Basic Fenix Active Therapy

Trigger Point Therapy with the Fenix Rehab System

Your patient simply places the Fenix on a firmer bed or a carpeted floor. They then select the appropriate therapeutic digit or digits inserting them into the proper hole or holes of the Fenix, as instructed by you, their health care clinician.

They pre-stretch the involved area selected for treatment carefully and then slowly rest the targeted myofascial TP or adhesion against the appropriate therapeutic digit or digits, again as instructed by you, their clinician. With the Fenix, there is no pulling or straining, as with other products. In this way the patient does not exacerbate their condition or fatigue themselves. Furthermore, use is not restricted by injury or arthritis.

When your patient relaxes into the digit or digits, producing a sustained pressure they create a mild local discomfort with a distinctive pattern of referral pain, which will usually be similar to the symptoms of their complaint.

They then apply appropriate sustained pressure to the myofascial tissue with sufficient force and for long enough to inactivate it. If the treatment is properly applied, generally the local discomfort and referral pain will abate within a minute.

As this tolerable discomfort lessens they may get a sensation of the TP or adhesion releasing or "melting away." As this happens they need to relax deeper onto the digit or digits increasing the therapeutic pressure and slightly increasing the discomfort again. During this process they can increase pressure up to 20 pounds for large muscles (buttocks) and 2 to 3 pounds for smaller thinner muscles over bone. This treatment process can be continued up to one minute.

It is always vital for the patient to post-stretch the area of involvement after treatment, as described in their patient guidebook.

Insufficient pressure will not adequately stimulate nerve receptors in order to produce a therapeutic response. However, excessive pressure can irritate the tissues and cause increased excitation of nerve receptors, thus increasing spasms and pain. A mild state of discomfort while performing the therapy is ideal.

Ideal therapeutic pressure depends upon:

	Their age
	Their overall general nutritional and health status
	The toxicity and inflammatory state of their tissues
	The extent of abnormal postural patterns present
	The degree and duration of any injury they may have sustained.

If the TP does not dissipate within one minute they may repeat the treatment process, after treating other secondary TPs or adhesions the area.

Retreatment of Resistant TP:

	They apply a hot pack to the resistant myofascial TP.
	Second, they slowly stretch the involved muscle to the verge of discomfort.
	Then they reapply the treatment process again, as described above, to the resistant trigger point.

Treatment with the Fenix may fail to afford them complete relief because:

	The TP or adhesion is severe and will require many applications with the Fenix over a period of time.
	They are not applying enough pressure or they are releasing the pressure instead of increasing it as the TP "melts away".
	They are pressing too hard at first, causing involuntary tensing, autonomic nervous system responses, and excessive pain.
	They have an underlying complicating pathology that must be diagnosed and/or referred out for addessment and treatment by a specialist.