Hi Cascara,
1/ At no point during treatment should you report a pressure score of 8 out of 10 as being exceeded. Number 8 representing the point when discomfort starts to become painfull. This empowers you as the client in controlling the amount of pressure used ! This is teamwork between you and your therapist not the application force whatever is being felt!.
2/ The target triggerpoint should be at first massaged gently to stimulate the release of your natural pain killer then progressively more firmley, prior to the techniques use.
3/ Some soreness after treatment may be experienced for 1 or 2 days. The soreness should feel like a good "healing" soreness. If the soreness "bites" causing pain the area should be cooled/iced (duration depends on the size of area being treated). If you suffered this, tell the therapist at your next session what happened and work to a 6 out 10, maybe leave longer between sessions?
IMHO this can be a highly effective technique for chronic problems. Its real success however, does depend preparation, accuracy and patience = slow delivery. What appears as a relitively simple technique does require alot of care.
Regards steve