Trigger Points in Abdominal Obliques

Abdominal Trigger Points Cause Stomach Pain

Painful trigger points in the abdominal oblique muscles are not uncommon. However they are commonly missed during examination for people with back, hip, groin, and glute pain. The abdominal obliques are often very weak in people who have become sedentary, especially in individuals who sit at a desk and work at a computer for long periods of time.

Eventually people start their “yearly get back in shape exercise program” and either follow a video, join an exercise class, or start exercising on their own. The internal oblique, external oblique, rectus abdominis, and transverse of abdominus muscles are very quickly overwhelmed and lead to muscle and tendons injuries.

Trigger points in the abdominal oblique can be found in both the back, and upper left quadrant that produce radiating pain across the abdomen towards the right hip. Palpation and reproduction of the pain confirms the trigger point and leads to proper treatment.

As previously mentioned often trigger points are missed and patients undergo testing for of abdominal or intestinal problems that are unneeded. Testing for upper gastrointestinal, stomach, liver, gallbladder, hernia, and disc injuries are likely next steps if the abdominal trigger points are not discovered.

Treatment involves decreasing intensity and severity of the trigger point in the abdominal oblique muscles. Light stretching and exercising enhances treatment. Several different types of manual therapy including trigger point, massage therapy, Graston Technique, active release technique, and active isolated stretching are beneficial and can be utilized during treatment.

Trigger points of the internal oblique, external oblique, transverse abdominis, and rectus abdominis are common with low back pain injuries.

Patients with a history of chronic lumbosacral sprains, low back disc injuries, and sciatica often have extreme compensation of the anterior trunk muscles colluding so as major, and iliacus muscles.

Specific core strengthening exercises can be utilized to reach brain the core muscles to properly work together including bridging and dead bug exercises. Isometric anterior plank, lateral plank, and back extension exercises are often utilized to enhance treatment.

Patients often respond very well to a combination of massage therapy, manual therapy, sports treatments, therapeutic exercise, and stretching.

Our Chandler Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.