Positive Health Online

Simeon Niel-Asher has put together a practical and helpful guide for both practitioners and patients alike. It is written in a clear language and with full colour diagrams throughout, which show both the sites of origin of the pain, and referred pain regions, together with possible self-help where appropriate, and better understanding and help from health professionals not previously offered.

Simeon Niel-Asher makes it very clear that trigger points and the pain and other symptoms they cause, can be mistaken for many things. There is a good explanation into the theory behind trigger point’s therapy especially the role of the mitochondria, muscles, connective tissue, metabolic problems, kinetics, and chemical reactions in detail. The book highlights the point that chronic myofascial pain is a physiological condition, that you can't relax a shortened, dysfunctional muscle without physical intervention. Trigger points are “highly irritable localized spots of exquisite tenderness, within skeletal muscle”, states the author and gives a good structural explanation into the theories behind the formation of trigger points and offers extensive information on probably every helpful therapy available.

Of particular interest to the reader, is the author's use of different scenarios to explain what it is like to live with conditions such as fibromyalgia, giving a good explanation of the importance of identifying perpetuating factors. Some factors can be addressed by life-style changes; however, there are those that cannot, such as anatomical deformity. Simeon Niel Asher offers extensive information on perpetuating factors responsible for development and sustenance of trigger points that cause chronic myofascial pain, but he does not leave it there; he offers solutions to every possible perpetuating factor and how to deal with them wherever they are throughout the body in an easy to use pictorial guide, with a section for both the practitioner and another for the patient.

As the author clearly state, if a healthcare professional doesn't understand that chronic myofascial pain can mimic the symptoms of fibromyalgia, patients are frequently misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. On the other hand, they also know that the two, fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain can, and often do, cohabitate, but most doctors, medical students, and other healthcare providers do not understand this or the appropriate and different treatments. One only has to study the comprehensive muscle review and graphics that show exactly how trigger points can create symptoms throughout the body.

The anatomical drawings by illustrator Amanda Williams are amazing; here a picture really does speak a thousand words.

The scenarios offered and the presentation of the material connects the reader on a personal level and they are particularly important if the reader is an Osteopath, Chiropractor, Physician or Medical Student, because understanding how trigger points can affect one's life and livelihood is of extreme significance. Every patient that experiences chronic pain should have access to this information. I urge patient readers to share this book with their healthcare provider because education is power and patient empowerment creates the same ripple effect of a stone that skips across a body of water; just like trigger points there is no end to the effect it can have.

After reading through this book several times I can honestly say I owe a great deal to the author. I can't recommend it enough to sufferers of these debilitating conditions. All health care professionals and doctor practices should have a copy.

Further Information

Available from Amazon

www.amazon.co.uk/Concise-Trigger-Points-Third-Edition-ebook/dp/B00J6Y99CG  

www.amazon.com/Concise-Trigger-Points-Third-Edition-ebook/dp/B00J6Y99CG