Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy and Patient Self-Help Techniques: Correcting the Perpetuating Factors Behind Chronic Pain – Carla Hedtke

Course Description

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy and Patient Self-Help Techniques: Correcting the Perpetuating Factors Behind Chronic Pain – Carla Hedtke

Get to the Point – the Trigger Point – When Treating Myofascial Pain Syndrome  

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is one of the most overlooked diagnoses in chronic pain.   Up to 85% of patients with chronic pain have MPS. Muscles harboring trigger points have been an under-treated cause of pain. When trigger points are -active in muscles, pain is present with physical limitation and loss of normal function. -Deactivating the trigger point can be achieved through  Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy (MTPT), a unique treatment protocol for myofascial pain and dysfunction.

Throughout this recording, you will learn to identify and correct perpetuating factors that perpetuate pain. This recording covers Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy protocol, and allows participants hands-on opportunities to manually deactivate trigger points. The role of the patient in the healing process is emphasized, with self-help techniques to empower patients to treat their own trigger points for lasting pain relief.

1. Describe the most common perpetuating factors behind chronic pain
2. Explain the components of myofascial trigger point therapy protocol
3. Demonstrate new techniques for evaluating myofascial pain syndrome
4. Evaluate trigger point myotherapy compression techniques
5. Choose appropriate self-care techniques for patients to use in treating myofascial pain syndrome

WHAT IS MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY?

• The pioneers and leaders, Janet Travell, MD and Bonnie Prudden
• Myofascial trigger point therapy practice today

THE PROTOCOL OF MYOFASCIAL TRIGGER POINT THERAPY (LAB)

• History and physical
• Pain assessment (pain areas, pain level, and exacerbating factors)
• Identify perpetuating factors
  • Nutritional
  • Mechanical
  • Psychological
  • Chemical imbalances
  • Traumatic injuries

EVALUATION AND PRACTICE (LAB)

• Practice postural analysis
• ROM
• Kraus – Weber minimum muscular fitness test

MORTON’S FOOT: APPROACH FOR CHRONIC PAIN TREATMENT (LAB)

• The foot connection and chronic pain
• The posture and body mechanics connection
• Alternative to traditional orthotics

SELF-CARE TECHNIQUES TO MANAGE PAIN (LAB)

• How to de-activate trigger points (upper and lower body)
  • Trigger point compression technique
  • Trigger point mapping technique
  • Self-care compression technique
• Using self-help tools
  • Compression tools
  • Conditioning tools
  • Sources of heat and cold
• Spray and Stretch
• Everyday preventive and maintenance self-care techniques
  • Sleeping
  • Walking
  • Stretching