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

by David G. Simons (Author), Janet G. Travell (Author), Lois S. Simons (Author), Barbara D. Cummings (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The second edition of this definitive reference on myofascial pain features improved positioning in many of the drawings demonstrating Dr. Travell's techniques. Non-spray and stretch treatment methods are now included, along with a completely revised theory on the nature of trigger points.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1664 pages
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2 edition (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0683307711
• ISBN-13: 978-0683307719
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.2 x 3.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,845 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

153 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate in drug-free pain relief!, January 24, 2001

By	R. Sparks "middle_path" (Norman, Oklahoma United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a Clinical Massage Therapist at a hospital, I use these books almost daily. In fact, I just ordered my second set. . . The first is so threadbare it's barely usable. ANYTIME I have a patient with a pain that I can't immediately identify I grab my Travell's. This set is an absolute BIBLE for anyone in the health care industry. Travell and Simons have esentially written "The Instruction Manual" for elliminating myofascial pain by going to it's source!

Janet Travell, MD and David Simons, MD were absolute pioneers when it came to myofascial pain and it's treatment. What makes these books even more amazing is that they were written a full quarter of a century before doctors even acknowledged that myofascial pain actually exsisted. . . What makes them interesting is that, in this, the most current edition, they have re-evaluated about 65% of the sites that before would only be considered for cortizone or saline injection and now recommend these areas be attended to by a Massage Therapist. They even go into strong detail as to stroke, direction and stretching. There are still plenty of sites that they recommend for injection, but only in a last resort situation.

The chapters are laid out in an incredibly easy to understand manner, though that's not even the beauty of the book's design. If you know the name of the muscle in question, you simply look inside the front cover; the muscle are all listed with their coresponding page numbers next to them. Don't know the name or not sure which muscle it is in the group? No problem. You again open the front cover and there, in 5th grade simplicity, are charts for all the areas covered in the book. Flip to the area in question and look through the diagrams. When you find (in the super well drawn diagrams) the pain you are trying to treat, you are given, not only several treatment plans, but etiology and most likely direct verve aggravation associated with the pain.

My only problem with the set is that the book are not as well bound as maybe they could be for the price. You'll notice, however, that it didn't have enough of an impact on me to give it any less that a perfect score.

I STRONGLY recommend this book for ANY health care practitioner that deals with pain control and alleviation.

71 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book holds the key to most chronic pain., April 14, 1999

By	Devin J. Starlanyl (W. Chesterfield, NH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Tour de Force, November 1, 2000

By	Peter Kelly MD "phkbkk" (Delmar, NY United States) - See all my reviews

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?