The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. Your Self Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition

Customer Reviews

Relieve your pain yourself - Practice makes perfect!

2008-10-05
I bought this book after years of suffering shoulder and neck pain that could not be attributed to anything specific. Chiropractic care and Acupuncture helped some, but the treatments are expensive and not always available on a weekend. So I tried the book and found that by manipulating the trigger points, the pain would eventually dissipate. Its rather amazing that this simple therapy is not better known.

The rating is 4 stars instead of 5 because it seems hard to find the specific parts of the body and how to treat them. I solved my problem by buying brightly colored tabs and affixing them to the different chapters - problem solved.

Very helpful book

2008-10-03
This book is a great self-help resource for many types of pain, and also provides an interesting and fairly easy understanding of anatomy.

The first day I had the book, I visited my father who was suffering from a very painful inflammation of the big toe, which his doctor had diagnosed as gout, although his urine tests did not indicate the acid which is a sign of gout. (He has had gout several times.) The book stated that a certain trigger point condition is often misdiagnosed as "gout" or can exist simultaneously with actual gout. I used the illustration in the book dealing with "symptoms of gout" and other foot/toe pain, found the trigger point in his shin and pressed on it - my dad was MAD at this point! It hurt! But within a few minutes he admitted his toe felt a little better. The next morning he was astonished, saying "I don't know what to think - the pain and swelling is completely gone." Throughout the week he massaged that sore trigger point a few times a day while doing yoga stretches, his toe remained pain-free, and within a couple of weeks the trigger point stopped hurting too.

I've been using the book's suggestion for back, neck and hip pain. Although my results haven't been as dramatic and permanent as my dad's (since he was more consistent in self-treatment that I have been) I can relieve the tension pretty easily following the directions in the book. I will also get a Theracane, a recommended self-massage tool, because many of the trigger points are hard to reach or massage by hand.

This book makes me appreciate a good, professional masseuse who can do the trigger point work for me. But it's great to be able to take care of myself as much as possible. This is a resource I will use for the rest of my life.

Great resource

2008-09-29
This is a great resource for massage therapists and laypeople alike. Practical suggestions for self-help in pain relief, but the information can be easily adapted to use to help others. It translates trigger point therapy it into simple, concise, and readable text. The illustrations are helpful as well. Highly recommended.

It really works!!!

2008-09-29
This book is truly worth it, I gave it a try and and I'm still amazed that something so simple works so good. I have suffered from pain in my arms for over a year and a half due to excess computer work. Out of desperation I looked for a solution and bumped in to The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook. I did the self massages indicated for my pains and My arms regained strength and the pain is 95% gone. My wife started to do the massage with the tennis ball for her back and her back pain is also gone. i continue to massage frequently now for my knees and feet and old aches are soon forgotten.

Excellent book for self-healing

2008-09-25
I've spent more money than I want to think about on doctors & physical therapy for recurring pain in my hip, back, shoulder and neck. This book has given me the power to provide myself with more relief than I've ever gotten from these traditional sources - and without wasting time on office visits and insurance paperwork .... not to mention keeping my money!

Excellent Guide!

2008-09-23
Trigger point therapy is one of the most intriguing and fastest-growing bodywork styles in the world. Medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and massage therapists are all beginning to use this technique to relieve formerly undiagnosable muscle and joint pain—conditions that studies have shown to be the cause of nearly 25 percent of all doctor visits. The technique involves applying short, repeated massage strokes to trigger points, tiny contraction knots in muscle tissue where restricted circulation and lack of oxygen cause referred pain. Trigger points create pain throughout the body in predictable patterns characteristic to each muscle, producing discomfort ranging from mild to severe. Trigger point massage increases circulation and oxygenation in the area and often produces instant relief. This dynamic technique has made a huge impact among health professionals and the public alike, becoming an overnight classic in the field of pain relief. The book has sold over 145,000 copies since the release of the first edition in 2001. The second edition is a complete update and includes a new chapter specifically for massage professionals, as well as a chapter on systematic muscle relaxation techniques that can reinforce the therapeutic power of trigger point work.

Thank you thank you thank you

2008-09-15
OMG What an excellent book. I am a student in a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) cirriculum. LMT's need massages too. We get aches and this book is great for our needs as well. May i suggest "Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" by Sharon Butler in addition to this book, they work well together.

This book saves me visits to the pain management doctor!

2008-09-11
After a failed back surgery 5 years ago that left me with more pain than prior to surgery, I've been to 3 pain management doctors, 4 physical therapists, two chiropractors and several massage therapists. I finally found a pain management doctor (Dr. John Tyler)in Colorado Springs who uses the Travell & Simons Trigger Point methods that have provided the most relief for the chronic sciatica, lumbar and leg pain following surgery. Although I have to return for follow up visits from time to time, I'm able to relieve some of the pain myself using the techniques demonstrated in this book. Since I know of no other doctor who uses these techniques, I recommend this book to those who suffer from pain. I hope you, too, will find relief from your pain.

Comprehensive

2008-09-06
I find The Trigger Point Therapy Wookbook very detailed and comprehensive. You should only buy this wookbook if you are serious about finding a solution and prepared to study and work on it. I have serious sciatic pain and have tried everything to get relief. The book, with quite a bit of study, helped me located the muscles causing the problem. Using the 'ball' technique I massaged the appropriate 'tigger points'. After 3 weeks, persistence is also required, I have begun to get relief and the pain has diminished. The bottom line is this book is a great book provided your motivated. Its not for the faint hearted and its not a 'quick fix'.

Fantastic book.

2008-08-31
This is a great way to practice self care. My massage therapist recommended this book to me! She has just lost a good client because I now know how to treat myself. Really needs to be sold with the theracane but there are illustrations showing how to use a tennis ball. Great book.