A 41 year old female actor presented with severe acute upper thoracic-lower cervical pain associated with spasm in the right upper trapezius and right levator scapula. Onset of the discomfort began during her performance on stage. She is on stage for 8 two-hour performances a week. The role has five scenes in which the pain appears to increase and then usually subsides. Autogenic facilitation to the right PMC did not create a strengthening response. TL to the cervical spine and other painful sites did not create a strengthening response either. The patient was then asked to go into character in one of the 5 scenes she had identified as being problematical.
While in character, there was no inhibition of a strong indicator nor facilitation of an inhibited muscle. However, TL to the emotional neurovascular points did create a facilitation response of an inhibited muscle. IRT procedure was applied to the painful sites while in character and simultaneously TLing the emotional neurovascular points. The IRT procedure was performed for each of the 5 scenes involved. The result was an immediate reduction in pain (90%) and a normal active range of motion to the cervical spine was restored.
Follow-Up: Two weeks after the show closed the actor presented with mild stiff neck on the right but also complaining that she is having trouble learning her lines for another major stage production. She feels the previous character’s lines are blocking her. IRT was performed while in character again. The patient immediately stated she felt a “shift” inside and a relaxed feeling came over her. The neck pain resolved 100% immediately. She telephoned me to say that her new character was doing very well.
-DR. THOMAS E. SPIRIDELLIS, NEW YORK, NY
