Method and apparatus for intra oral myofascial trigger point therapy

A method for the relief of bead, face and jaw pain, including Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) by achieving the release of intra oral muscular spasms, trigger points and myofascial dysfunction comprising the steps of:

• locating a plurality of intra oral treatment points selected from the group consisting of locations of intra oral muscle spasms, trigger points and myofascial dysfunction, in the mouth and jaw region of a human subject;
• providing a haudheld device comprising;
• a central gripping portion having a pair of spaced apart ends;
• a first generally arcuate arm extending from one end of the central gripping portion and terminating in a generally bulbous tip;
• a second generally arcuate arm extending from the other end of the central gripping portion and terminating in a generally flattened tip;
• opening the subject's mouth sufficiently to pass one of the tips into the mouth;
• inserting one of the tips into the subject's mouth, the other of the tips being outside the subject's mouth;
• positioning said one of the ups in a region selected from the group consisting of:
• a first region around and within the medial pierygoid and buccinator muscles in the soft tissue area between the top and bottom molars of the subject;
• a second region around and within the lateral pterygoid muscle in the area behind and slightly outside of the upper molars of the subject;
• a third region around and within the palatopharyngeus, tensor veli palatini, levator veli palatine, and pterygoid muscles in the roof of the mouth in the soft palate area under the sinus cavity;
• a fourth region around and within the masseter, buccinator, stylopharyngeus, middle pharyngeal constrictor, and superior pharyngeal constrictor muscles in the highest area of the cheek pouch closest to the ear;
• and
• a fifth region around and within the digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, styloglossus, genioglossus, stylohyoid, hyoglossus, and platysma muscles in the area underneath the tongue;
• positioning the tip in contact with a treatment point in the region;
• and
• applying pressure to the treatment point with the tip until a release response occurs.

A hand-held device for insertion into the mouth of a human and for use in the release and relief of muscular spasms, trigger points and myofascial dysfunction through the systematic application of pressure, comprising:

• a central gripping portion having a pair of opposed ends and a plurality of gripping faces extending between the opposed ends;
• a first generally arcuate arm extending from one of the opposed ends, the arm having a base joined to the one end, a tip spaced therefrom, and an elongated midportion extending generally arcuately therebetween, the tip being generally bulbous and convex with a radius of curvature between 0.15 and 0.4 inches and a width between 0.25 and 0.6 inches;
• a second generally arcuate arm extending from the other of the opposed ends, the second arm having a base joined to the other end, a tip spaced therefrom, and an elongated midportion extending generally arcuately therebetween, the tip having a face that is generally flattened with a width between 0.2 and 0.9 inches;
• and
• the midportion of at least one of the arcuate arms having a radius of curvature in the range of 3 to 6 inches;
• wherein the device is configured such that when one of the tips is inserted into the mouth and brought into contact with an intra oral treatment point, the other of the tips is disposed outside the mouth.

A hand-held device for insertion into the mouth of a human and for use in the release and relief of muscular spasms, trigger points and myofascial dysfunction through the systematic application of pressure, comprising:

• a central gripping portion having a pair of opposed ends and a plurality of gripping faces extending between the opposed ends;
• a first generally arcuate arm extending from one of the opposed ends and terminating in a tip;
• and
• a second generally arcuate arm extending from the other of the opposed ends and terminating in a tip;
• each of the tips having a generally convex face with a width between 0.2 and 0.9 inches, the convex faces of the tips having dissimilar radiuses of curvature and different widths;
• at least one of the arcuate arms has a radius of curvature in the range of 3 to 6 inches;
• and
• each of the arms having a length in the range of 3 to 5 inches.