Orthopedic Pathologies

The routines in the book Thai Acupressure, treat many of the most common orthopedic pathologies that can be treated by a manual therapeutic method. They treat soft tissue ailments such as muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points, muscular weakness, muscle strains, tendinous disorders such as tendinosis, tendonitis and tenosynovitis, ligament sprains, osteoarthritis, neuro-vascular entrapments and neural tensions. The routines cannot treat serious pathologies such as fractures, joint dislocations, orthopedic ailments created by viral or bacterial diseases nor by internal or systemic diseases. One can study treatment routines based on point combinations at different schools and with different practitioners in Thailand.

Thai acupressure routines may treat some conditions of a pathology but may not treat other conditions and symptoms of the same pathology. A herniated spinal disc for instance will create different conditions depending on the degree of herniation, its location and its direction. The Thai routines may treat some of these conditions very effectively but cannot treat other possible conditions of this same pathology. On the other hand a few different pathologies will be treated by a single one acupressure treatment routine. The routine “Shoulder pain when raising the arm” for instance, is used very effectively in the treatment of several different shoulder pathologies such as subacromial bursitis, calcific tendonitis, rotator cuff tears or tendinosis, shoulder impingement syndrome, and bicipital tendinosis or tenosinovitis.

In the left column of the following table is the list of the 60 Thai treatment routines (that are presented in the book & Video guide) and in the right column a list of the possible underlying pathologies these routines may treat.

THAI ROUTINES FOR HEADACHEPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR FACEPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR NECKPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR SHOULDERPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR ARMPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR ELBOWPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR WRISTPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR FINGERSPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR BACKPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR LOWER BACKPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR HIPPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR LEGPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR KNEEPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR ANKLEPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR FOOTPossible underlying pathologies
THAI ROUTINES FOR TOESPossible underlying pathologies

Routine 1 Two-sided headache	Muscular contraction headaches Vascular (congestive) headaches
Routine 2 One-sided headache with dry eyes and blurred vision (migraine)	Muscular contraction headaches Vascular (congestive) headaches
Routine 3 Tension headache	Muscular contraction headaches
Routine 4 Temporal pain	Muscular contraction headaches

Routine 5

Mouth distortion (Bell's Palsy)

Facial nerve disorder (Bell's palsy)

Routine 6

Jaw pain (TMJ)

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)

Routine 7 Sprained neck	Muscle strain Spinal ligament sprain Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Herniated nucleus pulposus Osteoarthritis of the cervical spinal joints (spondylosis) Cervical facet syndrome Cervical spinal stenosis Torticollis (wryneck) Kyphosis (hunchback) Forward head posture Military neck
Routine 8 Stiff neck	Spinal ligament sprain Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Herniated nucleus pulposus Cervical facet syndrome Osteoarthritis of the cervical spinal joints (spondylosis) Cervical spinal stenosis Kyphosis (hunchback) Forward head posture Military neck
Routine 9 Neck pain while turning the head 1	Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Muscle strain Spinal ligament sprain Cervical facet syndrome Osteoarthritis of the cervical spinal joints (spondylosis)
Routine 10 Neck pain while turning the head 2	Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Kyphosis (hunchback)

Routine 11 Pain at the midpoint of the inner edge of the shoulder blade	Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Muscle strain Nonspecific neurovascular entrapments Kyphosis (hunchback) Scoliosis
Routine 12 Pain at the lower third of the inner edge of the shoulder blade	Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Muscle strain Nonspecific neurovascular entrapments Kyphosis (hunchback) Scoliosis
Routine 13 Shoulder pain with additional pain while breathing	Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Nonspecific neurovascular entrapments Costovertebral joints pain Kyphosis (hunchback) Scoliosis
Routine 14 Pain next to the lower medial part of the shoulder blade with additional pain along the thoracic spine	Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Nonspecific neurovascular entrapments Scoliosis Kyphosis (hunchback)
Routine 15 Stiff shoulder with pain when raising the arm	Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) Subacromial bursitis Calcific tendinitis Rotator cuff tears or tendinosis Shoulder impingement syndrome Bicipital tendinosis or tenosinovitis SLAP lesions (glenoid labrum injuries) Osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint Acromioclavicular sprain Post shoulder separation Post shoulder dislocation or subluxation Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Nonspecific neurovascular entrapments Scoliosis Kyphosis (hunchback)
Routine 16 Shoulder pain when bending the arm behind the back	Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) Calcific tendinitis Shoulder impingement syndrome Bicipital tendinosis or tenosinovitis SLAP lesions (glenoid labrum injuries) Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Nonspecific neurovascular entrapments Acromioclavicular sprain Kyphosis (hunchback)

Routine 17 Weak arm	Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) Non specific neural and/or vascular entrapment Kyphosis (hunchback) Muscular hypertonicity Myofascial trigger points
Routine 18 Heavy arm	Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) Non specific neural and/or vascular entrapment Muscular hypertonicity Myofascial trigger points Kyphosis (hunchback)
Routine 19 Numb hand	Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) Non specific neural and/or vascular entrapment Muscular hypertonicity Myofascial trigger points Kyphosis (hunchback)
Routine 20 Pain from the shoulder to the wrist	Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) Non specific neural and/or vascular entrapment Kyphosis (hunchback)

Routine 21

Tennis elbow

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Osteoarthritis of the elbow
Non specific tendinosis
Nerve entrapment at the elbow

Routine 22

stiffness with pain when bending
and straightening the arm

Post injury conditions
Non specific tendinosis
Nerve entrapment at the elbow
Osteoarthritis of the elbow
Overworked or fatigued elbow ligaments
Joint inflammation
Post injury condition

Routine 23 Wrist pain at the Little finger line	Tendinosis and tendonitis Osteoarthritis Sprain Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Routine 24 Wrist pain at the Thumb line	Tendinosis and tendonitis De Quervain's tenosynovitis Osteoarthritis Sprain Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Routine 25 Wrist pain at the Middle finger line	Ganglion cyst Tendinosis and tendonitis Extensor tenosynovitis Osteoarthritis Sprain Hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Routine 26 Swollen wrist 2	Tendinosis and tendonitis Extensor tenosynovitis De Quervain"s tenosynovitis Osteoarthritis Sprain

Routine 27 Sprained thumb	Finger sprain Repetetive overuse finger ligamentous injury
Routine 28 Sprained index finger	Finger sprain Repetetive overuse finger ligamentous injury
Routine 29 Sprained middle finger	Finger sprain Repetetive overuse finger ligamentous injury
Routine 30 Sprained ring fingeSprained ring finge	Finger sprain Repetetive overuse finger ligamentous injury
Routine 31 Sprained little finger	Finger sprain Repetetive overuse finger ligamentous injury De Quervain's disease (tenosynovitis)

Routine 32

Middle back pain

Costovertebral joints pain
Nonspecific nerve entrapments.
Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Facet syndrome
Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc)
Muscle strain
Spinal ligament sprain
Scoliosis
Kyphosis (hunchback)

Routine 33

Middle back pain

Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Scoliosis
Kyphosis (hunchback)

Routine 34

Middle back pain with
radiated pain to the back of the leg

Muscle strain
Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Nonspecific nerve entrapments and neural tension
Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc)
Scoliosis
Kyphosis (hunchback)

Routine 35 Lower back pain at the area of L-5 and S-1	Spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis Lumbar facet syndrome Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc) Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Spinal ligament sprain Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Structural and postural deviations
Routine 36 Lower back pain at the lumbar vertebrae	Spondylosis and stenosis Spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis Lumbar facet syndrome Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc) Spinal ligament sprain Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Structural and postural deviations
Routine 37 Lower back pain with pain at the buttocks	Spondylosis and stenosis Spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis Lumbar facet syndrome Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc) Cauda equina syndrome Sciatica and piriformis syndrome Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Spinal ligament sprain Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Structural and postural deviations
Routine 38 Radiation of pain to the leg	Spondylosis and stenosis Spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis Lumbar facet syndrome Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc) Cauda equina syndrome Sciatica and piriformis syndrome Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Structural and postural deviations
Routine 39 Lower back pain when bowing face down	Spondylosis and stenosis Spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis Lumbar facet syndrome Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc) Sciatica and piriformis syndrome Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Spinal ligament sprain Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Structural and postural deviations
Routine 40 Lower back pain when turning up and arching backward	Spondylosis and stenosis Spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis Lumbar facet syndrome Herniated nucleus pulposus (slipped disc) Sciatica and piriformis syndrome Sacroiliac joint dysfunction Spinal ligament sprain Muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points Structural and postural deviations
Routine 41 Lower back pain when twisting	Lower back muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points

Routine 42

Hip pain in flexion, abduction and outer rotation

Lumbar pain - referred symptoms
Hip muscular hypertonicity and myofascial trigger points
Gluteus medius and minimus tendinosis
Trochanteric bursitis
Snapping hip syndrome
Osteoarthritis of the hip
Developmental dysplasia

Routine 43

Hip pain in flexion adduction and inner rotation

Routine 44 Heavy and weak leg	Non specific neural and/or vascular entrapment
Routine 45 Stiff calf muscle and hamstring	Muscular hypertonicity and/or myofascial trigger points in the leg muscles.Muscular hypertonicity and/or myofascial trigger points in the leg muscles.
Routine 46 Pain at the groin	Adductor strains (groin pulls)
Routine 47 Pain at the inner thigh	Adductor strains (groin pulls)

Routine 48

Outer knee pain

Structural and postural deviations
Muscular pathologies
Knee osteoarthritis
Meniscal damage
Iliotibial band friction syndrome
Lateral collateral ligament sprain (LCL)
Common peroneal nerve entrapment

Routine 49

Inner knee pain

Structural and postural deviations
Muscular pathologies
Knee osteoarthritis
Meniscal damage
Medial collateral ligament sprain (MCL)
Anterior cruciate ligament sprain (ACL)

Routine 50

Stiff knee with pain when bending and straightening

Structural and postural deviations
Muscular pathologies
Knee osteoarthritis
Patellar tendinosis (jumpers knee)
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runners knee)
Prepatellar bursitis (housemaids knee)
Bakers cyst (popliteal cyst)
Posterior cruciate ligament sprain (PCL)
Anterior cruciate ligament sprain (ACL)
Popliteal neurovascular entrapment

Routine 51

Prained outer ankle

Lateral ankle sprain

Routine 52

Sprained and swollen outer ankle

Lateral ankle sprain

Routine 53

Sprained inner ankle

Medial ankle sprain

Routine 54

Pain at the sole of the foot while walking

Tarsal tunnel syndrome
Tendinosis of foot tendons
Muscular weakness of the lower leg accompanied by flatfoot

Routine 55

Stiff Achilles tendon

Achilles tendon disorders
Retrocalcaneal bursitis

Routine 56 Sprained big toe	Sprained big toe
Routine 57 Sprained 2nd toe	Sprained 2nd toe
Routine 58 Sprained 3rd toe	Sprained 3rd toe
Routine 59 Sprained little (5th) toe	Sprained little (5th) toe
Routine 60 Sprained little (5th) toe	Sprained little (5th) toe

Orthopedic Pathologies

Routine 1

Two-sided headache

Routine 2

One-sided headache with dry eyes and blurred vision (migraine)

Routine 3

Tension headache

Routine 4

Temporal pain

Routine 5

Mouth distortion (Bell's Palsy)

Routine 6

Jaw pain (TMJ)

Routine 7

Sprained neck

Routine 8

Stiff neck

Routine 9

Neck pain while turning the head 1

Routine 10

Neck pain while turning the head 2

Routine 11

Pain at the midpoint of the inner edge of the shoulder blade

Routine 12

Pain at the lower third of the inner edge of the shoulder blade

Routine 13

Shoulder pain with additional pain while breathing

Routine 14

Pain next to the lower medial part of the shoulder blade with additional pain along the thoracic spine

Routine 15

Stiff shoulder with pain when raising the arm

Routine 16

Shoulder pain when bending the arm behind the back

Routine 17

Weak arm

Routine 18

Heavy arm

Routine 19

Numb hand

Routine 20

Pain from the shoulder to the wrist

Routine 21

Tennis elbow

Routine 22

stiffness with pain when bending and straightening the arm

Routine 23

Wrist pain at the Little finger line

Routine 24

Wrist pain at the Thumb line

Routine 25

Wrist pain at the Middle finger line

Routine 26

Swollen wrist 2

Routine 27

Sprained thumb

Routine 28

Sprained index finger

Routine 29

Sprained middle finger

Routine 30

Sprained ring fingeSprained ring finge

Routine 31

Sprained little finger

Routine 32

Middle back pain

Routine 33

Middle back pain

Routine 34

Middle back pain with radiated pain to the back of the leg

Routine 35

Lower back pain at the area of L-5 and S-1

Routine 36

Lower back pain at the lumbar vertebrae

Routine 37

Lower back pain with pain at the buttocks

Routine 38

Radiation of pain to the leg

Routine 39

Lower back pain when bowing face down

Routine 40

One-sided headache with dry eyes
and blurred vision (migraine)

Pain at the midpoint of the inner edge
of the shoulder blade

Pain at the lower third of the inner edge
of the shoulder blade

Pain next to the lower medial part of the
shoulder blade with additional pain along the thoracic spine

stiffness with pain when bending
and straightening the arm

Middle back pain with
radiated pain to the back of the leg

Lower back pain when turning up
and arching backward