Acupoints vs trigger points

Acupoints are spots on the skin that emerge from the meridians which form the main paths for the circulation of Qi. The concept of acupoint has been part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for thousands of years. Acupoints are stimulated to preserve or restore physical and mental wellbeing, according to the dictates of TCM. They can be stimulated in many ways, mainly with acupuncture-moxa, tuina massage, qi gong or guasha (folk TCM practices). There are 361 classic acupoints. They emerge from the 14 main meridians. Then there are the extra points or points out of the 14 meridian paths, and finally the so-called “ashi” points or points that are painful when pressed. Those are neither classic nor extra acupoints.

Trigger points are highly irritable points, which have the consistency of small knots and are painful if pressed. They can be located within a group of very contracted muscle fibers. These points are palpable and can refer pain in other areas.

Below are the main differences and correspondences between acupoints and trigger points

Acupoints	Trigger points
definition
They are spots belonging to the energy meridians and  that emerge on the skin. They are considered acupoins whether they are painful or not and can refer pain.	A spot is considered a trigger point only when it hurts, no matter if it is active or latent. Usually, it refers pain.
why we use them
to treat different pathologies to treat local or referred pain to make diagnosis in TCM	to treat local or referred pain
treatment methods
acupuncture-moxa tuina massage guasha qi gong Chinese exercises (Taoist yoga)	massage stretching or yoga ultrasounds, electrostimulation, laser therapy insertion of needles (acupunture) injection of local anesthetics
location
fixed for the 361 classic channel points fixed for the extra channel points not fixed for ashi points	Not always fixed and determined. Usually we refer to Janet Travell and David G. Simons’ maps.
discovery and usage
for thousands of years	for a little more than sixty years

According to several authors, the study of trigger points has been an indirect study on acupuncture and how it works. It is commonly recognized that acupoints and trigger points share the same locations by about 80%. In my view, taking into account the ashi points and use that is made of acupoints in general, it can be assumed that the concept of acupoint is broader than that of the trigger point and includes it. In addition, studies of new acupoints – their properties and effects – are ongoing, so it is likely that new acupoints will be discovered and classified, increasing the correspondences between acupoints and trigger points.

(July 2014)