Travell passed away in 1997 at the age of 95. The two researchers went on to publish the definitive medical textbooks in this field of study “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Volumes I & II”Īfter contributing a life-time of work and research in Myofascial pain, Dr. They officially teamed up in 1974 and began several decades of exhaustive medical research in the field of Myofascial Pain. Simons was Chief of Physiometrics Research Laboratory at the Houston VA hospital, and discussed the nature of trigger points. Travell at a lecture she gave in San Antonio in the 1970s. David Simons M.D., who was a US Air Force flight surgeon when he met Dr. Travell was joined in her research by Dr. Travell began a lifelong study of these tender spots, which she termed trigger points, and her research gave birth to Trigger Point Therapy as we know it today.ĭr. Travell found that nearly all the patients had isolated tender spots in their skeletal muscles, that when pressed on, triggered the patient’s pain complaints. While performing physical examinations, Dr. She was frustrated that none of these patients had objective evidence of a disease or disorder that accounted for their pain complaint. She was surprised to find that even though a patient might be suffering from a life-threatening illness, what they routinely complained about was simple back, shoulder, or neck pain. Janet Travell M.D., serving in a pulmonary and cardiology hospital, became intrigued by the similarity of pain complaints that she observed in patients throughout the hospital.

Travell and simons feet muscles