The application of pressure to trigger points using using the fingers, thumbs, knuckles or elbows. There is some discomfort when pressing on a trigger point but I do not feel that an inordinate amount of pressure is needed. In many cases it is counter productive causing the person to tense up unnecessarily.

Manually putting the body in a position that shortens the muscle that harbors the trigger point, and holding it in that position for a specified period of time. This allows the muscle to relax and breaks the pain spasm pain cycle.

Manually holding a muscle or joint in a position that facilitates pain free movement.

This allows the joint or muscle to ease back into a pain free position and therefore permits increased motion to occur.

Using the body's own resistance to facilitate decreased tension in the muscle or joint.

Prescribing muscle specific stretches to reinforce and maintain the results of therapy.

Looking for those factors that could perpetuate the pain and suggesting solutions that would either eliminate or modify an activity that may be preventing the resolution of the problem.

For example: If the armrests of a chair are too high, it will cause the shoulders to rise up toward the ears and produce neck and shoulder tension.

The remedy would therefore be to either lower the arm rests or if that was not possible sit on a pillow to raise the torso.

Teaching one techniques to administer self-treatment.