NAT Trigger Point Therapy
Online CE/CPD Course with Paul Townley MSc MMACP PT and Dr. Jonathan Kuttner DPT
Trigger point therapy remains one of the most clinically relevant and widely used approaches in modern massage and manual therapy practice.
NAT Trigger Point Therapy is a comprehensive online course designed to help therapists build stronger foundations in trigger point assessment, referred pain, clinical reasoning, and practical treatment integration.
The course brings together extensive video tutorials, a fully illustrated course text, referred pain maps, and a structured clinical companion course designed to support learning, retention, and practical application in real treatment settings.
Course Overview
This course provides a structured and clinically grounded foundation in trigger point therapy for massage therapists, manual therapists, rehabilitation professionals, and qualified healthcare practitioners.
The material explores what trigger points are, how referred pain patterns work, why perpetuating factors matter, and how trigger point therapy may be integrated into broader musculoskeletal care.
Rather than presenting trigger points as isolated treatment points, the course encourages a more thoughtful understanding of assessment, clinical presentation, movement dysfunction, soft tissue relationships, and treatment planning.
What You Will Learn
Topic Focus Trigger Point Foundations Understanding trigger point physiology, clinical presentation, and myofascial pain Referred Pain Patterns Recognizing common referral patterns and their relevance to assessment Clinical Reasoning and Assessment Developing more thoughtful approaches to trigger point presentations Perpetuating Factors Exploring broader contributors to ongoing trigger point activity and dysfunction Treatment Integration Applying trigger point therapy within wider manual therapy and rehabilitation careCourse Content
The course is designed as both a learning programme and an ongoing clinical reference resource. The material is broken down into manageable sections so therapists can study progressively and return to specific muscles, referral patterns, or treatment concepts as needed.
Course Area Practical Emphasis Trigger Point Theory Core concepts, pain referral, and clinical relevance Assessment and Clinical Thinking How to interpret trigger point presentations in practice Treatment Approaches Including ischemic compression, muscle energy techniques, and manual therapy integration Muscle-Specific Reference Major muscles, referred pain patterns, and practical treatment considerations Clinical Companion Course Structured reinforcement, retention support, and clinical reasoning developmentWho This Course Is For
This course is ideal for massage therapists, trigger point therapists, rehabilitation therapists, physiotherapists, physical therapists, athletic trainers, chiropractors, bodyworkers, osteopaths, occupational therapists, nurses, and other qualified healthcare professionals seeking a stronger clinical foundation in trigger point therapy.
It is particularly useful for therapists who want a practical course they can continue revisiting as an ongoing reference resource throughout clinical practice.
About the Presenters
Paul Townley MSc MMACP PT holds a Master’s Degree in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and is a member of the Manipulative Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and the International Federation of Manipulative Physical Therapists. His career includes university lecturing, military consultancy, and physiotherapy work within elite sport, including Crystal Palace FC in the English Premier League.
Dr. Jonathan Kuttner DPT is internationally recognised for his work in trigger point therapy, myofascial pain, and manual therapy education. His teaching combines clinical practicality with a strong understanding of pain presentation and referred pain mechanisms. He is the author of two books and the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the NAMTPT.
Included With This Course
Included Details Video Tutorials Over 6 hours of practical video classes Illustrated Course Text Over 300 pages of trigger point education and reference material Referred Pain Maps Illustrated reference material for common trigger point referral patterns Clinical Companion Course Structured learning support to deepen understanding and improve retention Subtitles English, French, German, and Spanish subtitles included Online Exam and Certificate Certificate of completion after successful assessment Lifetime Access Study at your own pace and revisit the material anytimeCE Finder
This course has been approved for continuing education by numerous professional boards and associations worldwide. Scroll sideways to find your board or association.
Course: Trigger Point Therapy DiplomaApprovals Listed: 67
CE Broker Provider: #20-858184 Scroll right to view all approvals in alphabetical order → Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Approved Hours
17 Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Alabama Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
19 Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
19 Alaska Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
19 Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
19 Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Arkansas Board of Massage Approved Hours
19 Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) Approved Hours
19 Australian Traditional Medicine Society Approved Hours
19 Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) Approved Hours
19 Canadian Athletic Trainers Association (CATA) Approved Hours
7.6 Canadian Massage & Manual Osteopathic Therapists Association (CMMOTA) Approved Hours
6 Certified Registered Massage Therapist Assc (CRMTA) Approved Hours
10- Secondary CEU/CPD Self-Cert Approved Hours
19 Chiropractic Board of Australia Approved Hours
19 College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia (CCHPBC) Approved Hours
19 College of Massage Therapists of New Brunswick (CMTNB) Approved Hours
19 College of Massage Therapists of Newfoundland and Labrador (CMTNL) Approved Hours
9.5 College of Massage Therapists Ontario (CMTO) Approved Hours
19 College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC) Approved Hours
19 Connecticut Board of Chiropractors Approved Hours
19 Connecticut Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Deleware Board of Massage and Bodywork Approved Hours
19 Distrcit of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Florida Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 (Hands On credits) Georgia Board of Massage Therapy *General* Approved Hours
19 Georgia Board of Nursing *General* Approved Hours
19 Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy *General* Approved Hours
19 Indiana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Iowa Board of Chiropractic Approved Hours
19 Iowa Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
19 Kansas Chiropractic Association Approved Hours
19 Maine Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Approved Hours
19 Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia (MTANS) Approved Hours
19 Massage Therapy Assc of Manitoba (MTAM) Approved Hours
19 Massage Therapy Assc of Saskatchewan (MTAS) Approved Hours
19 Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy (MSBMT) Approved Hours
19 Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage Approved Hours
19 Missouri State Board of Chiropractic Examiners Approved Hours
19 Montana Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Approved Hours
1.7 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Approved Hours
19 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB) Approved Hours
19 National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork - New York (NCBTMB-NY) Approved Hours
19 Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC) Approved Hours
19 Nebraska Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours
19 Nevada Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
19 New Hampshire Advisory Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
19 New Jersey Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours
19 North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Approved Hours
19 North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Ohio Chiropractic Board Approved Hours
19 Oklahoma Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners Approved Hours
19 Oregon Board of Massage Therapists Approved Hours
19 Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Prince Edward Island Massage Therapy Association (PEIMTA) Approved Hours
19 Registered Massage Therapists' Association of Ontario (RMTAO) Approved Hours
19 South Carolina Massage/Bodywork Panel Approved Hours
19 South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Approved Hours
19 Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure Approved Hours
19 Virginia Department of Health Professions (Massage Therapy) Approved Hours
19 Washington Board of Massage Approved Hours
19 Washington Board of Physical Therapy Approved Hours
19 West Virginia Massage Licensure Board Approved Hours
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Approval requirements can change. Please confirm acceptance with your own board, association, employer, or regulatory authority before registration.
NAT Trigger Point Therapy
Professional Reviews & Feedback
The reviews below represent feedback provided by students and practitioners through Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me.
★★★★★ 4.6 average rating across reviews collected via Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Judge.me“The best trigger point course I have taken. The explanations of referred pain patterns finally made everything click for me.”
Amanda K., LMT“Excellent balance between anatomy, assessment, and treatment. The material was immediately applicable in practice.”
Brian T., PT, DPT“The trigger point maps and muscle-by-muscle approach made learning much easier than I expected.”
Sophie M., Sports Therapist“Very clear instruction and excellent demonstrations. I have already incorporated several techniques into my treatments.”
Kevin J., ATC“A comprehensive course that covers both the theory and practical application of trigger point therapy.”
Lisa P., RMT“The anatomy sections were outstanding. Complex muscular relationships were explained in a practical and understandable way.”
Christopher D., LMT“I appreciated how the course linked trigger points to common pain presentations that I see every day.”
Nicole H., LMT“The workbook is one of the strongest resources I have used for continuing education. It has become a regular reference.”
Andrew S., PT“The course gave me a much better understanding of how trigger points contribute to chronic pain and movement dysfunction.”
Danielle W., RMT“Professional presentation, excellent production quality, and highly relevant clinical content.”
Richard F., Sports Therapist“The muscle-by-muscle structure made it easy to learn and even easier to revisit later.”
Melissa C., PTA“A practical course that has helped me improve outcomes for clients with neck, shoulder, and low back pain.”
Jonathan B., ATC“The referred pain patterns were explained clearly and supported by excellent illustrations.”
Patricia G., LMT“This course filled several gaps in my understanding of trigger point assessment and treatment.”
Catherine R., RMT“One of the few online courses that combines detailed anatomy with practical treatment guidance.”
Matthew L., Massage Therapist“I found the explanations of muscle function particularly useful. The course strengthened my clinical reasoning.”
Olivia N., OT“The instructors explain difficult concepts in a straightforward and engaging manner. Highly recommended.”
Stephanie A., LMT“The trigger point diploma gave me a structured framework that I continue to use every week in practice.”
Gregory E., Manual Therapist“Excellent educational value. The course is detailed without ever feeling overwhelming.”
Rebecca T., RMT“The clinical examples and treatment demonstrations helped bridge the gap between theory and practice.”
William H., PT“I completed this course to refresh my skills and ended up learning far more than I expected.”
Kimberly V., LMT“The referred pain content alone was worth the investment. It changed how I assess musculoskeletal complaints.”
Nathan P., Massage Therapist“An outstanding resource for therapists who want a deeper understanding of muscular pain and dysfunction.”
Lauren J., RMT“The course materials are exceptionally thorough and continue to serve as a valuable clinical reference.”
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