History of Manual Trigger Point Therapy

History of Manual Trigger Point Therapy

The exploration of muscle pain dates back far into the past; however, muscular structures as the primary cause of pain and movement restrictions were long overlooked. Only in the last 100 years has the understanding of muscular pain been expanded through the discovery of specific triggers and causes of pain. There are records from the 19th century that describe extremely pressure-sensitive, palpable hardenings in the muscle. The significance of these hardenings as the origin of a pain pattern was not further investigated and substantiated until the mid to late 20th century.

A breakthrough in the research of muscle pain was achieved by Dr. Janet Travell (1901-1997), an American physician. She was the first to publish the term "myofascial Trigger Point" in 1942 and developed the concept "myofascial trigger points and myofascial pain" in 1960 together with Dr. David G. Simons (1922-2010). The book "Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction – The Trigger Point Manual" (1983) is considered a standard work in manual trigger point therapy and was a monumental achievement in the fields of rheumatology, orthopedics, and physiotherapy. The book transformed the understanding and treatment of chronic pain.

Based on the introduction of the concept by Dr. Janet Travell, various manual therapies were developed for the treatment of myofascial trigger points (MTrP). These include techniques such as post-isometric relaxation or myofascial release, as well as ischemic compression. Trigger points were also treated with classical massage techniques long ago, without the term trigger point being known.

Of particular note from our perspective is the "Swiss Approach to Trigger Point Therapy" by Swiss physician Dr. med. Beat Dejung. Together with a group of physiotherapists and based on the concept of Simons and Travell, they developed the systematic Manual Trigger Point Therapy in the early 1980s.

With manual trigger point therapy, myofascial trigger points and connective tissues like fascia are treated.