Institute of Trigger Point Studies
WORKSHOPS - CONTINUING EDUCATION
We provide Trigger Points Distance Learning / Home Study Modules and Seminars. All providers are welcome to take the courses, as the information can be applied to a variety of treatment modalities. Seminars may include dry needling instruction for those practitioners who can needle within the scope of their practice, such as acupuncturists and PT's in some States. To see testimonials, click here. For conferences, click here. For contact information, click here.
If you would like to
be added to an email list for future course offerings,
click here.
To see if your organization has approved CE/CEU/PDA credits for each
trigger point course, check the course descriptions below. Seminar maximum ratio 1
instructor per 24 students.
DISTANCE LEARNING / HOME STUDY MODULES
DL / HS Modules (Self-Paced Courses) |
Didactic Portion |
Clinical
Problem-Solving (Case Studies) (Didactic must be taken 1st) |
||
Trigger Points: Critical Thinking Use of CD & treating patients * (Module 1 Online!) (CD ROM textbook included, which is mailed. If you need a flash drive instead, please select the second "Buy Now" button which adds $5.) |
CD
ROM
Flashdrive |
8 CE's $175 |
|
|
Trigger Points: Head & Neck Pain
** (Module 2) |
7 CE's $95 |
6 CE's $150 |
||
Trigger Points:
Torso Area Pain ** (Module 3) |
7 CE's $95 |
6 CE's $150 |
||
Trigger Points: Shoulder, Upper Arm, & Elbow Pain ** (Module 4) |
7 CE's $95 |
6 CE's $150 |
||
Trigger Points: Gluteal & Pelvic Pain Trigger Points: Forearm & Hand Pain (Module 5) ** |
7 CE's $95 |
6 CE's $150 |
||
Trigger
Points: Leg, Knee, & Foot Pain ** (Module 6) |
7 CE's $95 |
6 CE's $150 |
||
Modules 1-6,
Distance Learning Didactic portions only (5% discount) (Flashdrive option adds $5) |
43 CE's $570 (See Refund policy - by purchasing the course you are agreeing to the policy) |
Flashdrive |
||
Entire
Program, Distance Learning Didactic plus Case Studies 10% discount) (Flashdrive option adds $5) |
81 CE's $1335 (See Refund policy - by purchasing the course you are agreeing to the policy) |
Flashdrive |
SEMINARS
Seminar Topic | CE's | Cost | Combines
Didactic & Clinical |
|
Trigger Points: Critical Thinking Use of CD & treating patients * (Module 1) (CD ROM textbook included) (See Refund policy) |
16 |
|||
Early $400 Reg. $450 |
||||
Juneau, AK March 5-6, 2016 Early Bird by Dec 31 Maximum 20 students |
Cancelled due to venue loss - reschedule pending | |||
Trigger
Points: Head & Neck Pain
** (Module 2) |
16 | Reg. $450 |
Not currently scheduled |
|
Trigger Points:
Torso Area Pain ** (Module 3) |
16 | Reg. $450 |
Not currently scheduled | |
Trigger Points: Shoulder, Upper Arm, & Elbow Pain ** (Module 4) |
16 | Reg. $450 |
Not currently scheduled | |
Trigger Points: Gluteal & Pelvic Pain
Trigger Points: Forearm & Hand Pain ** (Module 5) |
16 | Reg. $450 |
Not currently scheduled | |
Trigger
Points: Leg, Knee, & Foot Pain ** (Module 6) |
16 | Reg. $450 |
Not currently scheduled | |
Introduction to Trigger Points Lecture | 2 | $30 | If you are interested in scheduling a workshop in the "Lower '48", please send your contact info to info@triggerpointrelief.com | |
Trigger
Points: Seminar for Home Study Students ** |
16 | $450 | Not currently scheduled | |
Teaching Trigger
Pt. Self-Help Techniques (for Health Care Professionals) |
16 | $450 | Not currently scheduled | |
Trigger Points Self-Help Techniques (for the Public) |
8 hr | $100 | Alaska locations - pending |
Prerequisites
*
Anatomy &
Physiology class covering bones & joints, muscles
plus minimum 100 hours
training in any health care modality.
**
Module 1 (Note:
Modules 2 - 6 do not need to be taken in order)
Refund / Cancellation Policy:
Once you have registered for the class you are paid in full.
Refunds for seminars will only be issued for medical emergencies or a death in the
family. If the seminar is cancelled, or if it fills before your
registration is received, you will be notified promptly and a refund
will be issued to your credit card. Refunds will not be issued for distance learning classes. The textbook will be mailed to you, and you cannot start the online portion of Module 1 until it arrives, so allow time to complete before your CE's are due. You are responsible for making sure the class will be accepted for your particular CE requirements prior to ordering the course. If you are having difficulty with your textbook CD ROM/Flashdrive, please see Troubleshooting and Policies. If you do not need continuing education credits, you may wish just to purchase the CD ROM/Flashdrive here and learn the information on your own. Please be advised that though Module 1 does include 2.3 hours of classroom video delivery, and all modules use the hundreds of clips of self-help techniques, the distance learning courses are primarily book study/learning. Trigger Point Therapy is a protocol, not a technique; and requires thinking and understanding. Learning how to press on a trigger point is the easy part - knowing where to look for them, perpetuating factors, patient recommendations, etc. is the "brain" part, and the focus of all distance learning modules. |
Treating Pain with Trigger Point Techniques
Pain cannot be treated
effectively without understanding how to locate and treat trigger points (MTrP’s).
About 75% of the time, pain is caused by trigger points.
Trigger points refer pain, and
about 74% of the time, they are remote to where the patient/client feels symptoms.
Dr. Janet Travell started mapping these pain referral patterns in the
1930’s, and these maps give us a starting point of where to search for trigger
points. It is important for any kind
of practitioner who treats pain to add this information to their knowledge base;
they need to learn to check several specific muscles for the trigger points that
are the potential source of symptoms.
Practitioners need to become familiar with the underlying perpetuating
factors that cause and keep trigger points activated such as allergies,
emotional factors, dietary problems, digestive problems, and organ dysfunctions.
Ideally, practitioners will incorporate trigger point knowledge and
treatment into their current modality in order to relieve pain.
They will address perpetuating factors within the scope of their
practice, or to refer to another practitioner who can address applicable
perpetuating factors.
(Either Home Study 8 hour CE’s didactic + optional 8 hour CE’s case
studies or 16 hour seminar didactic + in-class clinicals.)
A copy of the text “Pain Relief with Trigger Point Self-Help” is included
with the cost of Module 1.
·
Learn “What are
Trigger Points?”
·
Learn how to
use the Pain Relief CD ROM as reference text
·
Use Pain Guides
to identify potential trigger points based on referral pattern
·
Learn what
causes and perpetuates trigger points
·
Use a medical
history form to identify perpetuating factors, and help your patients/clients
resolve them
·
Learn about the
range of therapies that treat trigger points
· Learn general techniques for treating trigger points using ischemic compression, myofascial release, and stretching.
·
Complete case
studies on patients/clients, which helps the student learn to identify potential
trigger points and perpetuating factors, practice treatments, and teach
patients/clients self-help techniques.
Approved for CE's by the
(Either Home Study 7 hour CE’s didactic + optional 6 hour CE’s
clinical problem-solving case
studies or 16 hour seminar didactic + in-class clinicals.)
Muscles covered:
trapezius, posterior neck group, sternocleidomastoid, temporalis,
facial-scalp group, masseter, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid, digastric.
·
Review the
anatomy and function of each muscle for this module
·
Learn the
common trigger point locations for each muscle
·
Learn the
common symptoms caused by trigger points
·
Learn the most
common perpetuating factors, and solutions
·
Learn body
positioning and palpatory skills for locating and treating MTrPs
·
Learn treatment
techniques and for inactivating MTrPs through ischemic compression, myofascial
release, and stretches
·
Teach patients
(clients) ischemic compression and stretching self-help techniques
·
Learn other
possible conditions causing pain in each area
Specific conditions addressed caused
by MTrPs:
Headaches and migraines, dizziness, vertigo, TMJ dysfunction, improper
bite alignment, tinnitus, ear stuffiness, eye problems (pain, blurred vision,
tearing, visual disturbances), drooping or twitching eyelid, sinus congestion,
chronic sore throat, earaches, tooth pain, tooth grinding and/or clenching, neck
pain.
Module 3 Trigger
Points: Torso Area Pain
(Either Home Study 7 hour CE’s didactic + optional 6 hour CE’s
clinical problem-solving
case
studies or 16 hour seminar didactic + in-class clinicals.)
Muscles covered:
thoracolumbar paraspinals, levator scapula, rhomboids, serratus posterior
inferior, iliopsoas, pectoralis major/subclavius, sternalis, abdominal, serratus
anterior, intercostals/diaphragm.
·
Review the
anatomy and function of each muscle for this module
·
Learn the
common trigger point locations for each muscle
·
Learn the
common symptoms caused by trigger points
·
Learn the most
common perpetuating factors, and solutions
·
Learn body
positioning and palpatory skills for locating and treating MTrPs
·
Learn treatment
techniques and for inactivating MTrPs through ischemic compression, myofascial
release, and stretches
·
Teach patients
(clients) ischemic compression and stretching self-help techniques
·
Learn other
possible conditions causing pain in each area
Specific conditions addressed caused
by MTrPs:
pseudo-angina, improper breathing,
breast tenderness/sensitivity, menstrual
symptoms, Ectopic cardiac arrhythmias, winging scapula, rounded shoulders, noisy
should joints, thoracic outlet syndrome & pseudo thoracic outlet syndrome,
spinal pain/stiffness, nausea, belching, burping, vomiting, gastrointestinal
pain, heartburn, diarrhea, urinary bladder spasms, urinary frequency or
retention, testicular pain, pain with breathing.
Module 4 Trigger
Points: Shoulder, Upper Arm &
Elbow Pain
(Either Home Study 7 hour CE’s didactic + optional 6 hour CE’s
clinical problem-solving
case
studies or 16 hour seminar didactic + in-class clinicals.)
Muscles covered:
supraspinatus, infraspinatus, serratus posterior superior, subscapularis,
latissimus dorsi, teres minor, teres major, triceps brachii, scalenes,
pectoralis minor, deltoid, coracobrachialis, biceps brachii.
·
Review the
anatomy and function of each muscle for this module
·
Learn the
common trigger point locations for each muscle
·
Learn the
common symptoms caused by trigger points
·
Learn the most
common perpetuating factors, and solutions
·
Learn body
positioning and palpatory skills for locating and treating MTrPs
·
Learn treatment
techniques and for inactivating MTrPs through ischemic compression, myofascial
release, and stretches
·
Teach patients
(clients) ischemic compression and stretching self-help techniques
·
Learn other
possible conditions causing pain in each area
Specific conditions addressed caused
by MTrPs:
arm falling asleep, tennis elbow, pseudo olecranon bursitis, pseudo
tendonitis, pseudo thoracic outlet syndrome, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff
injuries, noisy shoulder joint, pectoralis minor entrapment, grip weakness,
finger stiffness, pseudo angina pain, difficulty breathing.
Module 5 Trigger
Points: Gluteal & Pelvic /
Forearm & Hand Pain
(Either Home Study 7 hour CE’s didactic + optional 6 hour CE’s
clinical problem-solving
case
studies or 16 hour seminar didactic + in-class clinicals.)
Muscles covered:
Quadratus lumborum, piriformis/short lateral rotators, gluteus maximus,
gluteus medius, pelvic floor muscles.
Muscles covered:
Hand/finger extensors/brachioradialis, supinator, palmaris longus,
hand/finger flexors, brachialis, adductor/opponens pollicis, interossei.
·
Review the
anatomy and function of each muscle for this module
·
Learn the
common trigger point locations for each muscle
·
Learn the
common symptoms caused by trigger points
·
Learn the most
common perpetuating factors, and solutions
·
Learn body
positioning and palpatory skills for locating and treating MTrPs
·
Learn treatment
techniques and for inactivating MTrPs through ischemic compression, myofascial
release, and stretches
·
Teach patients
(clients) ischemic compression and stretching self-help techniques
·
Learn other
possible conditions causing pain in each area
Specific conditions addressed caused by MTrPs: Piriformis syndrome,
pseudo-sciatica, pseudo-bursitis, difficulty standing/lying/walking, impotence,
pain with intercourse, vaginal pain, rectal pain, tailbone pain, painful bowel
movements, levator ani syndrome, genital area pain.
Specific conditions addressed caused
by MTrPs:
Repetitive use injuries, pseudo-carpal tunnel syndrome, mouse arm,
trigger finger/thumb, Dupuytren’s contracture, pseudo-arthritis, hand & finger
numbness, Heberden’s nodes, grip weakness, finger stiffness, hand cramping.
Module 6 Trigger Points: Leg, Knee, & Foot Pain
(Either Home Study 7 hour CE’s didactic + optional 6 hour CE’s
clinical problem-solving
case
studies or 16 hour seminar didactic + in-class clinicals.)
Muscles covered:
hamstrings, popliteus, gastrocnemius, soleus/plantaris, tibialis
posterior, long flexors of toes, gluteus minimus, tensor fasciae latae, peroneal
group, quadriceps femoris group, sartorius, hip adductors, pectineus, tibialis
anterior, long extensors of toes, intrinsic foot muscles.
·
Review the
anatomy and function of each muscle for this module
·
Learn the
common trigger point locations for each muscle
·
Learn the
common symptoms caused by trigger points
·
Learn the most
common perpetuating factors, and solutions
·
Learn body
positioning and palpatory skills for locating and treating MTrPs
·
Learn treatment
techniques and for inactivating MTrPs through ischemic compression, myofascial
release, and stretches
·
Teach patients
(clients) ischemic compression and stretching self-help techniques
·
Learn other
possible conditions causing pain in each area
Specific conditions addressed caused by MTrPs: knee pain, buckling/locking knee, buckling hip, ankle pain/recurrent
sprains/weakness, compartment syndromes, periosteal irritation/shin splints,
calf cramps, claw/mallet/hammer toe, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis,
pseudo sciatica, bunions, hallux valgus, pseudo trochanteric bursitis, Meralgia
paresthetica, iliotibial tract syndrome.
Miscellaneous
Classes
Introduction to Trigger Points
(2 or 3 CE’s)
This two or three-hour presentation
gives a brief overview of the following topics:
·
Learn “What are
Trigger Points?”
·
Learn how to
use the Pain Relief CD ROM as reference text
·
Use Pain Guides
to identify potential trigger points based on referral pattern
·
Learn what
causes and perpetuates trigger points
·
Learn about the
range of therapies that treat trigger points
Trigger Points
Seminar for Home Study
Students (16 CE’s)
This 2-day seminar is for
students of the Home Study Track to learn palpatory skills and patient
positioning, to supplement didactic learning.
·
Use a medical
history form to identify perpetuating factors, and help your patients/clients
resolve them
·
Learn general
techniques for treating trigger points using ischemic compression, myofascial
release, and stretching.
·
Complete case
studies on patients/clients, which helps the student learn to identify potential
trigger points and perpetuating factors, practice treatments, and teach
patients/clients self-help techniques.
Trigger Points
Self-Help Techniques (16 CE’s)
This 2-day seminar teaches
students how to treat their own trigger points, which is the best way to learn
to teach self-help techniques to patients/clients.
Students will learn to apply ischemic compression and do stretches for
the most commonly found trigger points, in addition to drawing examples from the
class for treating the less commonly found trigger points.
·
Learn to apply
ischemic compression to the most commonly found trigger points
·
Learn stretches
·
Learn ischemic
compression and stretches for additional trigger points as time allows
Conferences
Testimonials
I learned so much from Valerie's
trigger point course. I've had so many questions about trigger points and she
has answered them all. She personally followed up with me about any of my
questions that weren't answered in her course material. Thanks to this course, I
have a much greater understanding of trigger points and what causes them; thanks
to her interactive CD, I have the tools to find out more as questions arise.
I've previously avoided mail-in courses, thinking that the only and best way for
me to learn was with hands-on training. I was surprised and impressed with how
much I learned from this course and will continue to participate in Valerie's
online/mail-in courses as a way to improve my knowledge base and my work. Thank
you.
--Evelyn Bass, LMT, Massage Therapist and Manager at
Southeast Medical Clinic in Juneau, AK
Really great to learn from someone
who has pulled together an immense "body" of work/study and taught it so
efficiently.
-- Jan Parrish, acupuncturist
Well presented & paced. I was not overwhelmed by TMI...Really like the CD ROM for ease of use and thorough content; it makes a lot of complicated information more accessible and quickly referenced. Thank you! - R.A., Massage Therapist
Presentation style relaxed yet structured - nice balance. Very thankful for expertise level (and willingness to teach from her experiences -- both positive and negative)...Money well spent! - T.B. - Massage Therapist
Loved the "relaxed" atmosphere -- Valerie is a true "master," but makes you feel like she's working with you...Each material provided was very helpful and user-friendly...I have had lots of advanced training & this was right up there with them. Nice job! - C.Z. - Massage Therapist
I thought Valerie did a great job getting the info about the class to us prior to the start date so that we could come to class prepared/ready to go...The CD w/ projector was very helpful in being able to visualize and access TP information. Loved the CD! I thought I got a good overview of TP w/ the time allotted...I think learning this material will be very beneficial for the kind of massage therapy I want to do. - M.S. - Massage Therapist
You have clearly spent a lot of time & energy preparing for this class & it shows. You spend a lot of time answering questions & sharing practice tips, which is great. I learned a lot that I can use right away & feel like I have the tools to keep learning between the modules. I also really appreciate your energy/presence -- very balanced...I spent $$$$ and time last year to go to a deep tissue training with a nationally known trainer. I was disappointed with the content of the class & the way time was spent. I feel the opposite about your class. Excellent content & loved the way you used our time. Thank you! E.B. - Massage Therapist
I wanted to thank you very much for a very useful, practical
and informative two days. I got back to [my home town], inspired to look at pain
from a new perspective, with more accuracy, and tools to deal with a wide
variety of pains. I use the CD and book often and continue to educate myself on
referral patterns and origin of pain. Thank you very much, all acupuncturists
would benefit from this knowledge. - Nira G. -
Licensed Acupuncturist