TRIGGER POINT MYOTHERAPY

A Treatment for Muscular Pain, Dysfunction and Stress

Trigger point myotherapy is a non-invasive therapeutic technique for the release of muscular pain and dysfunction due to "trigger points". Trigger points cause muscle spasm, limited range of motion, numbness, muscle weakness and fatigue. Trigger points are laid down in the muscle by accidents, the birthing process, disease, occupations, and stress.

Trigger point myotherapy is a therapeutic modality resulting from medical research and approach by Drs. Janet Travell and David Simons to treat and control pain through trigger point injections. The manual, hands-on, approach was developed by Bonnie Prudden, renowned exercise specialist in 1976 while working with Drs. Travell and Tivy for the release of muscular pain and dysfunction.

While working with the physicians, Prudden would locate and circle the trigger points in ink for the physician’s reference. She would follow up and conduct the stretching exercises after the physicians had injected the trigger point sites. During this process, as Bonnie was locating a trigger point, she pressed on the trigger point longer and harder than usual. This procedure resulted in a scream from the patient followed with no further pain once the pressure was released. Prudden’s discovery was met with continued success as each person reported significant improvement in a much shorter period than with the current invasive therapies.

Today, Tabors Cyclopedia Dictionary describes myotherapy as a method of relaxing muscle, improving circulation and alleviating pain by applying pressure to trigger points with fingers, knuckles and elbows. The American Academy of Pain Management also recognizes trigger point myotherapy as a modality for the treatment of myofacial pain and dysfunction.

The goal of trigger point myotherapy treatment is the recovery from myofacial pain and dysfunction. A systemic and comprehensive approach using a variety of soft tissue manipulation techniques as described in Tabors Dictionary are followed today. Patients with myofacial pain and dysfunction see excellent results and the return of mobility, function, and reduction of pain after trigger point myotherapy treatments. Patients with acute conditions due to accidents, sports and repetitive motion injuries see dramatic results and quickly return to normal personal and professional activities.

The health-care professional trained in trigger point myotherapy is a member of a multidisciplinary team. Treatment consists of patient evaluation, diagnosis and trigger point treatment techniques. Patients are referred to the trigger point myotherapists from physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, rheumatoidologists, anesthesiologists, psychologists, dentists, occupational health nurses, physical and occupational therapists. Patients are referred to other health-care professionals when it is medically indicated.

There are four components of a trigger point myotherapy treatment session. They consist of:

1. Pre-Treatment: a thorough history and evaluation of the patient is necessary to develop a plan of treatment related to the patient’s condition and lifestyle.

2. Treatment Sessions: consists of trigger point compression, myomassage, passive stretch, and corrective exercise program.

3. Post-treatment: to avoid shortening of the newly lengthened muscles, the patient is given a consistent exercise program to develop flexibility and strength for continued relief from muscular pain and dysfunction.

4. Maintenance: once recovery is obtained, the exercise program is expanded and self-help trigger point techniques are developed into a program for maintaining an effective level of health and well-being.