. Tender points are localized lesions in muscle tissue that produce pain or tenderness in that immediate region. Trigger points are localized nodules in the muscle that are tender or painful when pressed tend to refer pain away from the trigger point. Both can be caused by stress or overuse. Your description of "popping" in the area of the lesion may suggest the present of localized swelling, which normally accompanies an injury, or in the absence of injury, you may be detecting the snapping of a taught muscle tendon close to its point of insertion on a bone.

I recommend that your fiancé consult with a chiropractor who uses trigger point therapy and soft tissue treatment techniques, a massage therapist, or an acupuncturist. All three modalities offer effective relief of myofacial lesions in most cases. Bear in mind that stress is a perpetuating factor of trigger points and tender points, so he may require routine but periodic treatments.

Be cautious with applying self-treatments; trigger points can become aggravated quite easily when an inexperienced person attempts to treat them, and the problem may be worsened with bruising, increased pain, or increased soreness and tenderness.

I hope that this answer is helpful to you.