Trigger Points: Use the Power of Touch to Live Life Pain-Free

by Amanda Oswald

New science confirms that trigger-point massage is one of the most effective ways to relieve pain. Trigger Points gives you 40 simple, step-by-step exercises you can safely use at home to target pain - from long-term, debilitating backache or repetitive strain injury to migraines or acute, post-injury pain.

Author and leading therapist Amanda Oswald specializes in working with chronic pain conditions. In this book, she explains how trigger points - small, tender knots of connective tissue - can cause symptoms, either around the trigger point itself or referred to elsewhere in the body. Pressure and massage can release these knots and bring immediate, long-lasting relief.

Identify your pain patterns, locate the trigger points responsible using detailed body maps, then treat the trigger points accurately and safely. Each exercise shows you how to position your body, different ways to apply pressure, how long to sustain it, and how often to repeat the process.

With Trigger Points, you can take control of chronic or recurring pain yourself to achieve life-changing results.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

146 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2019

About the author

Amanda is a leading UK myofascial release specialist, working for the last 10 years exclusively with clients suffering chronic pain. She is the founder of the Pain Care Clinic, with locations in London’s prestigious Harley Street and elsewhere in the UK.
Her journey into myofascial release started with her own chronic pain. She spent many years working in stressful jobs, alternating long hours in the office with vigorous sports including rugby and long-distance running. Like many people, she dismissed the warning aches and pains that came and went from time to time. And predictably she developed first RSI and then a prolapsed disc. Chronic pain set in and took over her life forcing her to stop working and abandon the leisure activities she loved.
Just wanting to be out of pain, she said yes to surgery that was offered, knowing nothing of the alternatives. The disc pain went but she was left scar tissue from the surgery, which left her conscious of physical restrictions, and fearful of the pain returning. In her efforts to heal herself completely, she re-trained and qualified first as a massage therapist then as a sports massage therapist. During her advanced massage studies, she heard about myofascial release and everything changed.
Myofascial release is a gentle non-invasive bodywork technique that works on the body’s connective tissue – fascia – to release physical restrictions and pain patterns. Coming from an holistic tradition, it takes a mind–body approach, recognising that emotional experiences and trauma can play an important part in our experience of pain.
Having discovered myofascial release, Amanda wanted to learn everything she could about fascia. She trained with a wide range of fascia experts in the USA, UK, and Europe. She attended workshops and courses and fascia symposia, participated in fascial dissections, and read many, many fascia books.
Living Pain Free: Healing Chronic Pain with Myofascial Release is the result of Amanda’s studies and 10 years of clinic work with many people experiencing a wide range of complex chronic pain conditions. Each and every one of them has taught her more about the relationship between fascia and chronic pain, and in return she has treated them myofascially and explained to them what is going on in their bodies, why they have chronic pain, and how to take control of their own recovery so they can ensure their pain does not return.
The book shares this knowledge and is intended inspire as many people as possible to heal themselves fascially.
Amanda and her team also run Living Pain Free workshops for the public and have developed self-help products for myofascial release.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this one a four, only because I was only able to try out a couple of the techniques given. I believe this book can be helpful to people with certain pain issues that have not found relief using other methods. My understanding is that it involves putting pressure on these points for brief periods , allowing them to release some of their tension. I know it does help me sometimes and if I were more consistent would work even better.

[Mikaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm dating a physio and I would recommend having a professional present at all times. Don't just walk yourself through it.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was quite good. But I would recommend that when doing the exercises, to take it slow and easy to avoid further pain, and related issues.