Important safety information

Read the following section carefully and use your TolaPoint safely. If in doubt, always consult your doctor.

Don’t:

• Do not use tolapoint before consulting with your doctor if you:
  1. Have any bleeding-related diseases,
  2. Have osteoporosis or osteopenia,
  3. Have Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT),
  4. Have thin, friable skin,
  5. Bruise easily.
  6. Are pregnant.
• Do not leave unsupervised children with tolapoint.
• Do not use a Point directly over the spine.
• Do not use a Point directly over an artery or lymph node.
• Do not use a Point directly against the front of the neck, throat, abdomen or breasts.
• Do not use a Point directly over a nerve; you will know that you are on a nerve if you feel a tingling or “pins and needles” sensation in the limb or area being treated.
• Do not use a Point over infected or inflamed areas, or where bruising exists. You should also not use it over areas of broken skin.
• Do not continue using a Point if you have had an unfavorable response, (e.g. bruising, bleeding, excessive discomfort, or swelling). Cease use and consult with your treating medical practitioner. Be aware that it is normal to feel increased surface sensitivity, resembling bruising, following use of tolapoint, and this discomfort usually abates after 1-2 days.
• Do not use a Point in any vehicle (car, bus, train, trolley, boat, ferry etc.). A sudden stop, extreme acceleration, or change in direction– such as might be experienced in a collision–could result in serious injury by instantly increasing the pressure exerted by the Point to an extreme level.
• Do not leave a Point lying on the floor. They can cause serious injury to someone who steps on them unsuspectingly.
• Do not leave the Strap in a closed loop after use. Always unbuckle the Strap when not in use.
• Be cautious when using a Point in the bath. The slippery surface of the bathtub may cause a Point to move suddenly, which can increase the pressure on your muscle too rapidly and to a level that you cannot control. This could result in serious injury.
• Do not use a Point or Wedge on a sensitive or expensive surface. Be aware of the surface a Point or Wedge is on. The underside of a Point or Wedge may dig into the surface it is resting on. Use a Rocker or a piece of material under the Point or Wedge to protect a surface if necessary.

Do:

• Do start slow. Listen to your body. Some discomfort is usual when using a Point, but you should not find yourself tensing up or holding your breath to deal with the pain.
• Do relax as much as you can. This applies to your whole body and especially the myofascia you are working on. Attempting to simultaneously engage and relax the same myofascia is neurologically confusing and not the best use of your time.
• But, do emphasize control over relaxation in the discovery phase. For example, you may find lying more relaxing than standing to work on your back, however, it may be easier to adjust the Point position, the amount of pressure you are exerting etc. when standing. In which case, you should stand when you are identifying the areas you need to work on but lie down to do the work.
• Do stretch after release work, and particularly if you are working with trigger points.
• Do work with your therapist to fine-tune your approach.
• Do develop a regular routine.
• Do identify and eliminate the underlying causes of myofascial dysfunction.