II. Indications
III. Mechanism
- Anesthetic spray distracts patient
- Clinician passively stretches Trigger PointMuscle
IV. Equipment: Vapocoolant Spray
- Fluori-Methane Spray (by Gebauer Co. in Cleveland)
- Contents of Vapocoolant Spray
- Dichlorodifluoromethane 15%
- Trichloromonofluoromethane 85%
- Spray kept at 10 to 12 degrees celsius
V. Technique
- Patient positioned comfortably
- Fluori-Methane sprayed over involved Muscle
- Direct spray at 30 to 60 degree angle
- Sweep spray parallel to Muscle fibers
- Sweep spray toward Trigger Point
- Spray 2-3 times, each covering 10 cm/sec
- Direct spray at 30 to 60 degree angle
- Muscle involving Trigger Point is stretched
- After Stretch and Spray
- Repeat up to daily for 1-2 weeks
- Suspend treatments for 2-3 days if soreness develops
VI. Precautions
- Hyperirritable Trigger Points may be exacerbated
- Fluori-Methane is potential biohazard for ozone loss
- Safer alternative than ethyl chloride (explosive)
VII. References
- Sola in Roberts (1998) Procedures, Saunders, p. 890-901
- Alvarez (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(4):653-60 [PubMed]
- Fomby (1997) Phys Sportsmed 25(2):67-75 [PubMed]
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