Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain
Read Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain Online
Authors: L.M.T. L.Ac. Donna Finando
Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain
The Practice of Informed Touch
D
ONNA
F
INANDO,
L
.
A
C.,
L
.
M
.
T
.
AND
S
TEVEN
F
INANDO,
P
H.
D
.,
L
.
A
C
.
Healing Arts Press
Rochester, Vermont
To our patients, from whom we have learned much about the nature
of pain and how to treat it. And to our students, who required us
to think about, order, and communicate what we practice.
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
J
anet Travell, M.D., whose life work in clarifying and ordering myofascial pain syndromes has provided the reality base that has eluded so many others. Her work has demonstrated beyond any doubt that pain results from muscular dysfunction. So many in the medical community have, until very recently, disregarded the musculature as a source of pain and suffering. Through Janet Travell's lifelong workâher systematic efforts to identify and chart pain patterns associated with muscular trigger points and the various means with which to eliminate themâwe have been given the basis for treatment of chronic pain suffered by so many for so long.
Mark Seem, Ph.D., who has strived to evolve the application of Dr. Travell's work to the field of acupuncture. Understanding the value of acupuncture as physical medicine in the treatment and resolution of pain, Mark has dedicated his efforts to bringing acupuncture into the forefront of American health care. We would also like to thank Mark for coining the phrase
informed touch,
which so clearly describes what we seek to accomplish through our work.
Arya Niellsen, L.Ac., Steven Rosenblatt, M.D., and Robert Ruffalo, D.C., whose feedback has helped in making this book most useful for Eastern and Western practitioners alike.
Jane Waski, whose skillful drawings demonstrate stretches that are so beautifully rendered that we can feel and sense the stretch of the muscle as we look at them.
Susan Bubenas and the staff at Polan and Waski, whose graphic capabilities have been critical in the production of illustrations that so clearly identify muscle and trigger point.
Susan Davidson of Healing Arts Press, who has helped us clarify, order, and evolve this work. Her help, her encouragement, her careful and critical editor's eye, her patience, and her dedication to this project have been invaluable to the evolution of this manual.
C
ONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
        T
HE
N
ATURE OF
M
USCLES
AND
T
RIGGER
P
OINTS
CHAPTER 2
        Q
I,
M
OVEMENT,
AND
H
EALTH
CHAPTER 3
        I
NFORMED
T
OUCH
CHAPTER 4
        D
IAGNOSIS
AND
T
REATMENT
CHAPTER 5
        H
OW TO
U
SE
T
HIS
M
ANUAL
Muscles of the Head, Neck, and Face
Muscles of the Shoulder Girdle