Trigger Point Therapy Workbook 2nd Edn*******: Your Self-Treatment for Pain Relief

After picking up and carrying small children for a few years (my own...not other peoples), I developed an incredibly painful shoulder problem. Just lifting my arm above my head would often induce the most incredible pain. I tried an osteopath...they did some manipulation which didn't help and recommended I tried a different computer mouse. I was then referred by my GP to the physical therapy dept which over several weeks, there was some improvement but still not really solving the problem. In desperation I bought a few books on self help pain relief. This book has been, frankly, life changing. Following the advice in the book, I was able to locate some trigger points in exactly the places they said they would be. Within a few days my shoulder was 90% improved. I still need to do the odd 'fix' every few months but I'm able to go about life without any worries. I can pick up my kids (who are now significantly bigger and heavier) as well as heavy digging and all that stuff! My mother in law has great difficulty walking at times (bad knees). The following day after I worked on a few trigger points, she was walking around virtually pain free...she was amazed at how quick and effective it is. If you're struggling from any form of nagging pain, I highly recommend you buy this book. It looks a little intimidating when you open it, but stick with it and you'll find it's actually very easy to use. There are lots of anecdotal stories which help to correlate your pain with the appropriate trigger point to work on. In the past I've spent a fortune on Chiropractic and Osteopathic treatments - since getting this book I haven't needed any at all. I'm not saying that it will fix all ailments but it's certainly an excellent starting point...or worth a try if you've not had any success with doctors or therapists.

Once you flip through the pages of California-style introduction and background this is a straightforward, detailed, guide to the things that go wrong with muscles and how you might be able to fix them. But unless you are already familiar with muscles (I wasn't) be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort to locate the trigger points causing problems, and then to treat them. And to think about the original cause of the problem (eg computer use) and how to stop the problem recurring. I also agree with another reviewer who noted that the author too readily gives the impression that any problem can be cured by trigger point massage. However, as it costs nothing and is very unlikely to do any harm, give it a go. I found several trigger points which are undoubtedly giving me pain after the first few hours of reading the book. If you can work with a partner, it's better, but if, like me, you have weak and painful hands and wrists, do pay attention to the author's advice on how to avoid making them worse by doing massage the wrong way.

If you have unexplained pain, there's a good chance it will be caused by a trigger point, and this book shows how to treat them yourself though massage. You can google about trigger points, but they are basically small cramps in muscle tissue, often in individual or only a few muscle fibres (cells). They cause pain because they are tightening and therefore stressing the tissue they connect to. A friend was diagnosed as having carpal tunnel syndrome in her wrist and her Dr had her down for surgery. She used my copy of this book to treat herself - surgery not necessary! It should be available on the NHS, and every GP should have one. ---- update for further info ---- The book gives an overview of the medical background of the author and of the medical science that the material in the book is based on. This is mainstream medical science, it is not some new-age crystal-bothering nonsense. The book tells you how to treat the trigger points yourself (although having a partner who can do it for you is preferable, as you can relax), and how often to do so, and explains the effects. The heart of the book is maps of the body, and is based around two main points: a) identifying the area of pain - shown in body diagrams b) identifying the likely places where the trigger points may be - also given by body diagrams It is usually the case that these two locations are different, though not necessarily. The books explains why this is the case. So, if you have, say, a pain in your back, you would go to the contents page and find the beginning page of the Back chapter. On that page, you would look through the body diagrams until you saw one which showed the area where you experience pain - this would in turn show you where the area(s) containing the trigger points would possibly be, explaining which is the most likely. You then treat the trigger points as described in the general section earlier in the book. Often you will get a sense of some relief immediately although it can take days to remove the problem entirely, and you can make the trigger points sore if you overdo it. Once you find it works for one thing, it will be your first recourse for new pains (bearing in mind, these are muscle and tendon related issues). Another more general treatment is "Bowen" - this can be very effective too - but that's another book and does not have medical science backing yet (as far as I know), although it is empirically effective.

I can't say how much this book has helped me since I bough it a year ago. I thought the other gushing reviews were a bit OTT but I feel like I now understand my aches and pains and usually know how to deal with them. Many that come on quickly can be cured there and then. There are so many examples I could give but it would be a long list. Here are the main things this book has helped me with: * Back pain when taking deep breaths * Difficulty in taking deep breaths generally * General neck and back pain * Knee pain * Wrist pain While I have no proof(!) I believe that the methods in this book have also helped me to prevent the onset of Iritis (also known as Uveitis) which I sometimes get. The methods have also worked on my kids (although you have to be gentle when massaging a leg muscle that's causing knee pain, for example, as it can hurt a bit and unlike me they have a low threshold for pain! :-). I've lent this book to a few people and it's helped them all. If you're thinking of buying this book and you're either in pain, or suffer regularly from joint/muscle/back/neck pain, then I'd have no hesitation is recommending this book. In a word, it's excellent.

Everybody needs to be aware of trigger points and their profound importance on pain and health.Clair Davies has written a very important book on this based on his experience as a therapist and inspired by Travell and Simons's original book on myofascial pain. I found this book recently as I was researching my hip problems. I had suddenly developed pain in my buttocks, hip and knee for no obvious reason. I rapidly became unable to climb stairs and walking just a few yards had my bum muscles screwed up so badly I could not walk further. My sciatic nerve was firing with any movement causing me a great deal of pain. My GP thought it was tendinitis and it would probably sort itself out... After six weeks of misery I found this book, diagnosed myself (piriformis syndrome) and started self treatment. The book is so easy to use: I found the offending trigger points in my gluteus muscles and worked on them all day. By evening I had cleared them well enough to walk and use the stairs. I was ecstatic. Over the last six weeks I have been getting better and better, but I am left with the inescapable thought: WHY THE HELL DON'T THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS KNOW ABOUT TRIGGER POINTS? (It appears that 80% of all muscular pain is related to trigger points.) Isn't it time they got on board? Excellent book: cannot recommend it enough!

I bought this as a hard copy of 'trigger point info' I could carry with me because I travel and don't always have a computer or internet connection. I like the explanation of what a trigger point is although I'd like to know more about how they form. It's a good starter and reference book but I tend to go on-line for images of where the trigger points are located. That said, this book has been part of what has been an incredible cure for me with (so far) 80% reduction in my myofascial pain.

Pros: By using the suggested trigger points in this book I have managed to sort out persistent lower back pain brought on by excess swimming, night cramps in thighs and calves, stomach cramps, and the persistent aching foot arches of my best beloved. No success yet with Post Nasal Drip, but on the other hand, my slightly droopy eye has gone. Not bad going in two weeks. It has given me confidence to have a go at a friend's tennis elbow/carpal tunnel syndrome. Cons: Reading the book requires a lot of concentration partly because the typesetting is very wide. (Ditto the names of the muscles.) The diagrams are a little on the prim side so you can't quite see the exact locations for trigger points if they fall anywhere under the discreet but ubiquitous pair of shorts. Perhaps it's an American thing. Conclusion: Get this book if you want to help yourself out of some kinds of pain. It costs less than half of any therapist's session, so well worth the money, especially if you have a sortable, but recurring problem. Having said that, and having had some success with these DIY trigger points, I am now going to seek out a professional trigger point therapist to have a go at the PND. If that gets cracked I'll be well trigger-happy.

Great book for dealing with Trigger points. Covers all trigger points in all muscles, from you neck down to the soles of your feet. Each muscle starts out with the trigger that would most likely cause the pain, then moves on to the others that may be causing it, e.g. front of shoulder pain - Infraspinatus then anterior deltoids then scalenes ect Although some trigger points can be hard to find ( I find the neck trigger points difficult to find) but once you find them you will know haha. The information is pretty simple to follow, locate the trigger point, use deep stroking massage, massage slowly, aim at a pain level of 7 on a scale of 10, limit the strokes to 6-12 per trigger point and work the trigger point 6-12 times a day. A few things to be said though. The trigger points listed in the book may not be in the same place on you, so you my have to search, which can be frustrating. Secondly, this book will not deal with what caused the trigger points. Example, if you're using muscles incorrectly and not bio-mechanically how they were made to move, that said muscle will develop trigger points. You work on them and get rid of the trigger points but still using the muscle incorrectly the trigger point will come back, so you may need to work along side a physiotherapist. Finally, it can be time consuming when starting out and trying to find those pesky trigger points that hide, but once found you will already be on the path to recovery.

簡単に言ってしまうと、マッサージのやり方が書いてある本です。 『誰でもできるトリカーホイントの探し方・治し方』という名前で翻訳もされていて、そちらは五千円を超える高価な本ですが、それでも非常に評価が高いです。 首痛、腰痛や五十肩などに代表される慢性的な筋肉の痛みのほとんどはトリガーポイントという筋肉が凝った部分が出来るために生じるのであり、そこをほぐしてやれば首痛、腰痛や五十肩などは改善する、という理屈にもとづいて、身体のある部分に痛みがある場合、身体のどの部分をどのようにマッサージすればいいか、誰にでも分かるように多くの図を使ってわかりやすく解説しています。 ちなみに拳銃の引き金のことも英語でトリガーといいますが、まさに痛みの引き金となっているのがトリガーポイントだということです。 やっていることの外形を見れば似たようなもんですが、日本で主流のツボや経絡を中心に刺激するあんま、指圧系のマッサージとは、原理的には全く違うものです。 トリガーポイントの理屈を前提に、痛みの緩和という場面だけに限って両者を比較すると、ツボを刺激し気の流れをよくすることによってトリガーポイントの凝りがほぐれることを期待するツボや経絡を刺激する従来型のマッサージより、痛みの原因のトリガーポイントをじかにほぐすトリガーポイントセラピーのほうが、より痛みにたいして直接的なセラピーだということになるのではないかと思います。 この本の特徴は、セルフケアに重点が置かれてるところです。 背中などの自分の手が届きにくい部分は道具を使ってマッサージをする方法が詳しく書かれています。 セラケーンという道具を使った方法が多いですが、テニスボールなどを使用する方法なども解説されています。 ツボ押しのための道具でも代用できるかと思い試してみましたが、ツボ刺激を目的とする器具は先端が尖っているものが多いので、トリガーポイントをほぐすのには向いていません。 セラケーンか、類似品でより多機能なボディーバックバディー（どちらもアマゾンで購入可能）のような、先端があまり尖っていない丸まっているものが適していると思います。 ちなみに私はボディーパックバディーを購入しました。 実際にこの本の指示通りにマッサージをしたところ、かなりの即効性があります。 数日やっただけで頑固な首の痛みがかなり軽減し、固まっていた肩の関節がかなり緩んできたような気がします。 数週間続ければ、日常生活ではほとんど気にならないレベルまで痛みが軽減するのではないかと思います。 英語が読める方であれば、原本で読まれた方がかなり安上がりで、日本語訳との差額にわずかにプラスするだけでセラケーンかボディーバックバディーのどちらかまで購入できます。 全身の筋肉の名前やいろいろな身体の症状など、一般書ではあまりお目にかからない単語も多く出てきますが、図を使った解説が多いので、そんなに難しくはありません。 医療系の勉強をされている方などは、図入りの解説で筋肉の名前が覚えられていいのではないでしょうか 医学の専門書ではなく、一般向けに書かれた本なので、語彙以外に難しいところはありません。 英語が読める方で、首痛、肩こり、腰痛などの症状に苦しんでるかたには是非おすすめしたい本です。 英語が読めない方も、五千円以上出して日本語訳を買っても損はしないと思います。 ちなみに本書の翻訳をした同じメンバーが、「誰でもできるトリガーポイントの探し方・治し方 【腰痛】」という紛らわしい名前の本も翻訳していますが、これは"Trigger Point Therapy for Low Back Pain: A Self-Treatment Workbook"という違う著者の本の翻訳（ちなみにこの本も評価が高い）。 この本の著者の"The Frozen Shoulder Workbook: Trigger Point Therapy for Overcoming Pain & Regaining Range of Motion"という肩の症状に特化した著作の日本語訳は、現在のところまだ出ていないようです。

This book may be the best purchase I have ever made. I know that sounds extreme, but for less than the cost of a doctor visit co-payment, this book showed me how to relieve chronic pain in several areas -- pain that I had been dealing with for years. My family doctor, 3 different physical therapists, an orthopedic surgeon, and a really good chiropractor had all failed to properly diagnose and treat the problem that was causing the pain. This book showed me how to find and fix the problem myself. I was able to treat myself and completely relieve pain that I thought would never go away. I bought this book after reading reviews of some books on shoulder pain. Several people mentioned this book as a better solution. If you're one of them, THANK YOU. This book was a last-ditch effort to avoid surgery. I read the first few chapters (which provide a really thorough, easy to understand explanation of what trigger points are, what they do, and how to treat them), and then I went directly to the section that dealt with the part of the shoulder I had been having a problem with. I went down the list of muscles given for pain in that specific part of the shoulder, looked-up each of those muscles in their respective sections, feeling for trigger points where the illustrations showed that they might be; and within about 20 minutes, I was able to find and release the trigger point that had been causing me pain for many years. I then proceeded to read the whole book cover-to-cover. As I read, I felt for each of the muscles described (most of them, anyway), and checked them all for trigger points. I really wasn't expecting anything, but actually found and released several trigger points that had been causing pain that I had been sure was caused by other issues. I was able to relieve pain in my knee, foot, hip, back, neck; and now, I even know how to prevent and/or alleviate my headaches that I had previously attributed to allergies and stress -- AND I avoided shoulder surgery! I used to have to keep going back to the chiropractor to re-align my neck; but I haven't been there once since finding and fixing the trigger point that had been constantly pulling my spine out of alignment. It's been two years since I bought this book, and my shoulder still feels great. It has acted up a couple of times, but I've been able to fix it right away by simply massaging the same spot where I originally found the problematic trigger point. I have also found that by periodically massaging each of the areas where I initially found trigger points, I have been able to avoid and/or alleviate most of the common every-day aches and pains that I had become accustomed to over the years. This book is a very well-written, easy-to-follow guide that will show you how to find and treat trigger points that you (and your doctor) never knew were there. It will help you get rid of chronic pain. It will help you to understand what types of activities caused the trigger points (and how to prevent them from reoccurring). And, it will enable you to live a healthier, happier, more pain-free life. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Words cannot possibly do it justice. If you have ANY chronic or recurring pain, please read this book. It could help you as much as it has helped me -- and if it doesn't, it will have cost you less than a visit to the doctor. Dr. Davies (Yes, I realize you're not an M.D.; but no "real" doctor has ever done as much for me as your book has), thank you for all of the time, effort, thought, and concern you put into your book. It was a pleasure to read, and has had a major impact on the quality of my life. I cannot thank you enough for making this information available.

J'ai commandé cet ouvrage en 2009 pour traiter une tendinite invalidante et récalcitrante au coude (partie médiale). Guérie en une seule journée et n'est plus jamais réapparue, un vrai miracle! Cet ouvrage est très complet et richement illustré, même si les illustrations ne sont pas particulièrement sexy et sont en noir et blanc. Le format large est bien adapté. Outre le traitement des trigger points, l'auteur donne également des conseils pour prévenir leur formation. Au final, un des ouvrages les plus utiles que j'ai lus.

This is an amazing book. It is well organized and is easy to read. The diagrams show the locations of trigger points AND the location of the referred pain associated with that particular trigger point. That is the key. The pain does not always present where the affected muscle is situated. Who knew that lower back pain can be reduced by applying pressure to the soleus muscles located in the back of the lower leg, just above the Achilles tendon??? Or that sinuses will drain and certain headaches can be reduced following targeted pressure on certain trigger points in the back of the neck and shoulders? Trigger point therapy works. Yesterday I experienced almost an immediate reduction in pain and a significant improvement in my arm mobility after applying 10-20 seconds of focused pressure on a specific trigger point in my upper arm. I am repeating that 10-20 seconds of pressure 4-6 times today and my arm almost feels "normal" again. This is after 4 months of constant upper arm pain that was diagnosed as "chronic tendonitis" that was not relieved by any medications or cold therapy. This book will help you help yourself and you will learn so much about your own body, how it works.... and how it tries to tell us when things aren't quite right. This book deserves to be in everyone's library, but don't just display it on the shelf. Read it and regularly refer back to it to locate and reduce muscular and joint pain in your body, and help alleviate pain and discomfort for your family and loved ones. I've already ordered my second copy of this book to give away as a gift.

Recommended by my massage therapist so I ordered it and am glad that I did. Understanding your trigger points is the point of departure for improving your health.