David G. Simons, MD, co-author of the Simons, Travell, and Simons Trigger Point Manual, has stated that, “Since no medical specialty claims skeletal muscle as their organ, it is often overlooked.”

Indeed, several studies have confirmed that myofascial pain is one of the most commonly ignored causes of persistent pain. Many of our patients report that previous healthcare providers rarely have included the detailed and specific muscle examination that is common at MOST. The hallmark feature of myofascial pain syndrome is a so-called “trigger point,” which can be responsible for prolonged pain and dysfunction. A common characteristic of trigger points is referred pain, which may confuse those clinicians who are not familiar with common referred pain patterns. Dr. Janet Travell, MD, perhaps best known as President Kennedy’s White House physician, has mapped out the referred pain patterns of most skeletal muscles.

Although trigger points and myofascial pain are poorly recognized worldwide, there is a growing number of scientific studies that confirm that trigger points are indeed a very common source of pain and dysfunction. Physical therapists at MOST are very involved with researchers and clinicians worldwide and are among the world’s top specialists in myofascial pain syndrome. Trigger point dry needling is one of the most effective treatment options to inactivate myofascial trigger points. Dry needling for the release of scar tissue is a relatively new approach but can yield rapid results in improving freedom of movement as well as pain reduction.  Sometimes electrical stimulation is utilized through the needles to affect pain reduction as well.  Dry needling is rarely a stand alone modality however, and is usually combined with movement re-education or other soft tissue mobilization techniques.

Ralph Simpson, Jennifer Alexander, and Kim Weichers are all certified in dry needling through Myopain Seminars.  Myopain Seminars is the nation’s preeminent dry needle instruction format and was started by Dr. Jan Dommerholt (www.myopainseminars.com) Dr. Dommerholt taught the first dry needling courses for physical therapists in the USA in 1996. Dr Simpson is currently on the dry needling faculty for Myopain Seminars.  Several course instructors from other continuing education companies began their dry needling studies under Dr. Dommerholt.

Have questions about dry needling? You might find the answers in this Dry Needling FAQ (pdf) publication. Learn more about The Long-Standing Case of the Runner.

For more information about trigger point dry needling and myofascial trigger point therapy, please do not hesitate to contact the MOST staff at (406) 862-2348