Glossary

B

back pain - Back pain identified can be any type of pain or sensation that is felt within the back. The back is usually identified by the upper, middle, and lower back. Upper back pain is usually caused by poor sitting posture or by referral from the scalene muscles, the middle trapezius, rhomboids, or the serratus posterior superior. Middle back pain can be also from poor sitting posture or driving posture, and can be referred sensation from the trigger points in the latissimus dorsi muscle, the serratus anterior, the spinal erector muscles including multifidi, and the lower TrP#4 of the trapezius.
Lower back pain can be felt as referred pain from the trigger point number one in the rectus abdominis, or from the psoas muscle, or the lumbar spinal erectors, or the serratus posterior inferior, and could be referred from trigger point number one in the gluteus medius muscle.

Back pain relief - can come in many forms depending on the reason for the back pain in the first place. If the cause is myofascial trigger points referring pain or sensation into the back, back pain relief can come in the form of trigger point pressure release. Learning how to press on the muscles that harbor the trigger points causing the referred pain into the back can be the simplest and easiest way to pain relief. Along with this myofascial trigger point therapy, The use of heat via a mother earth trigger point pillow, or a Fomentek water bag not only to the area in the back having pain but also to the muscles in the abdomen can be an excellent way to bring about back pain relief. One may find it necessary to change the workstation ergonomics, switch to a standing desk, or employ a footrest for parts of the day to fully gain back pain relief.

C

cervical strain - the term cervical strain is often used to indicate someone who has pain in their neck. The word “cervical” means that portion of the spine which is in the uppermost part of the spine called the cervical region. A “sprain or strain” can indicate that an area (and its ligaments) has been stretched beyond its ability to stretch. Myofascial trigger point therapy can help someone who has experienced a cervical strain. Because often muscular spasm or splinting can occur in the neck muscles after the initial strain occurred.

craniosacral therapy - According to the Upledger Institute International, found at www.Upledger.com, cranial-sacral therapy is “a gentle, Hands-On approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and to improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered by osteopathic physician John E Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.” Cranial sacral therapy works very well together with myofascial trigger point therapy as each two of these hands-on treatment modalities serves to calm the central nervous system and to relieve relaxation in the entire person.


F

fascia - The definition of fascia according to David Lesondak found in his 2017 book: Fascia, What it Is, and Why it Matters: "Fascia is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue system that permeates the human body, forming a whole-body continuous three-dimensional Matrix of structural support. It interpenetrates and surrounds all organs, muscles, bones, and nerve fibers, creating a unique environment for body systems functioning. The scope of this definition and interest in fascia extends to all fibrous connective tissues including aponeurosis, ligaments, tendons, Britney regularly, joint capsules, Oregon, and vessel tunics, this is according to dr. Robert Finley and Robert Sleep, 2007 from the first International Fashion research Congress

frozen shoulder - Is a medical term that is given when someone has loss of range of motion in any of the three directions in the shoulder joint. While this seems like a painful condition, often the shoulder does not actually hurt. Unfortunately, most frozen shoulder conditions had long in advance warning signs that could have started with a little bit of weakness in the muscles around the shoulder, a slight bit of pain, and a small range of motion loss. Over time if these warning signs are ignored the shoulder can become more and more dysfunctional. In the trigger point therapy model we look to identify trigger points in any of the key muscles in and around or impacting the function of the shoulder. Most importantly we treat the subscapularis muscle, then latissimus dorsi, teres minor, teres major, infraspinatus, and coracobrachialis. The client is then taught self-trigger point pressure release to these key muscles and is also given a home exercise and movement program to try to regain the loss of range of motion from trigger points in the muscles causing the frozen shoulder. It is also interesting to note that frozen shoulder most often spontaneously occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 65. This may be due to the tremendous shifts and changing hormone levels as well as changes in the menstrual cycle. We also uncover perpetuating factors that are continuing the dysfunction in the muscles, and many times this is found to be low-level anemia, poor sleep posture, or chronically low vitamin D3.

L

Lower back pain - is pain that is felt starting at the T12 vertebrae through the L5 and sacral area. This area often also includes the upper buttocks at the hip crest area. Chronic lower back pain is the most common pain complaint for people around the world and usually has no ONE specific cause. It is best to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular varied exercise and movement. Trigger points found in the abdominal muscles (Psoas and Rectus Abdominis) are the most probable cause of lower back pain. You can find more information in the book published by New Harbinger Press in 2010 by Mary Biancalana and co-author. Trigger Point Therapy for Low Back Pain. See the link to purchase a used copy from Amazon here

lower back pain treatment



M


Massage Envy - is a United states-based chain of franchised massage therapy businesses. Very often these massage businesses employ 3 to 10 licensed massage therapists to perform various types of Massage Therapy. These massage centers are best to be used for the most traditional form of stress-relieving massage which is Swedish massage. Unfortunately, many Massage Envy locations have employed therapists who claim to be trained and other more complex forms of Massage Therapy including myofascial trigger point therapy. This simply is not true. Myofascial trigger point therapy takes years of focused training and study and requires the employment of the full and complete 7-step trigger point therapy protocol to truly be called trigger point therapy.

Morton's toe - can be known as Morton's foot is based on information garnered by Dudley J Morton in the 1950s. This type of foot is characterized by a shorter first metatarsal and a longer second metatarsal causing the big toe or the hallux to be physically shorter while the second toe can be measured and seen physically longer than the first. This toe structure causes the foot to hyper pronate or allowing the inside column of the foot ankle to roll downward and inward especially during the push-off phase of the gate. A simple correction can be fitted in the form of a Posture Control Insole, and this can prevent hyperpronation by bringing the ground up to meet the big toe joint, or the metatarsal phalangeal joint. You can call Mary Biancalana who is an expert in this foot condition for an evaluation. Clinic # 773-628-7654

Muscle pain - can be described as pain, sensation, or discomfort that is felt to be arising from dysfunction in or overuse of the muscular system. Muscle pain can be felt as many different types of sensation. This can include sharp, or dull and aching, or hot or stabbing,. Muscle pain is often characterized as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This is the type of sensation that occurs after strenuous or unaccustomed activities using the muscles in a specific way for repetitive or frequent movements. Muscle pain also can arise from myofascial trigger points found in tight muscle fiber bundles within muscles.

myofascial pain syndrome - Myofascial pain syndrome is a collection of various types of dysfunction and sensation caused by trigger points and tight fiber bundles within the muscles. The trigger points leave certain portions of the muscles stuck in a dysfunctional contracted state. These contracted muscle fibers are perpetuated by a negative biochemical feedback loop. Myofascial pain syndrome then can lead to other compensatory behaviors including muscle guarding, fearful or fear of muscle use, chronic changes in posture or behavior and/or increase in stress or anxiety. Myofascial trigger point therapy is found to be one of the most successful application therapies to eliminate myofascial pain syndrome. With a trained myofascial trigger point therapist, trigger points within dysfunctional muscles can be identified, treated, and returned to normal resting length. Home-care education empowers the patient to be an active participant in their rehabilitation. Self-applied trigger point pressure release can be performed daily and even a few times a day, to break the pain spasm pain cycle that is often found in myofascial pain syndrome.

myofascial release

P

plantar fasciitis - is a term that is often used to describe any type of pain or Sensation that is felt on the bottom or plantar surface of the foot. To truly be diagnosed with plantar fasciitis someone needs to have an MRI to confirm swelling of the plantar fascial thickening or presence of extracellular fluid. In most cases, pain that is felt at the bottom of the foot, mistakenly call plantar fasciitis, is caused by referred pain and trigger points from trigger point number one in the gastrocnemius muscle, the soleus muscle, and the flexor digitorum longus and tibialis posterior muscles

S

shoulder pain - can have the definition of any type of pain or Sensation that can be felt within the shoulder. The most probable causes of pain or sensation in the shoulder include the infraspinatus muscle, the supraspinatus muscle, and the anterior deltoids. Pain that is felt in the side of the shoulder can be from the middle deltoids, the infraspinatus muscle, the clavicular section of the trapezius, and the teres major muscle and the core-core brachialis. Shoulder pain that is felt in the back of the shoulder is most probably caused by the serratus posterior Superior, the posterior deltoids, teres minor, and the triceps.
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