The concept of sore spots that can be leveraged for therapeutic purposes have been independently discovered and used as a treatment for musculoskeletal pain by different cultures throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. One of the oldest examples on record is a 5,300 year old naturally preserved human body discovered in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria called Otzi “The Iceman”.

Dupuytren's disease (also known as Dupuytren's contracture) is a progressive fibroproliferative disorder of the hand that eventually can cause contractures of the affected fingers. Typical presentation is a gradual onset in males over 50 years of age. At first people may not notice the development of changes in their palms, the condition may even go dormant, but if the palmar fascia begins to thicken and contractions develop, the condition is recognizable - this is the ideal time to seek help from massage therapy.

Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET), also known as Tennis elbow is described as pain at the outside of the elbow and in the upper forearm where the muscle tendon attaches to the bone. Medial elbow tendinopathy (MET), also known as Golfer's elbow is described as pain at the inside of the elbow and in the upper forearm where the muscle tendon attaches to the bone. It is important to keep in mind that the presentation of pain in a tendon does not always mean that the tendon itself is the primary contributor to pain. Other conditions involving the elbow could co-exists with common forms of elbow pain including arthritis, sports injuries, and nerve entrapments.

The global health burden associated with musculoskeletal conditions continues to increase in both developing and developed countries. This is why my latest project has been to put together a series of resources that will help support the professional growth of massage therapists around the world.