Trigenics is a new interactive and integrated assessment and treatment system which combines both Eastern and Western approaches for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal injuries. The International Institute of Trigenics was established in 1996 and the Canadian government recognized it as a learning institution in 1998. The Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners reviewed the course syllabus and gave its approval for registration of Trigenics Practitioner (RTP) from the EBNMP in 1999. Subsequently, affiliation status with the Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists was achieved. A license/permit number is acquired through the EBNMP and the ANN and a further course of postgraduate study with the International Institute of Trigenics can lead to status as a Fellow of the International Institute of Trigenics (FIIT). In 1999, Laidlaw Corp. which runs 250 Rehab clinics in the USA investigated and approved ‘Trigenics as a method of decreasing its $50 million/year disability claims. In 2001 the College of Chiropractic in Ontario has recognized Trigenics as a treatment procedure.
Trigenics involves three established treatment methodologies that are combined to synergistically relax, strengthen and lengthen muscles and reduce pain. Patients are examined using standard orthopedic neurological and chiropractic diagnostic tests and muscle testing based on Kendall and Kendall to assess patient status. What makes Trigenics appealing is that it really is an active resisted exercise that involves the patient in an interactive therapeutic dance with the Trigenist. This establishes a powerful healing bond between patient and doctor. From the outset the doctor gains the patient’s confidence with a specific functional muscular assessment. The patient’s participation in the treatment reduces his level of stress and pain when the specific form of acupressure is applied similar to the work by Travell and Symons1. Diaphragmatic breathing2 and the principles of reciprocal inhibition3,4, are applied to allow the practitioner to access deeper into the muscle with less pain and resistance. In this way muscles are relaxed and strengthened by restoring their functional integrity and using the inverse myotatic reflex5, muscles are then lengthened to help reestablish the patients’ neuromusculoskeletal health and help prevent further injuries. Once the soft tissue component is dealt with, specific skeletal adjustive techniques can be applied more effectively. Both patients and practitioners who have experienced this approach will attest to its efficacy in obtaining effortless articular releases and in the observation that fewer adjustments seem to be required.
Most other soft tissue treatments attempt to restore muscle function purely on a mechanical basis by altering the myofascial tissue plasticity. Trigenics makes changes in soft tissue structures by making mechanical changes and also by incorporating the benefits of accepted neurological principles to bring about neuromuscular changes. This sets the treatment above others in its complexity and in his scope. Modifications to the technique enable the practitioner to begin treatment within seconds of a traumatic injury. The Trigenics treatment requires practitioners to spend more time with patients and to possess more knowledge and manual skills.
1. Travell, J.G. and Simons, D.G., Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 1998.
2. Monaldi Arch, The pathophysiology of hyperventilation syndrome. Folgering H. Dept Pulmonology Dekkerswald, University of Mijmegen, Groesbeek, The Netherlands. Chest Dis 1999, Aug:54(4):365-72
3. Sherington, CS.: Reciprocal innervation of antagonist muscles. Fourteenth note. On double reciprocal innervation. Proc. R. So. Lond. B. Biol. Sci., 91:249-268, 1009.
4. Ikai T, et al. Reciprocal inhibition in the forearm during voluntary contraction and thinking about movement. Electromyograph & Clinical Neurophysiology, 36 (5):295-304; 1996, July – August
5. Knott M & Voss DE. Proprioceptive Neuromusclular Facilitation: Patterns and Techniques, 2nd ed; New York: Hoeber Medical Division, Harper & Row, 1968
