How to Treat the Muscles Causing the Pain, NOT Just the Area
of Pain
If you only treat the muscles that hurt, you may be neglecting to address the underlying cause of the pain 80%
of the time. For example, trigger points in the soleus often cause back pain; trigger points in the scalenes often cause
thumb pain.
Here's How to Use the Charts:
1) Identify the region on
the body closest to the patient's pain
2)
Check the muscles at the top of the list first. They are most likely to be the cause of pain in the area, although any
one of the muscles may be the cause.
3)
Check each muscle for restricted range of motion. The muscle or muscles which can not sustain full stretch or which
cause pain "on the stretch" should be palpated and checked for trigger points
4) Once the trigger points have been located, treat them with trigger point elimination techniques such
as trigger point pressure release, passive and active rhythmic release, spray and stretch, trigger point injection, therapeutic
ultrasound, microcurrent or low level laser therapy. See Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Travell and Simons.
5) Always follow trigger point
elimination techniques with proper stretching, range of motion exercise and self-care training. Do not attempt strengthening
exercises for affected muscles until trigger points and referred pain are eliminated.
