Myofascial release program
UCLA trained board certified physician Dr. W.C. Lee personally provides myofascial release and stretching program at her clinic using the Travell technique including trigger point therapies/injections and spray and stretch program in combination or alone to treat muscle spasms and muscle pain.
She developed this program to treat the source of pain rather than masking it.
What are trigger point injections?
Much like a Western version of acupuncture, this is a technique performed by Dr. Lee in which she uses a dry needling technique with some anesthetic medication to help relax muscle spasms and thus reducing muscle pain.
Spray and Stretch Technique Spray and Stretch Technique for Myofascial Pain
Many of you may recall the name of Janet Travell. She was President Kennedy’s personal physician. It was Dr. Janet Travell that developed the spray and stretch technique used today for trigger point therapy. The term “trigger point” was coined in 1942 by Dr. Janet Travell to describe a clinical finding related to a discrete, irritable point in the skeletal muscle or fascia. Trigger Point Therapy is safe and effective in improving myofascial pain syndromes such headaches from referred muscle dysfunction, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, TMJ, fibromyalgia and any muscle dysfunction that may be encountered through injury or overuse. Mainstream clinical research has shown that trigger points are often responsible for headaches, muscle weakness and pain, restricted range of motion, tearing, sweating, salivation, dizziness and blurred vision. We have found that using a combination of the spray and stretch technique and/or trigger point therapy/injections have been able to help many acute and chronic pain conditions.
What Causes Trigger Points?
Normal, healthy muscles do not have trigger points. After experiencing trauma, such as a fall, car accident, joint sprain, muscle sprain, or abnormal excessive exercise, the muscles can develop trigger points. Trigger points may also develop in muscles that are chronically overloaded by poor posture, especially while working, or repetitive muscle movements such as sitting at a computer all day. Often pain including neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, leg pain, and arm pain can result from an imbalance in the flexibility of our muscles. Structural discrepancies, like uneven legs and pelvic bones, may produce a chronic mechanical stress that activates trigger points. This is why Dr. Travell prescribed left heel lifts for all of Kennedy’s shoes
How does the Spray and Stretch Technique Work?
As described by Dr. Travell, when spraying the skin surface the sudden drop in skin temperature is thought to produce a temporary anesthesia allowing the muscle to be passively stretched to inactivate or break down trigger points in the muscles. The spray and stretch technique uses a vapocoolant as a counterirritant to myofascial pain due to muscle spasm and trigger points. Using the spray and stretch technique decreases the pain sensation and helps in relieving muscle spasm and referred pain. Thus the spray and stretch technique can help in alleviating acute pain and restricted range of motion due to muscle trigger points associated with myofascial pain syndromes.
This article is informational and not to be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition
She developed this program to treat the source of pain rather than masking it.
What are trigger point injections?
Much like a Western version of acupuncture, this is a technique performed by Dr. Lee in which she uses a dry needling technique with some anesthetic medication to help relax muscle spasms and thus reducing muscle pain.
Spray and Stretch Technique Spray and Stretch Technique for Myofascial Pain
Many of you may recall the name of Janet Travell. She was President Kennedy’s personal physician. It was Dr. Janet Travell that developed the spray and stretch technique used today for trigger point therapy. The term “trigger point” was coined in 1942 by Dr. Janet Travell to describe a clinical finding related to a discrete, irritable point in the skeletal muscle or fascia. Trigger Point Therapy is safe and effective in improving myofascial pain syndromes such headaches from referred muscle dysfunction, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, TMJ, fibromyalgia and any muscle dysfunction that may be encountered through injury or overuse. Mainstream clinical research has shown that trigger points are often responsible for headaches, muscle weakness and pain, restricted range of motion, tearing, sweating, salivation, dizziness and blurred vision. We have found that using a combination of the spray and stretch technique and/or trigger point therapy/injections have been able to help many acute and chronic pain conditions.
What Causes Trigger Points?
Normal, healthy muscles do not have trigger points. After experiencing trauma, such as a fall, car accident, joint sprain, muscle sprain, or abnormal excessive exercise, the muscles can develop trigger points. Trigger points may also develop in muscles that are chronically overloaded by poor posture, especially while working, or repetitive muscle movements such as sitting at a computer all day. Often pain including neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, leg pain, and arm pain can result from an imbalance in the flexibility of our muscles. Structural discrepancies, like uneven legs and pelvic bones, may produce a chronic mechanical stress that activates trigger points. This is why Dr. Travell prescribed left heel lifts for all of Kennedy’s shoes
How does the Spray and Stretch Technique Work?
As described by Dr. Travell, when spraying the skin surface the sudden drop in skin temperature is thought to produce a temporary anesthesia allowing the muscle to be passively stretched to inactivate or break down trigger points in the muscles. The spray and stretch technique uses a vapocoolant as a counterirritant to myofascial pain due to muscle spasm and trigger points. Using the spray and stretch technique decreases the pain sensation and helps in relieving muscle spasm and referred pain. Thus the spray and stretch technique can help in alleviating acute pain and restricted range of motion due to muscle trigger points associated with myofascial pain syndromes.
This article is informational and not to be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition