A trigger point is a hyper-irritable spot that may “trigger” a painful response when touched. It affects not only the muscle where it is located, but also causes “referred pain” in tissues supplied by surrounding nerves. Trigger point massage therapy alleviates the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release. In this type of massage for trigger point therapy, the recipient actively participates through deep breathing as well as identifying the exact location and intensity of the discomfort.