Mary Jo Smiley CMTPT

My most important professional goals is to find more therapists that are interested in becoming well trained MTPT, educating the public to understand why Trigger Point Therapy should be the "go to" treatment for most of their aches and pains and have most medical professionals refer out to Trigger Point Therapists rather than ineffective therapies, drugs, specialists that cost a lot more and usually have little or nothing to offer. Pain is a very expensive problem that almost every person experiences throughout their lives and to have simple and effective treatments that treat or eliminate the CAUSE would save money and lives.

TMJD - Most Myofascial and Trigger Point Therapists know that ascending postural distortion caused by such perpetuating factors as Morton's foot structure, lowe...r limb length inequality, and a small hemipelvis can cause TrPs in muscles throughout the legs, hips and back. However, we are reminded that such structural issues that present below the waist can even impact the distress of TMJD. Excessive forward head posture (with someone struggling to read small print on a phone or distant monitor) can be adversely affected by any of these factors with resultant stress on the masticatory muscles such as the masseter, lateral and medial pterygoids and even the digastric, longus colli, longus capitis and the various hyoid muscles. While treating these muscles is typically a vital aspect of treating TMJD, stubborn cases may be traced to a perpetuating factor as distant as Morton's foot structure. See more

Dr. Gerwin has asked us to send out an invitation and information to a conference that he and some other expert doctors and therapists will be presenting and te...aching at. You may have gotten a flyer for this at the conference. This is coming up very soon at the end of January. Please consider going, as it looks very impressive. Introductory and advanced lectures and hands-on classes on myofascial pain and its treatment options to doctors and other healthcare professionals are included. https://calendarmedia.blob.core.windows.net//7005ccb2-c857 Introductory Course Purpose: Myofascial Pain Syndromes constitute the most common pain complaints seen by primary care clinicians and pain specialists. This interdisciplinary, hands-on workshop will provide practitioners with a basic understanding of the pathophysiology of myofascial pain, and a problem-based, regional introduction to the differential diagnosis and treatment of myofascial pain syndromes. Participants, in small groups, will review muscle anatomy and practice the techniques of identifying common regional myofascial trigger points (TrPs) and their associated mechanical and systemic ramifications. Introductory Course Objectives At the conclusion of the course, participants should be able to: 1) Describe the various structures involved in a myofascial physical assessment. 2) Describe the palpatory findings specific to myofascial TrPs. 3) Describe at least 3 common methods to treat myofascial TrPs. Advanced Course Purpose: Myofascial Pain Syndromes and accompanying joint dysfunction are the leading causes of chronic pain. In order to help patients with common pain conditions such as lower back pain, buttock and hip pain, and pain in lower extremities, this interdisciplinary, hands-on workshop will provide clinicians with a basic understanding of relationships between muscle and joint dysfunction. They will learn basic principles of differential diagnosis of lower body pain syndromes, with focus on manual skills to identify the role of myofascial and joint dysfunction. Basic gentle techniques to improve both muscle and joint dysfunction will be taught. Clinicians whose scope of practice includes performing TrP injections or dry needling will also be taught these beneficial management techniques. Advanced Course Objectives At the conclusion of the course, participants should be able to: 1) Describe at least 3 TrP referred pain patterns. 2) Identify and treat myofascial TrPs commonly associated with back, buttock, hip, and lower extremity pain. 3) Identify joint dysfunctions that accompany the TrPs involved in buttock, hip, and lower extremity pain. See more info in the flyer below.