Acupuncture Clinic Services

Trigger Point Therapy in Greenville, SC

Trigger Point Therapy at IHP Greenville — expert acupuncture for chronic pain and musculoskeletal issues. Dr. Hendry, DAOM. Call (864) 365-6156.

Trigger point therapy addresses the myofascial trigger points — focal hyperirritable nodules within muscle fibers — that are among the most common and overlooked sources of musculoskeletal pain. At Integrative Health Partners, Dr. Hendry combines two of the most effective trigger point techniques: dry needling (for direct mechanical disruption of the trigger point) and acupuncture (for systemic anti-inflammatory and neural modulation effects). This combination is more effective than either modality alone.

How Trigger Point Therapy Works

Trigger point assessment involves systematic palpation of the affected muscles following Simons and Travell's trigger point maps. Each active trigger point is documented, and the most clinically significant points are prioritized for needling. Dr. Hendry uses a combination of direct needling (inserting into the trigger point to elicit a twitch response) and surrounding field needling (Chinese medicine approach of needling around the trigger point zone) for comprehensive treatment.

Your First Appointment

Describe your pain pattern and where it refers to — trigger point referred pain patterns are highly diagnostic. Bring any prior physical therapy or pain management notes. Wear clothing that allows access to the affected muscles.

Why Dr. Hendry for Trigger Point Therapy

Dr. Hendry's expertise in trigger point identification and treatment — developed through 25 years of clinical practice and his Prisma Health research on needle-based pain management — is exceptional. His dual training allows him to use both Chinese medicine point theory and Simons/Travell trigger point maps simultaneously for superior outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trigger point therapy (particularly dry needling) has one of the strongest evidence bases of any manual therapy for myofascial pain — with systematic reviews showing significant and durable reductions in pain intensity and functional improvement.
Massage can release superficial, accessible trigger points through sustained pressure. Deep, large, or chronically contracted trigger points often require dry needling for complete deactivation — particularly in the deep rotator muscles (piriformis, psoas, subscapularis) that manual pressure cannot adequately reach.
Active trigger points sensitize peripheral sensory neurons, which converge on the same spinal cord interneurons as neurons from distant body regions — producing pain perceived at the referral zone rather than the trigger point itself. This neurological mechanism is why shoulder pain can cause arm pain, and upper back trigger points cause headaches.
3–8 sessions for most myofascial pain conditions. Widespread or complex trigger point patterns may require more sessions.
Yes — trigger points can compress or entrap peripheral nerves, producing numbness, tingling, and even weakness that mimics neuropathy or nerve root irritation. Dr. Hendry differentiates between trigger point entrapment and true nerve pathology at your first appointment.
Integrative Health Partners, 319 Wade Hampton Blvd, Ste A, Greenville, SC 29609. Call (864) 365-6156.

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