Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1501042
20 m a s s a g e & b o d y wo r k j u l y/a u g u s t 2 0 2 3 How do you choose your next movie to watch, book to read, or TV show to binge? You definitely don't want to waste the precious downtime you have. But there are so many options it can be a tad overwhelming. So how do you decide? Do you do an online search? Do you read all the reviews from random people you've never met? Maybe you get recommendations from a friend (that said, the last time they suggested something it made you question your friendship). Maybe you dive into recent Oscar, Emmy, or Pulitzer winners. But those are intense, and you want something more lighthearted. How do you choose? Trusting someone to guide us toward what we want to consume lands us in a bit of a paradox: We both need and loathe other people's opinions. This happens all the time . . . and not just with entertainment. Seeking out the techniques we want to learn, and from whom, in the field of bodywork and massage is no different. On multiple occasions, I have taken a CE class suggested by an admired colleague and got nothing from it. Conversely, I have insisted that my coworkers read a profound article on a specialized topic because it changed the way I think, just to see it rejected and forgotten on the clinic f loor. It's quite a conundrum. Let's say you want to learn more about trigger point therapy. This one's a doozy. There are so many theories about what a trigger point is, and even more instructors who believe their approach to these messy muscle misfortunes is the right one. Do you use ice or heat? Do you talk through the work or stay quiet? Do you use tools? Push through pain? Use friction? Dry needling? The options are endless. Like searching for your next show to stream, how do you know who will give you exactly what you seek? The truth is, you don't know. And worse, you can't know. Until you try. IDENTIFYING A TRIGGER POINT Understanding the anatomy of a trigger point is a good start. Seasoned bodyworkers often assert, with good reason, that it is essential to know your anatomy. This alone can help you decide a host of decisions you need to make in any given session. But here's the dilemma: No one really knows what a trigger point is. Dr. Janet Travell gifted us with the language around muscle knots, and our ability to talk about myofascial pain syndrome is based on this By Allison Denney KEY POINTS • Describing a trigger point is impossible without attempting to interpret what it feels like. It's a bit like trying to explain laughter. • Even after you find what works for you with trigger points, never stop searching for answers. THE REBEL MT Anatomy of a Trigger Point TECHNIQUE