Therapeutic Tools - May, 2018

This 20-hour course covers detailed usage and therapeutic applications of the Muscle Liberator, point stimulator, infrared heat and several other important adjunct modalities for trigger point therapy and CTB. We cover a wide range of techniques and describe muscular effects of each position.

The Muscle Liberator is an important tool developed at CTBI. We use the Muscle Liberator as a powerful accelerator for trigger point therapy techniques. We cover use, contraindications, head types and specific techniques in several body areas.

The herbal compress portion of this course covers preparation and use of Thai herbal compresses, herbal poultices, or Luk Pra Kob, which has been used in Thailand for hundreds of years as a medicinal treatment. The herbs used in Luk Pra Kob, which are wrapped in cotton cloth and steamed prior to application, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic and muscle relaxant properties. In addition, there are benefits to the skin as well as aromatherapeutic properties to the herbs, whose essential oils are released with steam.

We also cover detailed use of several other adjunct therapeutic modalities that we use in CTB. Heat and stimulation of movement and metabolism are very important modalities to help resolve trigger points, which are essentially microscopic areas of stagnation in muscle tissue.

The electronic point stimulator, or EPS is a central CTB tool that we have found to dramatically accelerate the resolution of highly sensitive areas of muscle containing trigger points. We show detailed use of the EPS in several important areas of the body.

We go over the science and practical usage of far infrared heat using the BioMat and other products as a powerful mechanism for restoring metabolism in deep muscle tissue.

We also cover the use of several important tools for self care as well as the Mighty Body Band system for body weight exercise and neuromuscular yoga therapy. We spend extensive time in the course on therapeutic and clinical applications for specific conditions of pain and dysfunction.

This course is approved by NCBTMB for 17 contact hours of continuing education in massage.