Customer Reviews

Travell & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual (2-Volume Set)

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The Triggger Point Manuals are the definitive texts on myofascial medicine. Myofascial medicine impacts every practitioner of medicine. At least half of the patients in any general practice have myofascial trigger points. This book should not be on your shelves--it should be in your hands! If doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists and physical therapists knew how this book could impact their practice and their patients' lives, the publishers would not be able to keep up with the demand for it. This book carefully explains the difference between fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, with new findings on the nature of trigger points. The trigger points of the upper body are explained, with their referral patterns, as well as why they can occur, and what to do about them. Every minute you spend with this book will be worth the time.

Janet Travell MD and David Simons MD spent a lifetime studying the patterns and treatment of muscular and soft tissue pain in patients. It is a specialty in itself, and provides an amazingly detailed review of anatomy. These books are the bible on the subject written by the "mother" and "father" of the specialty. There will hardly be a day in the professional life of a busy primary care practitioner, rheumatologist, orthopedist, neurologist, physiatrist or physical therapist when these books will not be used. The more one knows of this field, the more revelations one gets into those difficult chronic pain patients. The etiology and muscular complexity of the huge field of "tension headache" syndromes now become clear. With these books you will have the tools to diagnose and treat effectively (usually dramatically) the entire spectrum of myofascial pain from head to toe, muscle by muscle. Why do so few physicians know of this vital area of medicine?

DR. TRAVELL DOES AN OUTSTANDING JOB INVESTIGATING AND REPORTING ON A BRANCH OF MEDICINE THAT VERY FEW PHYSICIANS UNDERSTAND. SHE HAS PROVIDED US WITH A COOK BOOK METHOD OF TREATING MYOFACIAL PAIN. SHE HAS TAKEN AN UNEXPLORED AREA OF MEDICINE, RESEARCHED IT, AND DEVISED A METHOD OF TREATMENT. I HAVE INCORPORATED HER TECHNIQUES INTO MY PRACTICE, AND I HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND HER COMPLLETE SET OF TEXTS TO ALL PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS. LEARNING AND PERFECTING HER TECHNIQUES DEMANDS MUCH TIME, HOWEVER, THE RESULTS ARE AMAZING.

The Trigger Point Manual is a two volume set detailing the current state of knowledge of trigger points and myofascial pain for both the upper body, vol. 1, and the lower extremities, vol. 2. It also contains fascinating analysis of how muscles work in different situations, offering insight into aspects of human movement. These wonderful books are essential reading for all manual therapists.

When I received this book as a present for passing my medical masseuse exams, I thought I received a "how to fix it" book.
These books are much more for they cover anatomy, innervation, function, testing, reasons behind the pain, differential diagnosis, corrective actions all in addition to Triggerpoint Treatment.
The 2 volumes are a must have in your library for daily reference and/or study. The illustrations are a welcome aid to oneself or for explanatory purposes to clients.

At this point I have only been exposed to the "Workbook" and not the 2 other volumes dealing with the upper and lower body. However, the workbook alone has been a Godsend. I had surgery on a sacral, subarachnoid cyst where a shunt was placed in my spinal canal. Three surgeries later I was experiencing horrible chronic pain in my lower back, buttocks and right leg. 10 years later the pain had spread throughout my entire body! It has been frightening to feel my body actually "freezing up", muscle by muscle, layer by layer. NONE of my "western physicians" have been able to address the central problem.

My partner happens to be a massage therapist (an actual "Muscle/connective tissue" focused therapist) and a licensed acupuncturist since 2005. After many hours of listening to her talk about the body as a "whole", functioning as a "unit" and how, with even ONE small glitch in one aspect of this "unit" can bring about a total breakdown in Its entirety - I was focused and wanted to know more! I began on page ONE of the "Trigger Point Therapy Workbook" and never stopped. The results I have experienced are NOTHING less than Profound!

At this moment, as I write, I know that I will spend a majority of the rest of my Life exposing others to this miraculous information. I have had a career as a dental hygienist for 20 years but will definitely be moving away from the mouth and begin to focus more on the body, as a "whole". THIS is what I have felt more than anything else; actually FELT the connection between every muscle, every FIBER of my Being! Namaste.

My daughter is a licensed massage therapist and was saving to purchase this set. She found them available at Amazon.com at a very reasonable price. This set is very highly recommended by massage schools nationwide, containing no-nonsense how-to's with direct instruction. My daughter used several techniques on her patients the first week she received her manuals, and provided great relief from their pain.

I guarantee if you mention this set to any LMT, they will be very familiar with it. It's a wonderful investment and will never become outdated. That is a guarantee by both schools and LMT's!

I real bible of reffered pain. A must have for diagnosing and treating muscle related head aches, back aches etc. No surgery No drugs.

My daughter is going to school for Western Massage Therapy and Neuromuscular massge. She was needing to purchase the set of books. At her school, it was at least $56 more than purchasing them on line. She was able to have them with in a week for class, but saved her a lot of money to put toward other things for her studies.

As a massage Therapist I do not use injections, however Travell & Simon's have created a wonderful resource for trigger points and exercises for all Therapists. And Amazon provied a great affordable price for this Second Edition two volume set.