Stretch & Spray For Pain Relief

How to Use Stretch and Spray Therapy

Stretch and spray therapy is the "workhorse" of myofascial therapy.

A single-muscle syndrome of recent onset frequently responds with full return of pain-free function when two or three sweeps of spray are applied while the muscle is being passively stretched.

On the other hand, when many muscles in one region of the body, such as the shoulder are involved and the Trigger Points are interacting strongly with one another, stretch and spray is a practical means of covering many muscles over a large territory to make significant progress toward pain relief.

The stretch and spray therapy technique does not require precise localization of the Trigger Point in the taut band, only identification of where in the muscle the taut bands are located, to insure that those fibers are stretched. However, considerable skill is required to coordinate the course of the spray so that it covers those fibers that are being placed on maximum tension by passive stretch.

Stretch Before Spray

Best results are obtained by spraying first, then stretching and spraying.

Stretch is the ACTION

Spray is the DISTRACTION

Recovery of full function involves more than TP inactivation by stretch and spray. The muscle has dysfunction that restricts both its range and strength; it must relearn normal function. This requires adequate preparation for therapy, measurements of range of motion, a proper sequence of treatments, re-measurement, and post- treatment follow-up.

Vapocoolant Spray

Spray for stretch and spray is available at Amazon.com:

Stretch & Spray Vapocoolant 3.5 oz. Aerosol Can

Trigger Point Workbook