Trigger Points in the Vastus Lateralis

Video Transcript

"DR. CHRIS MANGO: Hi. This is Dr. Chris Mango here in New York City. On behalf of Expert Village, we're going to be taking a look at trigger points today. The next major muscle is the tensor fascia lata and also the iliotibial band. This is an area on the lateral part of your thigh, and the runners may know this because when it gets irritated, that's what causes pain on the lateral leg. So we're going to be taking a look at that muscle next. Let's refer to our patient, then I'll show you where these muscles are. So the muscle runs along the top here. Now, when this muscle gets irritated, like I said before and you saw on the chart, the muscle can refer here. Now it can also refer to the iliotibial band, which runners know because it causes a false sense of pain on your lateral knee. This muscle is responsible for bringing the hip up, and also internally rotating it. This is how I'll treat the muscle. Two trigger points: one being here, the other one being here. Same as before, hold and press, have the patient breathe. When they don't feel it, push again a little more harder. Repeat on the other lower trigger point right here. So now we're going to move on to our next muscle."