PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION RESOURCES

Blogs and articles.

Explore practical articles, clinical insights and educational resources for massage therapists, manual therapists, rehabilitation professionals, athletic trainers and other healthcare practitioners.

ANATOMYMuscles, movement and functional relationships
CONDITIONSCommon pain patterns, injuries and presentations
TECHNIQUESMassage, manual therapy and rehabilitation approaches
PRACTICEEvidence, professional development and self-care

Blogs and Articles

Are trigger points real?
Trigger Point Therapy - Do Trigger Points Really Exist?
A clear, balanced exploration for massage therapists, manual therapists, and movement professionals Trigger point therapy is something almost every manual therapist has encountered. Many of us learned about it in... Read more...
Heat and Ice Therapy for Trigger Points
Ice and Heat Therapy for Trigger Points
If you’ve ever wondered why applying ice at the end of a trigger point session works so profoundly, or why some clients feel “worse before better” without heat, this blog... Read more...
Neuroplastic Trigger Point Hypothesis
Neuroplastic Trigger Point Hypothesis
Understanding the Neuroplastic Trigger Point Hypothesis: Why Trigger Points Behave the Way They Do Trigger points have fascinated—and confused—manual therapists for decades. Some clients respond immediately to hands-on release work,... Read more...
The Fibularis (Peroneal) Muscles: The Overlooked Powerhouses of Ankle Stability - Niel Asher Education
The Fibularis (Peroneal) Muscles: The Overlooked Powerhouses of Ankle Stability
A Deep Dive Into Anatomy, Injury, Trigger Points, and Hands-On Sports Massage Treatment (Companion article to the instructional video above presented by Bob McAtee, LMT) If you work with athletes—whether... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Points Explained: A Deep Dive for the Thinking Therapist
Are Trigger Points Real? — A Massage Therapist’s Deep Dive Into Trigger Point Therapy Hey there — I’m glad you're here. I’ve been a massage therapist for over two decades,... Read more...
How to Apply Trigger Point Therapy Release
Top 10 Misconceptions About Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain
Top 10 Misconceptions About Trigger Points and Myofascial Pain Trigger points and myofascial pain are topics that generate a lot of discussion—and just as much confusion. Whether you’re a massage... Read more...
Trigger Points and Posture
Trigger Point Formation and Posture
Alexander Technique and Trigger Points Introduction We all know that posture is important. Whether we're sitting at a desk, standing in line, or working out at the gym, the way... Read more...
Herniated Disc Illustration
Understanding Herniated Discs: A Comprehensive Guide
If you’ve ever felt a sharp, shooting pain in your back or down your leg, chances are someone has mentioned the term “herniated disc.” As an athletic trainer, I’ve encountered... Read more...
Trapezius Trigger Point Release
Trigger Points in Trapezius: Causes and Treatments
Understanding Trigger Points in the Trapezius Muscle and How to Treat Them If you’ve ever felt that stubborn knot in your shoulder that just won’t quit, chances are you’ve encountered... Read more...
How to Self Treat Trigger Points - Niel Asher Education
How to Self Treat Trigger Points
Trigger Points: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Treating, and Preventing Muscular Pain Trigger points are a common, yet often misunderstood source of muscular pain. These tight knots in muscle fibers... Read more...
Trigger Points in the Piriformis Muscle: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Points in the Piriformis Muscle: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Trigger points in the piriformis muscle are often an overlooked but significant cause of pain in the lower back, buttocks, and legs. These hyperirritable spots can create a host of... Read more...
Sternocleidomastoid muscle and trigger points
Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) Syndrome | Trigger Point Therapy
Stretching the SCM following trigger point treatment   SCM syndrome typically presents as neck stiffness with decreased rotation - sometimes along with nausea, tinnitus, vertigo, or spasms in the neck The syndrome... Read more...
Treating Calf Muscle Strains Anatomy
Trigger Point Therapy | Treating Soleus | Injury Assessment | Self Help Tips
From a dynamic postural viewpoint, the soleus prevents the body falling forward at the ankle joint during standing In gait, the muscle eccentrically decelerates subtalar joint pronation and internal rotation... Read more...
Subscapularis Anatomy
Bicep and Subscapularis Tendinopathy | Deep Transverse Friction Massage
  Treating Subscapularis - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   Subscapularis trigger points are a potent cause of shoulder pain [Latin sub, under; scapularis, pertaining to the scapula] Subscapularis A member of... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Temporalis - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Temporalis
The neck, face, and head muscles are as important to global muscle function as the core The temporalis and masseter are synergists. An overdeveloped upper trapezius can be an overlooked... Read more...
Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage (MLD) - Niel Asher Education
Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage (MLD)
Many experts believe that MLD techniques may be effective for releasing trigger points Manual lymph drainage (MLD) is a gentle manual treatment technique initially developed in the 1930’s by Danish Drs. Emil... Read more...
Treating Plantaris | Trigger Point Release | Knee Pain | Calf Pain | Foot Pain - Niel Asher Education
Treating Plantaris | Trigger Point Release | Knee Pain | Calf Pain | Foot Pain
        Trigger points in Plantaris are often associated with "unexplained" pain at the back of the knee    Trigger Points and Knee Pain - Overview     ... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy | Tibialis Anterior | Anatomy - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy | Tibialis Anterior | Anatomy
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