Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain: The Practice of Informed Touch

Makes a great reference when talking to clients

Not as condensed visually.

I used this to help me understand shoulder pain and the trigger points because my hubby is a welder and has complained of shoulder tightness and pain since we met, I have massaged them on a regular basis and they are better, but there is still some tightness. This book has helped me learn a bit more to treat it.

"This book is a field manual for any health professional dealing with myofascial syndromes", from the introduction. "It's aim is to simplify and order the vast amounts of information related to the evaluation and treatment of myofascial pain." "We have endeavored to address the concerns and desires of healthcare providers for a manual that can assist in evaluating a patient, defining the presenting condition, and guiding treatment of that condition." "It is assumed that the reader has some knowledge of myology, therefore no effort is made to replicate the extensive background and theoretical discussion found in other seminal works on myofascial pain . . ."I find this book to be very complete, with extensive diagrams and many with in-color highlights, which I believe are excellent, but it is more for the professional than an amateur learning the field or in trying to understand what their physical therapist may be doing to them - which was my case when I bought the book. I hope I am not being unfair by giving the book 4 stars instead of five, but the reason for my four-star rating simply is that this was a little over my head and did not meet my personal needs as well as the other book I also purchased, "The trigger point therapy workbook", by Claire Davis.For those individuals in the intended audience, this book appears to be an excellent choice and very complete with diagrams and with an extensive set of exercises for stretching and manipulating all of the major muscle groups of the body. It is for the stretching exercise, which are excellent, that I am keeping the book and I would recommend it highly for anyone looking for such exercises. For the exercises alone I would give it five stars.

Have a patient with a troublesome pain issue? One that you just can't put your finger on? Well the education in Trigger Point Therapy is the book for you! I purchased the paperback version with the certification test and it is the clearest presentation of the trigger point pain issue I have ever used. I purchased the kindle version so I would have it with me, in case I needed the info at my fingertips during a session or wanted to show patients the pain area diagrams[home health or traveling situations]. The book not only increased my skills, but increased my credibility with patients and clients as I can show them what the issues are, work on them and assign their case specific homework [stretches & exercises]. I recommend it to massage therapists, physical therapists [and their assistants], occupational therapists [and their assistants]. There is an easy to follow self help version that the layman can get and use for themselves.

This is by far the best manual I have ever used for my fibromyalgia/myofascial pain. It gives instructions for the physical therapist as well as helping the patient with identifying the location of the problem. Excellent diagrams help you to locate the areas to massage or use accupressure on for relief of pain. The book then gives stretching and strengthening moves for each specific area. For the last ten years I had an area of severe pain that neither I nor my therapist could figure out how to relieve. The first time through this manual, I was able to identify the exact spots to manipulate and I had immediate relief. It is worth 10 times what I paid for that one thing alone. I am VERY happy with this book!

I am just a layman when it comes to all the technical terms, since I bought this to educate myself after buying the Body Back Buddy. I am not a massage therapist or anything. Just someone who has had deep tissue pain ever since I was a teenager (probably hunching over the guitar for hours and hours), and then exacerbated it with having 4 monstrous children that I am still carrying around. I would get massage after massage, I've seen chiropractors, but with no relief. I only received it less than a week ago, but with this and the Body Back Buddy I am amazed at what the knowledge can do for my pain!

If you like to learn, this is for you. With Finando's self-care book, you will have more knowledge than most medical doctors, in my opinion.Information is well arranged and easy to understand if you have a basic understanding of biology. I may be biased, but my personal philosophy is that if you care for your body as you do for your car/house/pet, this information will be easy for you to apply for improving your health status.Even if you choose, not to DIY, you will have a better understanding of physical therapy principles.