Suggested Reading & Products

 

Below are some links to books and products we recommend for general usage/knowledge or for those who wish to further their studies of trigger points.

 

Note: The Travell & Simons books are requisite reading for WHM Level 1 certification.

 

 

Trigger Point Therapy Workbook

We recommend this book to all our clients and to those who do not have access to knowledgable Trigger Point therapists. It's easy to read and demonstrates how to locate and self-treat virtually all your trigger points.

Clair Davies and Amber Davies (3rd edition)
Travell & Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual (2-Volume Set)

Our recommended choice - IF you can find them.
The original Travell & Simons, 2-volume set is required reading for those who are serious about learning comprehensive TP therapy. These are medical manuals, rich with medical language and terminology.
Note: sadly, these books are no longer in publication, but you still might be able to find a copy. They have been replaced by the abridged 3rd edition, listed below.

Janet G. Travell MD, and David G. Simons MD
Travell, Simons and Simons' Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual (3rd Edition)

This latest and abridged edition of Travell, Simons & Simons' groundbreaking work reflects the latest research and best practices associated with trigger points and updates the iconic pain-point images that set the standard in the field. New lead editor Joseph M. Donnelly draws on his experience as both educator and physical therapy practitioner to integrate an evidence-based approach into this critical text.

Joseph M. Donnelly
The Anatomy Coloring Book

A great way to learn (and remember) the muscles and their function (and other body systems too). Be sure to have your pencil crayons handy!

Wynn Kapit (4th Edition)
Massage Table

If you can afford it and you're NOT mobile, buy a sturdy table. We use Master - the Gibraltar LX 32-in. and we love it! It's super-sturdy and wide, very stable and can accommodate virtually any client. It's heavy though, (around 60 lbs.) so don't plan on using it for mobile service, unless you are looking toward developing a hernia!
If you're mobile, a high-quality, lightweight one can suffice. But try to get the best quality you can afford, as cheap tables are, well... cheap. The narrow ones especially, tend to be unstable (wobbly) and just don't last long when used professionally.

Various Brands

Disturbances of motor functions caused by trigger points include spasm of other muscles, weakness of the involved muscle function, loss of coordination by the involved muscle, and decreased work tolerance of the involved muscle. The weakness and loss of work tolerance are often interpreted as the indication for increased exercise, but if this is attempted without inactivating the responsible trigger points, the exercise is likely to encourage and further ingrain substitution by other muscles with further weakening and de-conditioning of the involved muscle.

Drs. Janet Travell & David Simons
Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, The Trigger Point Manual