Understanding Canine Muscle and Myofascial Trigger Points

In the Canine Myofascial Therapy Course, the Muscle and Myofascial Trigger Points section “covers the fundamental functions and characteristics of muscles” and distinguishes between fast, movement-oriented (phasic) muscles and slow, posture-oriented (tonic) muscles. It explains how to identify normal, healthy muscle tissue versus dysfunctional muscle. Understanding these basics is vital: myofascial trigger points (MFTPs) are hyperirritable spots in tight muscle bands that often cause referred pain. In dogs, these trigger points can lead to stiffness, altered gait, and even compensatory injuries elsewhere in the body.

• What They Treat: Myofascial trigger point therapy addresses chronic pain and muscle dysfunction. It can relieve conditions such as osteoarthritis-related muscle guarding, post-surgical muscle tightness, and sport or working-related muscle strain.
• Why It Works: By targeting “trigger points,” skilled palpation and treatment (like dry needling or massage) relieve the constant low-grade contraction in affected muscle fibers, restoring blood flow and function. The twitch response during needling indicates successful deactivation of a trigger point, often giving the dog immediate relief.
• Benefits: Successful treatment of trigger points can result in improved limb usage, increased mobility, and resolution of pain that NSAIDs alone couldn’t fix. As noted by veterinary experts, most dogs recover leg function with trigger-point therapy, even if traditional surgeries have failed to relieve pain.

This blog post outlines how MFTPs cause canine pain and dysfunction, and highlights that addressing both the cause and resulting gait/structural changes is key to treatment. The Integrative Animal Solutions course goes beyond theory: you’ll learn to palpate muscles accurately (knowing what “tight” versus “relaxed” feels like) and to locate trigger points. You’ll also study treatment protocols using modalities like dry needling (with proper protocols and safety), massage, and IASTM, ensuring a comprehensive approach.

Course Benefits: Completing this section grants 9 CEU hours, with quizzes included to test your understanding. You’ll gain confidence in diagnosing MFTPs and planning treatments. The friendly, practice-focused instruction helps veterinarians and techs apply these techniques immediately in clinic.

Ready to master trigger-point therapy? Enroll in the Canine Myofascial Therapy Course (9 CEUs) now. It’s AAVSB RACE-approved and includes quizzes for each section. Get the course here!