A major development in the safe and effective treatment of myofascial trigger points and myofascial pain, this book is a concise, comprehensive, and well-illustrated reference on dry needling. John Sharkey—an international authority on myofascial trigger points, myofascial pain, myofascial trigger point dry needling, and neuromuscular therapy as well as an accredited clinical anatomist—draws on his thirty years of experience in bodywork and movement therapy to provide accurate and essential criteria for the identification and subsequent treatment of myofascial trigger points through the exclusive use of a fine, filiform needle. The ideal accompaniment to course notes and the perfect tableside reference guide, this book describes the origin, etiology, and pathophysiology of the myofascial trigger point as well as indications and contraindications for myofascial trigger point dry needling. Instructive illustrations support the text, along with standards and guidelines that ensure safe, effective, and appropriate application. Physical therapists including osteopaths, chiropractors, neuromuscular therapists, soft tissue therapists, physiotherapists, and sports massage therapists will find this guide indispensible. Because Sharkey explains why so many people have unresolved chronic pain and provides clear explanations of how pain is propagated, the book is also an invaluable source of information for patients with chronic pain and their care providers.

This exciting new publication is the first authoritative resource on the market with an exclusive focus on Trigger Point ((TrP) dry needling. It provides a detailed and up-to-date scientific perspective against which TrP dry needling can be best understood. The first section of the book covers important topics such as the current understanding and neurophysiology of the TrP phenomena, safety and hygiene, the effect of needling on fascia and connective tissue, and an account on professional issues surrounding TrP dry needling. The second section includes a detailed and well-illustrated review of deep dry needling techniques of the most common muscles throughout the body. The third section of the book describes several other needling approaches, such as superficial dry needling, dry needling from a Western Acupuncture perspective, intramuscular stimulation, and Fu's subcutaneous needling. Trigger Point Dry Needling brings together authors who are internationally recognized specialists in the field of myofascial pain and dry needling. First book of its kind to include different needling approaches (in the context of evidence) for the management of neuromuscular pain conditions Highlights both current scientific evidence and clinicians' expertise and experience Multi-contributed by a team of top international experts Over 200 illustrations supporting the detailed description of needling techniques

Designed to be a go-to reference for assessment and treatment planning in the clinic, this is a clear and concise handbook for students and practitioners of dry needling, or medical acupuncture. It includes: · Comprehensive medical illustrations demonstrating trigger point locations and associated pain referral patterns · Easy-to-follow instructions and photographs demonstrating musculoskeletal dry needling points and electroacupuncture techniques · Dedicated section on the acupuncture treatment of tendinopathy · Vital information on palpation and correct needling techniques · Practical guidance on best practice, safety and treatment planning · Overviews of the history and key principles of Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture · Up-to-date research on the effect of acupuncture in the treatment of MSK conditions, myofascial pain, trigger points (MTrPS), fascia and pain. The book will be an essential aid for osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports rehabilitators, chiropractors, massage therapists, as well as traditional acupuncturists wishing to understand a Western approach on acupuncture. Other health professionals incorporating, or looking to incorporate dry needling into their treatment programme, will also find this book an invaluable resource.

This new work by a renowned massage author takes a close look at palpation of muscle and bone, and includes content related topics including trigger points with their pain referral patterns, stretching, and body mechanics. The DVD features video demonstrations of palpation of all muscles. Illustrations.

Written by widely respected acupuncture expert Yun-tao Ma, PhD, LAc, Biomedical Acupuncture for Sports and Trauma Rehabilitation shows techniques that will enhance athletic performance, accelerate recovery after intensive workouts, and speed trauma rehabilitation after injuries or surgeries. Evidence-based research is used to support the best and most effective techniques, with over 100 illustrations showing anatomy, injury, and clinical procedures. Unlike many other acupuncture books, this book uses a Western approach to make it easier to understand rationales, master techniques, and integrate biomedical acupuncture into your practice. "Finally, a well-referenced, common sense approach to dry needling in sports medicine that discusses maintenance, overtraining, and the effect of the stress response in athletes. This is a long-awaited book that will leave you feeling comfortable with a technique that is very useful not only for athletes, but for all patients of your practice." Rey Ximenes, MD The Pain and Stress Management Center Austin, Texas "For any clinician involved with assisting athletes recover from injury, as well as providing services to enhance physical performance, this text will be indispensable. This book is a major accomplishment in the field of sports injury and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological pain." Mark A. Kestner, DC, FIAMA, CCSP, CSCS Kestner Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center Murfreesboro, Tennessee Unique! Explores acupuncture treatments for sports injuries in the acute phase, rehabilitation, and prevention. Includes acupuncture for performance enhancement and injury prevention, emphasizing pre-event acupuncture used to help increase muscle output, assist with pre-competition stress, and prevent soft tissue injury. Provides evidence-based research to show the science behind the best and most effective techniques, based on the author’s background in neuroscience and cell biology and his 35 years of clinical acupuncture experience. Offers an overview of the science of biomedical acupuncture including the mechanisms of acupuncture, anatomy and physiology of acupoints, and discussion of human healing potential. Uses terminology and concepts familiar to Western-trained health professionals, making the material easier to understand and incorporate into practice. Includes more than 100 illustrations showing anatomy, injury, and clinical procedures. Covers useful techniques including those that increase muscle force output, joint flexibility and stability; prevent sports injuries like muscle sprain, tendonitis, bone strain, stress/fatigue fracture and bone spurs; reinforce muscle output for specific sports; normalize physiology of dysfunctional soft tissues; predict treatment response; reduce physiological stress; use the new Vacuum Therapy for deep tissue dysfunctions; and balance the biomechanics of musculoskeletal system.

Michael Shea, one of the foremost experts on myofascial release, presents straightforward, practical instructions for dramatically releasing pain and restriction of motion in the body's fascia, muscles, and connective tissue. He introduces a soft tissue, hands-on approach for massage therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare practitioners that reduces tension and stress in their clients' entire myofascial systems, as well as their musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. Therapists with little or no background in myofascial release and deep tissue reorganization can follow this book's easy guidelines in order to facilitate substantial orthopedic changes and pain reduction in their clients. Illustrated with 70 black and white photos, Myofascial Release Therapy includes an at-a-glance section that provides a step-by-step procedure for quick reference. Each photo is supplemented with instructions, as well as with arrows for easy reference in the clinic. This book provides the first integration of the verbal, visceral, and palpation skills of the therapist. It also includes work on the viscera as a way of integrating soft tissue work through the abdomen and pelvis. While manuals on the bones, muscles, and viscera have previously been divided into separate volumes, this book combines them into one. The author offers specific tools and protocols for helping patients "destructure" past somatic experience and reform it into something healthier. He illuminates the interconnectedness between bodies and their relationships to the outside world, including how sensations, feelings, and emotions are organized in the body and how they are coupled to meaning and memory. The result of many years of experience and knowledge, this book provides compelling evidence that myofascial release therapy encourages more rapid healing response of injured tissue.