Toronto Trigger Point

Yvan Riendeau, Registered Massage Therapist

(647) 224-2249

Myofascial Trigger Point Massage

A deeper tissue massage that targets trigger points within muscles. Pressure is held longer, giving stubborn knots a chance to release.

Self Massage

There's a lot more to self massage than rolling around on a  foam roller. Let me show you.

Dry Needling

Small acupuncture needles penetrate trigger points to help release them.

Medical Acupuncture

Aupuncture needles target specific nerves and the nervous system as a whole to interrupt chronic pain signals and release areas of tension and nerve dysfunction.


ABOUT TORONTO TRIGGER POINT

Picture of Yvan Riendeau

I specialize in providing pain relief using massage therapy, dry needling and modern medical acupuncture.  I am trained extensively in treating trigger points, which are commonly the source of stubborn myofascial pain problems. I am certified by the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists. My passion and forte is helping people find relief from chronic pain related to soft tissue. 

I also believe strongly in teaching clients self massage, which empowers you with techniques that can provide pain relief when you are home or traveling. Having used this approach to find relief from my own pain, I bring a unique perspective on how to approach stubborn, lingering problems. 

BOOK AN INITIAL CONSULTATION TODAY

(647) 224-2249

yvan.riendeau@gmail.com



RELIEF FROM STUBBORN PAIN


Myofascial Trigger Point Massage

Research has shown that trigger points are the primary cause of pain in nearly every painful condition. You might better understand these areas as "knots.” Trigger points may develop as the result of an injury, muscle overuse or underuse, poor posture, or a genetic variation in your body.

When pushed, trigger points elicit pain. You will either feel pain where the therapist is pushing, or you may feel pain close by in an area of your body where you often experience pain. Headaches that come from tight neck muscles are a perfect example – the therapist may push on a trigger point in your neck, but you may feel pain where your headaches appear. 

Hands-on trigger point massage is the primary treatment method I use to treat these trouble spots, especially in clients where I suspect trigger point dysfunction is the source of your pain. However, I also use a range of other techniques and methods to help bring you relief where you need it most.

Self Massage

The beauty of trigger point massage is that clients can do some of it on their own. Yes, you can treat your own trigger points and provide yourself with relief from muscle pain and tension. All you will need are certain inexpensive tools and the correct guidance.

In our sessions, we will determine which muscles are contributing to your chronic pain. At the end of the treatment session, we will work together to develop an at-home program. Occasionally, when appropriate, I will also recommend stretches and strengthening exercises. However, in the beginning we will focus on self massage, which will decrease your muscle tension and help prepare you for an eventual exercise program.

Learning these self massage techniques allows you to sustain progress in between professional treatments at Toronto Trigger Point. Following an at-home treatment program also directly involves you in your healing path, which can bring new insights into how your body works and how to best manage and heal what is causing you pain. 

Dry Needling

Trigger Point Dry Needling (also known as intramuscular therapy) is a therapeutic treatment that involves the insertion of an acupuncture (filament) needle into an area of muscle tension. The treatment is based on the theory that areas of muscle tension commonly contain trigger points. These trigger points keep muscles shortened and decrease blood flow. The goal of this treatment is to insert the needle into the trigger point, which causes a release in the muscle and a return of normal range of motion and blood circulation.

In Dry Needling, nothing is injected into the body and the needle used is hair-thin. Most patients do not feel the needle penetrate the skin, but there may be a small bit of discomfort when the trigger point is activated. If the muscle is currently in spasm and has an active trigger point, you may feel a sensation like a muscle cramp or twitch; this is called the “twitch response”.

Dry needling is a quick and effective treatment for acute and for more chronic pain conditions. It can also be used following an injury or post-surgery. This technique has few side effects and is a preferred as a means to find and eliminate neuromuscular problems that may lead to pain and degeneration.

Medical Acupuncture

Not all pain revolves around trigger points. In many cases, the root of someone's pain may be a problem in the nerves that run through the body.

Electro-acupuncture applies gentle electric current to inserted acupuncture needles to stimulate specific areas of the body. Targets can include i) individual nerve branches that supply affected muscles, ii) specific areas of the spine, and iii) the central nervous system as a whole.

The purpose of the electricity is to regulate or modulate abnormal signals in the nervous system. Rather than following the practices of traditional Chinese acupuncture points, electro-acupuncture targets are selected by clearly and correctly identifying dysfunctions in particular body tissues or movement patterns.

The use of electro-acupuncture provides controlled stimulation to these points without causing tissue damage. The treatment is fairly comfortable and can target multiple areas. It is used for the treatment of a wide range of ailments and is particularly useful for treating chronic pain conditions.

YOUR HEALING PATH

At-home treatments and self massage involve you directly in your healing journey.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


I see you do massage, dry needling and acupuncture. What is your designation and how does the treatment get billed for insurance purposes?

My legal designation in Ontario is Registered Massage Therapist. In Ontario, massage therapists can perform dry needling and acupuncture if they have the proper training and as long as the condition being treated falls under the scope of practice of the therapist. Insurance companies require that the receipt mention only massage therapy, despite other techniques being used. Your receipt will have no mention of acupuncture, dry needling, or any other techniques that I may incorporate into a treatment.

What does CMTPT mean?

CMTPT stands for Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist. This designation is granted to people who have passed the board certified exam of the National Association of Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists (NAMTPT). The CMTPT designation ensured that the therapist has an extensive understanding of myofascial trigger technique and theory and proper application of protocol.

How many sessions will it take to resolve my condition?

This is the most common question asked by patients and quite simply there is no concrete answer. Since every condition is different, the frequency and duration of treatment may vary. The length of time you have been in pain, the severity of your pain and the number of body parts that are in pain and your overall physical health affect how long treatment lasts. In the majority of cases, a person will achieve a noticeable reduction within 2-3 visits. Often the first visit gives some noticeable relief. Being an active participant in your treatment will help you to recover more quickly.

Is Dry Needling painful?

Most patients will not even feel the needle penetrate the skin, but once it has and is advanced into the muscle or painful region, the feeling of discomfort can vary from patient to patient. If the muscle contains active trigger points, the subject may feel a sensation much like a muscle cramp. The patient may only feel the cramping sensation locally or they may feel a referral of pain or similar symptoms for which they are seeking treatment. Patients soon learn to recognize and even welcome this sensation as it results in deactivating the trigger point, thereby reducing pain and restoring normal length and function of the involved muscle.

Is Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy painful?

During hands-on trigger point therapy, I will maintain continual communication with you to ensure you don’t experience too much pain when I find and press on a trigger point. Typically, a pain scale of 1 through 10 is used to help you communicate the level of sensation that you feel when I find a trigger point.

Is trigger point therapy performed with a full body massage?

Typically no. Trigger point therapy is a detailed massage technique that targets specific areas of the body that are causing you pain. Performing a proper treatment on one area of the body can take time. For example, if you are experiencing a shoulder problem, I can easily spend the entire session working on that shoulder and the surrounding area, neck, and arm.

What should I wear during treatment? Will I need to disrobe?

I will need access to the areas of your body in need of treatment. Depending on the area being treated, you can choose to disrobe, or you can wear undergarments, shorts, sports bra, or even swim suit. You may also choose to wear loose fitting clothing and adjust your clothing so that your skin is accessible for treatment. A typical trigger point therapy session will have your body in a variety of different treatment and stretch positions.

How can I help my treatment be more effective?

I will identify certain factors or habits in your life that contribute to your pain. We call these "perpetuating factors". These areas must be addressed to achieve lasting pain relief. These factors include posture, ergonomics, sleep and nutrition, among others. As part of your treatment program, I will help you to develop solutions to these perpetuating factors.

Is there anything I can do to treat my own pain?

Yes. Your trigger point therapist can teach you self-treatment techniques. You can use your hands or I may recommend treatment tools to assist you. I will work with you to create an at-home program and can help guide you to appropriate educational materials.

THANKS FOR VISITING


Contact Information

27 Tyndall Ave, Toronto
(647) 224-2249
yvan.riendeau@gmail.com

Book a consultation

Call or email to schedule an initial consultation.

Rates

Initial appointment 90 minutes – $150.
Subsequent appointments 60 minutes – $100.

Payment options

Cash or credit cards.
Email transfers accepted but must be completed at the beginning of appointment.

Read more

Much has been written on the topics of trigger points and how trigger point therapy can help alleviate stubborn pain. For more information, read The Trigger Point Manual by Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons.

| Yvan Riendeau || 2016 |