Clair Davies (1937–2006)

Clair Davies' book offers pain relief through self-massage of often highly unexpected places, like relieving spinal back pain through massaging a spot on the belly between navel and hip. Diagrams of referred pain make it straightforward to find the most relevant sections to you, and the introductions include strong discussions of both why and how to perform trigger point massage. It clearly distinguishes when to start at home and when to see a doctor with heuristics that make sense, like show more time limits and checklists to distinguish muscular vs. organ-based pain (organ-based is impossible to treat at home and dangerous to wait on). It calls out common false diagnoses by doctors for particular referred pain patterns from tight muscles. It includes direct, sensible, and useful safety & access instructions for the points it recommends. It's an owner's manual for your body.

This book is a revelation. It works. Literally everyone should have access to a copy. I can't rave enough at how profound this book is. It is head and shoulders above everything else in the self-treatment space. show less

I heard of this book many years ago, but somehow never got around to reading it until now. That was a mistake. This is a fantastic guide to relieving the aches and pains that are the common lot of all humanity. The author recommends using a different style of treatment than the traditional "press and hold" that I learned years ago -- using deep, short strokes instead. I've been trying this and I do think it may be an improvement. If so, then the book is worth it just for that. That's not show more including the extensive illustrations covering the entire body, demonstrating the most likely trigger points and offering tips on treating them.

Recommended to anyone with a body that has any aches and pains, ever. show less

This is a book I will never be finished with. Anyone who has suffered from myo-fascial disease (and has somehow received help) knows what an important book this is. The medical profession is still slow to recognize the genius in this work, but those MD's who have distinguished its importance prove how brilliant they are as well. There is hardly any money to be made when the healer teaches the patient how to heal oneself. And that is why the medical profession disregards the study of muscle show more and the causes of pain. if they cannot perform surgery or prescribe drugs, treatments such as this are useless to them. Shame on the surgeons and physical therapists who refuse to practice this therapy. show less

i consider this book as the owner's manual for the human body. Here is a troubleshooting guide with pain relieving techniques you can learn before you need them - or look up and use when you wake up crying at 2am. Using these methods I relieved unbearable heel spurs, sciatica, and foot pain I was sure had to be peripheral neuropathy. I treasure this book and give it away often.