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

Trigger Points - What is the Evidence? - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Points - What is the Evidence?
  Evidence Base for Trigger Points - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner (Watch this Webinar Free Anytime - 35m:13s)   Trigger Point Therapy - Where to Start?    About Dr. Jonathan Kuttner... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Shoulder Impingement - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Shoulder Impingement
John Gibbons - Techniques for treating shoulder impingement   Rotator cuff (or shoulder) impingement syndrome is a very common cause of shoulder pain and can be a precursor to tendonitis... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Pitcher's (Thrower's) Elbow - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Pitcher's (Thrower's) Elbow
Treating Trigger Points in the Wrist Flexors - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   Trigger Point Therapy - Where to Start?   Pitcher's Elbow is often mis-diagnosed Pitcher’s Elbow (medial epicondylitis apophysitis)... Read more...
Self-Massage with Home Exercise as Treatment for Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome - Niel Asher Education
Self-Massage with Home Exercise as Treatment for Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome
Video: Using a Backnobber Massage tool to treat trigger points in the shoulder muscles   With thanks to Jeffrey Lutz CMTPT and Erica Carole LMT of the Pain Treatment and... Read more...
Massage Cupping - Treating the Deep Muscles of the Foot - Niel Asher Education
Massage Cupping - Treating the Deep Muscles of the Foot
   Treating Plantar Fasciitis - Vicky Ramsdell   Cupping is a technique adapted from Traditional Chinese Medicine. Cupping is often used in conjunction with trigger point therapy, acupuncture or dry needling. Cupping pulls... Read more...
Simple Self Help Tips for Common Shoulder Pain - Niel Asher Education
Simple Self Help Tips for Common Shoulder Pain
  Strengthening and Rehabilitation Exercises for the Supraspinatus - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner     The rotator cuff is a frequent source of pain that is common in both young athletes and... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Self Help for Common Shoulder Pain - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Self Help for Common Shoulder Pain
With thanks to Jeffrey Lutz CMTPT and Erica Carole LMT of the Pain Treatment and Wellness Center, Greenburg, PA Buy a Backnobber Now See all Massage Tools   Whilst it's... Read more...
Dry Needling - Iliocostalis and Longissimus - Niel Asher Education
Dry Needling - Iliocostalis and Longissimus
   Medical Acupuncture/Dry Needling for Trigger Points - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   NAT Dry Needling - Online Course   These muscles are constantly working - and vulnerable to active trigger... Read more...
Self Help Tips for a Herniated Disc - Niel Asher Education
Self Help Tips for a Herniated Disc
 What is a Prolapsed (Herniated) Disc? - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   It's possible to have a herniated disk without any symptoms - but when they hurt, they tend to hurt bad!... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Degenerative Disc Disease - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Degenerative Disc Disease
Unlike the muscles in the back, the discs of the lumbar spine do not have a natural blood supply and therefore cannot heal themselves; the painful symptoms of DDD can... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Gmed Causing MCL Pain and Meniscal Pain - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Gmed Causing MCL Pain and Meniscal Pain
  Stretching the GMed - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   A tight muscle will pull the joint into a dysfunctional position, and a weak muscle will allow it to happen There... Read more...
Key Trigger Points for Neck Discs and Nerve Pain (Radiculopathy) - Niel Asher Education
Discover Effective Cervical Radiculopathy Pain Relief Techniques for a Healthier Life
    Cervical Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve)  Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a "pinched nerve" occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the... Read more...
Taping for Trigger Points - Lower Back Pain - Niel Asher Education
Taping for Trigger Points - Lower Back Pain
Taping for Lower Back Pain - Stuart Hinds Over 30 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time! According to the report Global Burden of Disease (2010) lower back pain... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Assessing Athletes for Common Hip, Knee and Shin Pain - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Assessing Athletes for Common Hip, Knee and Shin Pain
    How the smartphone has become the therapists magic tool! Runners frequently develop hip, knee and shin pain much of which may have trigger points as a root cause. Because... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Stretching the Pecs - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Stretching the Pecs
 Stretching Pectoralis Muscles - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   Neuromuscular Stretching Technique   The pec major eccentrically decelerates extension, horizontal abduction, external rotation, and retraction of the shoulder joint. This muscle... Read more...
Treating Gluteus Medius Trigger Points - Stretching - Niel Asher Education
Treating Gluteus Medius Trigger Points - Stretching
  Stretching Gluteus Medius - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   Gluteus Medius This muscle is mostly deep to and is therefore obscured by the gluteus maximus, but appears on the surface... Read more...
Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand - Stretching - Niel Asher Education
Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand - Stretching
    Stretching Intrinsic Hand Muscles - Jonathan Kuttner   The intrinsic muscles of the hand are generally taken for granted, as they are involved in so many aspects of... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Rotator Cuff Disorders - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Rotator Cuff Disorders
Rotator Cuff Injuries Explained - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner   In 70% of all doctor and therapist visits for shoulder problems, the diagnosis is rotator cuff disorder The shoulder is involved... Read more...