When it comes to trigger point needling in the shoulder one of the major muscles we have to address is subscapularis. It plays a unique role as the only rotator cuff muscle to perform internal rotation. It is also notoriously uncomfortable to access. In my days as a massage therapist, I found it was in […]
One of the most under-utilized techniques in the acupuncturist’s tool belt is manual therapy (Tui Na). This modality can be an extremely effective tool to decrease pain and increase range of motion immediately for a patient. Manual therapy is a modality every acupuncture practitioner spent a fair amount of time learning in school. Of course,
When we think of treating shoulder, elbow, and hand pain, many practitioners do not often consider Brachialis, however, it can be a very effective trigger point to treat. Considered a prime mover for elbow flexion, brachialis lays under the more commonly thought of biceps brachii. Brachialis originates from the lower half of the humerus (anterior
When we teach our courses one of the most common questions is about the intensity of needling. Specifically, how much mechanical irritation is needed to relieve a trigger point. This is, of course, a loaded question. There is a great deal of research that is done to try to answer this. The research will also