The experience of Tandem Point therapy differs dramatically from the experiences most Americans have with massage or other forms of bodywork. At the bottom of this page is a summary of contrasts between Tandem Point therapy and other forms of bodywork.

Before a typical Tandem Point session, the client completes forms that describe a problem, its symptoms, and any doctor's diagnosis. The client discusses the problem with the practitioner and demonstrates any loss of motion or any painful movement.

A Tandem Point client will receive treatment on a massage table while fully dressed. The practitioner palpates for local points of tenderness (these tender points are often trigger points). The practitioner presses a local point with one hand while at the same time pressing an acupuncture point in the client's foot or hand. When the tenderness disappears in the local point, the client stretches the muscle holding the local point. During the stretch, the tenderness in the local point reappears and then disappears. After the tenderness disappears, the client stretches further. Again, the tenderness will reappear and disappear. When the client has a normal range of motion in the muscle, another tender local point will be found. The process is repeated until the client has no further pain and a full range of motion.

In contrast to Swedish massage, in Tandem Point therapy:

		clients wear clothes
		most pressure is applied directly to points, rather than to strokes
		work is much more tightly targeted

In contrast to most shiatsu and acupressure treatments, in Tandem Point therapy:

		more than one point is held at one time
		fewer pressure points are held in one session
		points are held until pain or tenderness disappears

In contrast to two-point Jin Shin acupressure approaches, in Tandem Point therapy:

		local point selection usually depends on specific muscular limitations, muscle origin and insertion locations, and trigger point locations
		muscles containing local points are stretched, permitting a deeper level of release
		clients participate actively in the work