Chronic Pain

By Ben Benjamin, PhD

Question: What is the secret of treating chronic musculoskeletal pain?

Answer: The secret of successfully treating chronic pain problems is identifying the exact source of the pain and then matching the appropriate treatment in order to eliminate the pain.

Resisted flexion of the thigh, hilighting the semi-membranosis belly and ischial tuberosity. In most cases of chronic pain, the culprit is adhesive scar tissue formation, whether the pain is in the low back; the neck; the shoulders; thighs; knees; calves; ankles; and so forth.

If you can identify the source of the client's pain, which is frequently adhesive scar tissue in a particular muscle, tendon or ligament, and have the skill to eliminate it, successful treatment will have been accomplished.

For example, an injured hamstring muscle tendon unit is identified by the appropriate anatomical testing procedures; then, through palpation, the precise areas of adhesive scar tissue are located in the belly of the muscle and at the attachment to the ischial tuberosity; now successful treatment can be administered. Once all of the adhesive scar tissue has been eliminated by manual therapy or other means and full movement is restored, pain will be gone and normal strength can be rebuilt.