The Benefits and History of
Clinical Trigger Point Therapy
Although not considered a part of conventional medicine, trigger point therapy has been widely used for decades. Sometimes referred to as myotherapy or neuromuscular therapy, it involves the use of concentrated pressure on specific ‘trigger points’ within affected muscles to relieve pain and treat muscle spasms.
A trigger point is a malfunction of a small area of muscle fibers which undergo a strong sustained contraction at the junction of said fibers and the nerve that innervates them. It is the malfunctioning of the nerve junction that produces tension and pain, either locally within that muscle or referred pain to other areas of the body. The location of trigger points and their associated referral areas are consistent from person to person. With this in mind, the trigger point therapist will apply pressure to specific trigger points, in a particular order to properly affect a change in the offending contraction, thereby relieving the associated pain and/or tension.
Portions of the medical community are beginning to acknowledge the validity of aspects of the therapy. Patients dealing with chronic pain have also reported vast improvement in their conditions. However, the overall benefits of this therapy extend beyond pain relief. These benefits include increased flexibility, iImproved circulation, better range of motion, reduced stiffness or muscle tension and fewer headaches.
American physicians Drs Janet Travell and David Simons are widely credited with developing many of the theories of trigger point therapy. Dr. Travell treated US President John F. Kennedy for back pain resulting in her being invited to be his personal physician. Having published a number of papers on the subject, Dr. Travell wrote and published ol 1 of The Trigger Point Manual, later continuing her work with her colleague Dr. Simons to publish the manual's second volume, released in 1992.
The Institute of Trigger Point Therapy was founded in 2001 by Dr. Laura Perry and her husband Jeff Geanangel. Frustrated with the current state of the health care industry, the two sought to establish an alternative option for general public that would offer highly effective clinical services within an informal setting. Based on the work of Drs. Simons and Travell, Dr. Perry developed the Institute's protocols for Clinical Trigger Point Therapy and a cirriculum for educating therapists in this most effective treatment.
Dallas Longshore MA, LMT has studied closely with Dr. Perry since 2007 to modify and integrate her clinical protocols into the upscale spa massages he performed during his tenure with Bergamos Spa Retreat, Friendswood, TX. He now offers the best of both worlds to his private practice massage clientele.
Benegits of Massage and Skin Care
Why Do I Feel So Good After A Massage?
Q. I'm a relative newcomer to massage and I've been trying to describe the experience to my friends. Why do I feel so good after a massage?
A. As a massage therapist, author, and consumer of bodywork, Mary Kathleen Rose of Longmont, Colo., took this question to heart.
"I walk into the session thinking, 'I'm really too busy to take this time. I've got to make those phone calls, schedule the next meeting, write that article, do the laundry, clean my house, and run a few errands. Oh, but my shoulders do hurt, my back aches, and I didn't get enough sleep last night!' An hour later, walking in slow motion, I come out of the massage therapist's office. I notice the smell of fresh air and the warmth of sunshine on my face. 'Maybe I'll just go for a little walk. I'll get back to work soon enough,' I say.
"Massage provides me an opportunity to take a break from the stresses of life and relax in the caring hands of a competent therapist. With just the right amount of pressure and skillful manipulation, patterns of tension are released in overworked muscles, fascia is loosened in areas of strain, and lymph is encouraged in its circulation. These effects on the tissues give rise to sensations of pleasure, creating a new experience in my body. I can only begin to imagine the complex of effects on the neurochemical system of the body, as touch receptors carry messages to the brain for interpretation, influencing brain wave patterns and a myriad of hormonal responses.
"While the physiology may be complex, the value of the human interaction is simple. Someone just treated me with respect and care, listened to me without judging me, and touched me with the authority born of her training and experience. It's no wonder we feel so good after a massage."
Benefits of Massage
Another excellent article from BodySense magazine explains evidence is showing that the more massage you can allow yourself, the better you'll feel.
Making the Most of Your Massage
Barbara Hey discusses what you can do to prolong the benefits of massage and bodywork.
