Myofascial Pain and
Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual
Janet Travell, M.D. and David G. Simons, M.D.
The late Dr. Janet Travell, Professor Emeritus at George Washington University Medical School, was a cardiologist who noticed that many presenting cases of angina were unaccompanied by any sign of heart problems. They were, in fact, spasms of the pectoral muscles of the chest. Dr. Travell's observations of muscle spasm and pain led to a whole new field (and incidentally, service as White House physician to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson).
Volume I details upper body including abdominal and
back pain; Volume II details lower body. Note: The picture to the
left shows the pain referral (transference) pattern from the
sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle of the neck. In other words, if the
head hurts as shown, it may well be from the SCM muscle, not from
sinuses or neurological problems in the head itself.
If you develop an interest in this field, consider purchasing these
volumes. They are famous for their exquisite illustrations and the
detailed (and sometimes groundbreaking) anatomy reported for the first
time in this work.
See also our Myofascial Overview & Resources page.