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Blog - Tag Feed http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts Fri, 05 May 2017 02:47:49 +0000 Zend_Feed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Trigger Point Therapy - Sciatica http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/trigger-point-therapy-sciatica <p><strong>Trigger Point Therapy - Sciatica</strong></p> <p>Posted by <strong>Judith Winer</strong> on <strong>Jan 04, 2016</strong></p> <p><br />When we analyse the traffic through our clinics at the end of each quarter, sciatica seems to be always up there in the top ten. There are probably two good reasons for this. The first is that sciatica is one of those conditions where the pain can be extremely severe. The second, is that manual therapy has long since been recognised as being effective for providing relief, even by most medical doctors. In fact, any therapist familiar with trigger point therapy will tell you that they're always upbeat going in to treat sciatica, as the effects of the therapy are in most cases, extremely positive. This is something that has been reaffirmed in a number of studies.</p> <p>Sciatica is a symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as a lumbar herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis. It is not a medical condition in and of itself.</p> <p>The condition is characterised by pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. This is the largest nerve in the body, beginning at the lower back, and running through the hips and buttocks down to each leg. In most cases, sciatica affects only one side of the body, but can affect both (bilateral sciatica). </p> <p>Where symptoms are felt in both legs, it typically means that the cause of the compression, such as a herniated disc, is big enough to compress nerve roots on both sides of the spine. It is of course possible that two separate conditions have developed on opposite sides of the spine, but this would obviously be a rarity.</p> <p>In most cases, sciatica develops when the sciatic nerve is compressed by a herniated disk or bone spur. This causes inflammation, pain, and sometimes numbness in the affected side. It's worth noting that it's not unusual to come across sciatica in pregnant women due to an irritation of the sciatic nerve during pregnancy.</p> <p><strong>What Are the Symptoms of Sciatica? </strong></p> <p>The pain associated with sciatica can vary in degree. We see many clients who experience infrequent pain whilst others suffer so severely from the pain as to be largely incapacitated.</p> <p>Sciatica is often characterised by the following symptoms. The client may experience only one or a combination:</p> <p>• Constant pain in one side of the leg or buttock<br /> • Pain worsens when sitting<br /> • Burning, tingling, or searing pain in the leg<br /> • Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot<br /> • A sharp pain which might affect the ability to walk or to stand up</p> <p>Clients often describe how these symptoms worsen when they cough, sneeze, or sit for a long period of time.</p> <p><strong>Who Is Prone to Sciatica? </strong></p> <p>The probability of experiencing pain from sciatica peaks in the 50's and then declines. It is rare to see clients under the age of 20 suffering from this condition. Those who suffer from degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, lumbar disc diseases, slipped disc, or a trauma or injury to the lumbar spine are the groups who are at a higher risk.</p> <p>Studies have shown that obesity or even being overweight can increase the risk of sciatica, as the weight <em>will</em> increase stress on the spine. A job that requires you to twist your back, carry heavy objects, or drive a motor vehicle for long periods of time, may also contribute to increasing the risk factor. The other group worth noting are diabetes sufferes who are at increased risk because the way that the body uses blood sugar increases the risk of nerve damage.</p> <p>In summary, whilst there are those cases of sciatica which require more aggressive intervention to deal with the underlying cause, the preferred and most effective treatment in most cases is manual therapy including trigger point therapy, and prescribed stretching and strengthening exercises.</p> <p>The trigger points commonly (almost always) associated with sciatica are found in priformis, and gluteus maximus. </p> <p><em>NAT home study courses are designed for therapists who wish to add to their trigger point skills and knowledge. Each course presents the latest evidence based, best practice, trigger point techniques.</em> Click below to see our list of courses.</p> <p><a href="http://www.pressurepositive.com/education.html">http://www.pressurepositive.com/education.h tml</a></p> <p> </p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:20 +0000 Trigger Points and Lower Back Pain http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/trigger-points-and-lower-back-pain <p><strong>Trigger Points and Lower Back Pain</strong><br />By <strong>Simeon Niel Asher</strong><strong></strong></p> <p><em>Thank you to everyone who has been following our blogs this year, and all of you awesome fellow therapists who have contributed so actively to the NAT community pages on Facebook. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, and a prosperous, happy, and healthy 2016!</em></p> <p><em><br /></em></p> <p><em><img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0761/9521/files/Lower_Back_Pain_Trigger_Point_Therapy_Cour se_V2_page_6_of_104_1024x1024.jpg?15609269404328709513" alt="" /></em></p> <p>Lower Back Pain has reached epidemic proportions. Here we look at the part played by trigger points.</p> <p>It has been suggested that low back pain is an inevitable result of walking upright (Harari). As the force of gravity acts upon the skeleton and its muscular and ligamentous armature, it is distributed via the fascia into three dimensions. Myers (2013) talks of an internal cohesioncompression of the body where it is both collapsing in on itself and pushing out from itself in a constant state of equilibrium, a concept called ‘tensegrity’. Tensegrity is seen nowhere better than in the spine.</p> <p>If the spine were a straight, rigid stick it wouldn’t be able to compensate for the multiple forces acting upon it. Therefore it is specifically arranged in a series of curves (cervical and lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis). Along with the spinal discs, these curves are essential for shock absorption and are maintained by an interblend of muscles and ligaments that fire up in cyclical sequences.</p> <p>Even though all of the spinal vertebrae are designed to move, the spine also demonstrates specialization in its movement patterns ,allowing us to exploit our three dimensions. The direction of movement is mainly determined by the orientation of the spinal “facet joints”: forward and backwards movements (flexion and extension) from the low back, sideways from the neck (side bending) and rotation from the thoracic spine (although this is limited by the ribs). The other important movement is a type of nodding backwards and forwards which is translated through the sacroiliac joints (nutation and counter-nutation).</p> <p>Layered on top of the vertebrae are a series of ligaments that are strong and specialized to resist directional forces They again can be a source of pain and may develop “trigger points”. On top of the ligaments is a complex but beautiful system of muscles. The deepest spinal muscles are used to make minute adjustments in vertebral orientation (rotatores, interspinalis and intertransversalis).</p> <p>Then the multifidus with its large and strong fibers bridging several vertebrae at once and helping to maintain posture.</p> <p>The next layer of muscles connects the vertebrae to another from one to six segments upwards. This is the erector spinae and it is divided into three columns. Moving outwards from the center it forms a “wing like” structure - spinalis, longissimus and iliocostalis. The erector spinae don’t really keep the spine erect (that’s the job of the psoas and the multifidus) but they do extend the spine from a flexed position.</p> <p>Side-bending is mainly performed by the quadratus lumborum muscles. Arranged over these muscles we have broader, flatter and more superficial muscles such as the latissimus dorsi.</p> <p>Added to all this hardware is the software that the brain uses to co-ordinate and sequence movement. All of the above structures feed information to the brain in a constant stream affording it orientation (proprioception), as well as force and direction (velocity). The brain responds by organizing movement sequences hierarchically in functional units. These functional units mainly consist of a prime mover (agonist), an opposing muscle force (antagonist) and other muscles that either fix the local joint (fixators) or help the prime mover (synergists).</p> <p>The body tends to shut down around pain to avoid further noxious stimuli. Part of the way it does this is by using trigger points. For example, the erector spinae, multifidus, iliopsoas, quadratus lumborum, piriformis, rectus abdominus and hamstring muscles often manifest trigger points in patients with disc problems. Similarly, the gluteus medius muscle often ‘switches-off’ and develops trigger points around sacro-iliac problems.</p> <p>So here's a brief overview of how, why and where trigger points develop in the above structures and their connection to lower back pain:</p> <p><strong>Multifidus </strong></p> <p>The multifidus muscle has a deeper and more superficial arrangement. It is intimately involved with most types of LBP and often manifests trigger points. Because the muscles are so deep you need to use firm pressure to work on these trigger points.</p> <p><strong>Erector Spinae </strong></p> <p>Interestingly and contrary to what some of us have been taught the erector spinae don’t hold the spine erect! Most fibers are electrically silent during postural work (Kippers 1984). This muscle group is designed to activate during extension from flexion, i.e. standing upright from bending forward. The erector spinae has three divisions each of which may manifest a trigger point. According to Simons, Travell, and Simons, individual pain patterns of several trigger points that refer pain to the Lumbosacral region may blend into each other.</p> <p><strong>Piriformis </strong></p> <p>The piriformis takes its origin from the lower part of the sacrum but it also often gets involved with the protective patterns. It has been suggested that when the piriformis muscle gets tight, it can compress the sciatic nerve, or even the blood vessels to the nerve, (vaso nervorum) which can lead to (pseudo) sciatica. Remember that 17% of people have a sciatic nerve that runs through the piriformis muscle.</p> <p><strong>Rectus Abdominus </strong></p> <p>The rectus is an antagonist to the multifidus muscle and may either get involved with LBP due to reciprocal inhibition or it may be a source of LBP itself. It is also interesting to note that trigger points in the lower rectus may also cause diarrhea and symptoms mimicking diverticulosis or gynecological disease.</p> <p>We have often found that treating trigger points in the rectus adds the finishing touch in some patients. Often it can also be the reason why the lower back trigger points don’t stay released.</p> <p><strong>Iliopsoas </strong></p> <p>Mechanically, the iliopsoas has an intimate relationship with maintaining the lumbar spinal lordosis and is often involved in mechanical LBP, but that is not the whole story. In her book The Vital Psoas, Jo Ann Staugaard- Jones also describes the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of the iliopsoas. Staugaard-Jones talks of the iliopsoas as two distinct muscles: the psoas major (one of the deepest core muscles) and the ilaicus.</p> <p>The psoas, she maintains, is the only muscle that connects the upper body to the lower (spine to legs) and integrates deeply with the nerve and energy systems: “It is enervated by the lumbar nerve complex (lower back) and when released, helps energize subtle body systems!”</p> <p><strong>Glutes, Piriformis and Hamstrings </strong></p> <p>Along with the tight glutes and piriformis the lower back muscles tend to form a triangle of tight, spastic and fatigued tissues. Postural changes also cause tension in the hamstring muscles, which also often manifests trigger points and can ache after exercise.</p> <p><strong>Hamstrings </strong></p> <p>We often find trigger points in the hamstring muscles associated with LBP. Sometimes this is a cause-and-effect relationship, from a trapped nerve (radiculopathy) in the spine (sciatica). In these cases not all of the information/trophic input reaches the muscle fibers and the muscles may become tight and full of trigger points. The corollary is also true. Sometimes a tight hamstring will have a negative mechanical effect on the lower back.</p> <p><strong>Quadratus Lumborum (Q/L) </strong></p> <p>The myofacial pain maps for the Q/L tend to radiate into the pelvis even though the trigger points are higher in the spine. Taut bands in the quadratus lumborum muscle can contribute to scoliosis. The Q/L is often involved in any disc pathology literally bending the patient to one side (especially in the morning).</p> <p><strong>Levator Ani – Sacral Pain </strong></p> <p>The levator ani muscle consists of the pubococcygeus and the iliococcygeus muscles. Together with the coccygeus muscle, these muscles form the pelvic diaphragm (the muscular floor of the pelvis). Trigger points in the levator ani muscle are often implicated in low back pain syndromes.</p> <p><strong>Soleus – Sacral Pain </strong></p> <p>The soleus is a “classic” example of a trigger point whose myofascial pain map is remote from the origin. The soleus is deep in the calf, yet in some cases a trigger point in the soleus can refer pain to the coccyx area. We have seen this personally and it is fascinating how treating this trigger point relieves the low back pain.</p> <p>How does your spine stack up to lower back pain? Understand the how, why and where of trigger points surrounding the spine in this weeks Blog Post from Simeon Niel Asher. <br /><br />Get 25% off his self care guide on low back pain: <a href="http://www.pressurepositive.com/ebooks/lower-back-pain-natr-trigger-pointtherapy-program.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.pressurepositive.com/…/lower-back-pain-natr-trig…</a>. <strong>Offer ends Dec. 31st!<br /><br /></strong></p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:19 +0000 Pathophysiology of Trigger Points http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/pathophysiology-of-trigger-points <div class="section-header--left"> <h1>Pathophysiology of Trigger Points</h1> <p class="textlight">Posted by <strong>Judith Winer</strong> on <strong>Dec 17, 2015</strong></p> </div> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0761/9521/files/CB_Trigger_Point_chapter_3.pdf_page_8_of_14 _grande.jpg?12420509050412806465" alt="" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666;"> <em>Cycle of misery: trigger point formation hypothesis – these individual links in the chain </em><em>do not always occur in this order. (Sourced from: Starlanyl & Sharkey 2013.)</em></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;">Sadly, too many therapists remain out of the loop, when it comes to understanding trigger points. In the case of some (mostly PT's, but others included) there is still a tremendous cynicism. This is generally because these therapists have received a negatively biased education, and have somehow avoided the opportunities to learn and explore trigger point therapy first hand.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">For anyone willing to take the time to piece it all together, there is plenty of freely available research to support trigger point therapy. Mainstream acceptance of trigger point therapy has grown rapidly in recent years. We're committed to playing our part to push for the introduction of trigger point therapy as a standard teaching requirement for all manual therapists. </p> <p style="text-align: left;">In todays trigger point blog we take a deeper look at where trigger points come from.</p> <p style="textalign: left;"><strong>The Integrated Trigger Point Hypothesis (ITPH) </strong></p> <p style="textalign: left;"><span>The ITPH is the current theory/working hypothesis. It </span><span>explains most of the trigger point phenomena, and is based on the best electrodiagnostic and histopathological evidence to date. First introduced by Travell and Simons in 1981 as the “energy crisis theory” (Simons et al. </span><span>1998), the ITPH has been expanded over the years by many others in the field. </span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span><a href="http://www.pressurepositive.com/massage-tools.html" >Trigger points</a> manifest in the region where sarcomeres and extrafusal motor endplates become overactive. Microscopy has demonstrated that actin and myosin </span><span>myofilaments (sitting within a taught band) stop sliding over one another and get stuck. Reitinger et al. (1996) </span><span>reported “pathological alterations” in mitochondria </span><span>within these myofilaments, as well as an increase in the width of A bands and a decrease in the width of I </span><span>bands. The affected sarcomere(s) becomes permanently “switched on,” leading to a contraction and “wind-up.” </span><span>The swollen, contracted actin and myosin filaments </span><span>may actually get stuck in the Z band because of the gel- </span><span>like titin molecules ratcheting the fibers in place and preventing detachment (Dommerholt et al. 2006). </span></p> <p class="column" style="text-align: left;"><span>Recent electrophysiological investigations have revealed that the electrical activity of “active trigger points” arises from dysfunctional extrafusal motor endplate zones rather than from (as previously thought) muscle spindles. </span><span>Electrical discharge frequencies of 10–1000 times normal </span><span>have been demonstrated in the “endplate zone” in horses, rabbits, and humans (Simons et al. 2002, Dommerholt et </span><span>al. 2006).</span></p> <p style="textalign: left;"><span>Histological investigation indicates abnormal calcium and ACh levels, and a shortage of ATP in the vicinity </span><span>of the trigger point. It is worth noting that Grinnel et al. </span><span>(2003) demonstrated that stretching and/or hypertonicity of muscles causes a pulling of integrin protein peptides at the motor nerve terminal, triggering excessive ACh release </span><span>without </span><span>the need for calcium. Other abnormal chemicals present in the milieu of “active” trigger points include (Shah et al. 2003):</span></p> <p style="textalign: left;">Prostaglandins Substance P; Cytokines Bradykinin (BK); Hydrogen (H+); Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP); Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α); Interleukins IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8; Serotonin; Norepinephrine.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span>These chemicals have many interactions and are part of various feedback loops. For instance, bradykinin </span><span>is known to activate and sensitize muscle pain fibers </span><span>(nociceptors). This may help to explain some of the </span><span>inflammatory hyperalgesia, tenderness, pain, and </span><span>lowered pain thresholds seen in patients with chronic trigger points.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Vicious Cycle of Energy Crisis</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span>Sustained dysfunction and sarcomere contraction leads to local intracellular and extracellular chemical changes including:</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Localized ischemia/hypoxia</p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Increased metabolic needs</p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Increased energy (required to sustain contraction)</p> <p style="textalign: left;">• Failed reuptake of calcium ions into the sarcoplasmic reticulum</p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Localized inflammation (to facilitate repair)</p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Compression or watershed effect on local vessels</p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Energy crisis</p> <p style="text-align: left;">• Production of inflammatory agents (which sensitize local autonomic and nociceptive fibers) </p> <p style="text-align: left;">If this situation is allowed to continue over a significant period of time, the above changes lead to a vicious cycle. Calcium is unable to be taken into the actin and myosin myofilaments, leading to sarcomere “failure.”</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Bengtsson et al. (1986), Hong (1996), and Simons et al. (1998) have all proposed variations of the energy crisis theory. This theory suggests that the body attempts to resolve sarcomere and endplate failure (outlined above) by changing the blood supply to the sarcomere (vasodilation).</p> <p style="text-align: left;">One further result of this anomalous situation is the migration of localized acute and chronic inflammatory cells. Inflammation is a cascade: this cascade mechanism starts to occur around the dysfunctional sarcomere. Inflammation brings with it sensitizing substances, such as bradykinin and substance P, a peptide present in nerve cells, which not only increases the contractions of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, but also causes vasodilation.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">This has the effect of stimulating both local (small) pain fibers and local autonomic fibers, which in turn leads to increased ACh production and hence a vicious cycle. Eventually, the brain sends a signal to the muscle in which the trigger point manifests to cause it to rest. This leads to hypertonia, weakness, shortening, and fibrosis (muscle stiffness) of the muscle, along with reflex inhibition of other muscle groups. Under microscopy, these fibers have been described as “ragged red.” Treatment is thus aimed at interfering with and attenuating this vicious cycle.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">For therapists interested in taking trigger point therapy to the next level, see <strong><a href="http://www.pressurepositive.com/massage-tools.html" >NAT home study</a> </strong>courses. Always affordable, powerful, and immediately practical!</p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:17 +0000 3 Muscles that Cause Tooth Pain and Unnecessary Dental Procedures! http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/3-muscles-that-cause-tooth-pain-and-unnecessary-dentalprocedures <strong>We know that trigger points can be excruciatingly painful, but who knew that some might literally cause you to pull your teeth out? </strong></p> <p>We often complain about the lack of myofascial education in the medical profession. Calculations are made each year of the number and cost of unnecessary surgeries and other procedures performed due to improper diagnosis. Many of these cases result from completely overlooking myofascial pain caused by trigger points. However, there is one group of professionals who is starting to break that trend ... dentists! </p> <p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Toothache-Muscles---3-Trigger-Points-That-Can-MakeYou-Pull-Your-TEETH-Out-----Literally-.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=r2aaIFhFcpY">Three Muscles that Cause Tooth Pain and Unneccessary Dental Procedures.</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:16 +0000 The 6 Official Tests: You Can't Afford to Fail! http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/the-6-official-tests-you-cant-afford-to-fail <strong>We know that trigger points can be excruciatingly painful, but who knew that some might literally cause you to pull your teeth out? </strong></p> <p>We often complain about the lack of myofascial education in the medical profession. Calculations are made each year of the number and cost of unnecessary surgeries and other procedures performed due to improper diagnosis. Many of these cases result from completely overlooking myofascial pain caused by trigger points. However, there is one group of professionals who is starting to break that trend ... dentists! </p> <p>Read the rest of the article by clicking on the link below and thank you for supporting us in spreading Muscle News to as many friends, family and colleagues as possible!</p> <p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Muscle-News---Core-Stability----6-Official-Tests-You- Can-t-Afford-to-Fail-.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=IOs3tz2TwNY">The 6 Official Tests You Can't Afford To Fail</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:14 +0000 Tired, Sore or Swollen Feet? Here's the remedy that can't be beat! http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/tired-sore-or-swollen-feet-heres-the-remedy-that-cant-bebeat p><strong>One thing is true about feet ... There is no other place in the whole human body we feel so much pleasure to treat! For "foot people" there is nothing quite as pleasurable as a good foot massage. It almost makes the soreness in our feet worth it! </strong></p> <p>However, not all foot treatments are created equal. The myofascial foot remedy in this issue of Muscle News not only feels great, but also has the added benefit of being therapeutic and corrective to myofascial tissues from head to toe! </p>Don't forget, the fascial sheath that surrounds our body starts at the feet and wraps all the way up to our heads like a full body pantyhose. So, while you enjoy the following myofascial spa treatment for your feet, you are improving the health of your entire musculoskeletal system!<p></p> <p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Muscle-News--Tired--Sore-or-Swollen-Feet----Here-s-theRemedy-that-Can-t-Be-Beat-.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=aQi7z8ZZj7A ">Tired, Sore or Swollen Feet?</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:13 +0000 The Miracle Hand and Wrist Treatment: Part 2 http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/the-miracle-hand-and-wrist-treatment-part-2 p><strong>We know you therapists especially are going to enjoy Part 2 of the Miracle Hand & Wrist Treatment: Weak grip & Stiff Fingers </strong></p> <p>While being a hindrance to the life of anyone these symptoms can be disabling to a professional bodyworker! This issue we will teach you the basic method to get rid of these TWO frustrating and painful conditions. </p> <p>At some future point in time (quite soon if our efforts succeed), knowing how to take care of your body will be part of everyone's education. Thank you for supporting us in spreading Muscle News to as many friends, family and colleagues as possible!</p> <p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Weak-Gripor-Stiff-Fingers---Read-this-Miracle-Hand---Wrist-Treatment--Part2.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=IAXbEMtsi7M ">The Miracle Hand and Wrist Treatment: Part 2</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:11 +0000 The Miracle Hand and Wrist Treatment: Part 1 http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/the-miracle-hand-and-wrist-treatment-part-1 p><strong>One of the hard lessons we've learned in medicine is that Repetitive Use Injuries are real. We don't have to have a traumatic incident to incur an injury in a joint, muscle or tendon. All that has to happen to seriously wound a joint or muscle is repeated use day after day without proper maintenance and recovery. </strong></p> <p>Realizing this, one area that takes a pounding in modern life is the hand & wrist! Day after day, between using the computer to writing to driving, the hand & wrist never get a break! And who takes the time or even knows how to perform maintenance on this vital body area? </p> <p>If you are experiencing wrist symptoms already, don't wait until permanent joint changes have already taken place. And even if you have no symptoms, it is still important to do these simple preventative exercises that take mere minutes.</p> <p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Muscle-News---The-Miracle-Hand---Wrist-Treatment--Part-1.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=1qcXYf5M51w ">The Miracle hand and Wrist Treatment: Part 1</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:10 +0000 Pain in the Thorax or Chest? Don't Assume the Worst! http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/pain-in-the-thorax-or-chest-dont-assume-the-worst p><strong> There is an excellent reason our chests are protected by a powerful cage of ribs and fascia ... to protect our life-sustaining organs, such as the heart and lungs. When you have pain in the chest or thoracic cavity, you must certainly not ignore it. If there are accompanying symptoms down your arm, there may be something very unpleasant brewing in this vital area of your body, and you should seek a proper medical evaluation. </strong></p> <p> However, many times it is hard to track down the cause of pains and aches in this scary body region. Thankfully, the field of Trigger Point Therapy has offered many solutions to these otherwise enigmatic symptoms. Pain in the thoracic cage and chest are frequently the result of easy to treat trigger points in several muscles, rather than an indication of serious illness. </p> <p> In this issue of Muscle News, we are going to look at one such muscle that causes mysterious thoracic pain without a dangerous underlying cause. </p> <p><a href=" http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Pain-in-the-Thorax-or-Chest--Don-t-Assume-the-Worst-Check-These-Trigger-Points-in-Your-Pull-Up-Muscle.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=R57bl46j1oE ">Pain in the Thorax or Chest? Don't Assume the Worst!</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:09 +0000 I've Been Shot in the Back Muscle - One-Sided Low Back Pain & SI Joint Injury! http://www.pressurepositive.com/blog-posts/ive-been-shot-in-the-back-muscle-one-sided-low-backpain-si-joint-injury <p><strong> A remarkable number of people are familiar with a joint that you really have no business knowing about unless you're an anatomy professor. </strong></p> <p> It's not like your elbow or knee or wrist that you willingly use every day. In fact, it barely even moves at all, but rather wiggles a little when you walk in a tiny figure 8 pattern that is virtually undetectable to all but the trained professional's eye. </p> <p> It's called your Sacroiliac Joint or SI joint, and if you put your hands on your hips backwards, your fingers would pretty much be right on top of the joint. Not exactly one of the "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" parts of the body we refer to on a regular basis. </p> <p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/-I-ve-Been-Shot-in-the-Back-Muscle----One-Sided-LowBack-Pain---SI-Joint-Injury-.html?soid=1101121545271&aid=gKVH4NCo0eQ ">I've Been Shot In the Back Muscle!</a><p> Thu, 04 May 2017 04:02:07 +0000