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 Point Release - Dry Needling the Deltoid Muscle - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Release - Dry Needling the Deltoid Muscle
      The Deltoid Muscle    Pain in the Deltoids is most often mistaken for bursitis or a rotator cuff injury   Deltoid Anatomy and Trigger Points  - Dr. Jonathan... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Supraspinatus - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Supraspinatus
      Supraspinatus Trigger Points - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner MD   Treating the Rotator Cuff    Trigger points in supraspinatus typically cause deep pain in the lateral shoulder, forearm,... Read more...
Trigger Point Release | Shoulder Pain | Rhomboids - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Release | Shoulder Pain | Rhomboids
Trigger points in the Rhomboid muscles will typically cause pain around the scapula and in the area between the scapula and the spine         Assessing Scapula Pain... Read more...
"Wear, Tear and Repair" Syndrome - Shoulder Injuries - Niel Asher Education
"Wear, Tear and Repair" Syndrome - Shoulder Injuries
The Shoulder Joint     Overview of Shoulder Biomechanics - Paul Townley (PT)     Shoulder injuries are often more painful at night. This can lead to a damaging "wear,... Read more...
Stretching for Pain Relief - Anterior Deltoid - Niel Asher Education
Stretching for Pain Relief - Anterior Deltoid
  Deltoid Muscle   Anterior Deltoid - How to Find Trigger Points       The deltoid, along with supraspinatus and associated rotator cuff muscles, will regularly develop myofascial trigger points... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Muscle Energy Techniques (MET's) - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Muscle Energy Techniques (MET's)
Stuart Hinds - MET for Scalenes/SCM   Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) are increasingly being used to help dissipate trigger points - especially in cases of chronic shortening of the muscles... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Latissimus Dorsi - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Latissimus Dorsi
      A muscle this size, covering so much of the ribcage, will also have an influence on diaphragmatic function     Treating Latissimus Dorsi Trigger Points - Dr.... Read more...
Posture Muscles - Awesome Stretches for Neck and Shoulders! - Niel Asher Education
Posture Muscles - Awesome Stretches for Neck and Shoulders!
  Neck Pain and Stiffness is often associated with active Trigger Points in the Scalenes Muscles and is relieved when these are released   The more time spent with a... Read more...
Trigger Point Release - Teres Minor - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Release - Teres Minor
  Teres Minor Trigger Points - often associated with Rotator Cuff Injuries   The teres minor decelerates internal rotation of the shoulder joint Inhibition in this muscle due to short/ spastic... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Shoulder Bursitis - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Shoulder Bursitis
  What Causes the Most Common Shoulder Injuries? - Dr. Jonathan Kuttner    Failure to attend to shoulder bursitis often results in a worsening of the condition Shoulder bursitis is not generally an... Read more...
How to Treat Coracobrachialis? - Niel Asher Education
How to Treat Coracobrachialis?
  The coracobrachialis is a deep muscle of the shoulder that often becomes tight and is especially susceptible to over-training injuries   This muscle is the smallest of the 3 muscles that attach to... Read more...
Pectoralis Minor | Trigger Point Release Therapy | Anatomy - Niel Asher Education
Pectoralis Minor | Trigger Point Release Therapy | Anatomy
This thin, flat muscle connects the ribs to the shoulder blade, and can be difficult to palpate, as it is under the Pectoralis major           The Pectoralis... Read more...
Torsional Release Technique | Trigger Point Therapy | Neck Pain - Niel Asher Education
Torsional Release Technique | Trigger Point Therapy | Neck Pain
Chronic neck pain is rampant - especially amongst millennials and younger populations   So-called ‘text neck’, is becoming a common description for a range of painful musculoskeletal injuries , and something that is set... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Anterior Shoulder Pain - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Anterior Shoulder Pain
  Treating Anterior Shoulder Pain - Stuart Hinds   Anterior Shoulder Pain Anterior shoulder pain is common and more frequent than posterior pain.  In this blog, Stuart Hinds shows his... Read more...
Muscle Energy Technique - Levator Scapulae - Niel Asher Education
Muscle Energy Technique - Levator Scapulae
Levator Scapulae - Trigger Point Anatomy     MET's are sometimes used by therapists in combination with trigger point therapy protocols Muscle Energy Techniques (MET's) emerged as a form of osteopathic... Read more...
Treating Trigger Points - Infraspinatus - Niel Asher Education
Treating Trigger Points - Infraspinatus
    Infraspinatus - Trigger Point Anatomy     The infraspinatus is an important muscle in scapula positioning as it decelerates internal rotation and shoulder flexion As with each of the... Read more...
Muscle Energy Techniques - Treating Subscapularis - Niel Asher Education
Muscle Energy Techniques - Treating Subscapularis
Trigger Points in Subscapularis - it's important to include stretching as part of treatment. MET's may be effective (see below).   Studies have shown that a combination of compression, stretching and... Read more...
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Pectoralis Major - Niel Asher Education
Trigger Point Therapy - Treating Pectoralis Major
  Pectoralis Major - Trigger Point Overview     Active Trigger Points in Pectoralis Major are Common - and Relatively Simple to Treat Trigger points in pectoralis major are common... Read more...