by Catherine Hedgecock PUTTING THE PRESS ON PAIN Published June 23, 1997 Other Columns by Catherine Hedgecock	Have you ever had pain somewhere in your body that just wouldn't go away? Aching lower back, stiff neck, cramping abdomen? Have you ever dreamed of finding one person who could identify and relieve your discomfort quickly, without a lot of blood tests and heavy-duty drugs? If you lived anywhere near Pleasanton, California, you would be able to check out the skills of acupressure specialist Torbjorn "Tobe" Hanson. Trained in Sweden and self-taught over the years, Hanson uses a simple but effective technique to locate weak, strained, or tight muscle groups that are causing pain. Then he performs short but intense massage on key points along these muscles to bring often quick relief. "What I like best about my work," says Hanson, "is when people come into my office in pain and walk out feeling better." Hanson, 36, knows what a miracle that can be. An avid athlete throughout his youth, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Hanson excelled at soccer, ice hockey, and body building. But when he was 20 and doing squats at a Stockholm gym, he wrenched his back. "It went into spasm," he says, recalling the intense pain. "I couldn't straighten up." Hanson had started school to become a physical therapist or chiropractor and went for both types of treatments. Despite some relief, the aching lingered.
Eager to get on with his career, Hanson decided to develop something of his own using his hands.	Then one day Hanson attended a lecture by Lars-Olof Berglov, an expert in acupuncture and applied kinesiology. Berglov used Hanson to demonstrate how to locate points of weakness in the body. He had Hanson hold his arms straight out. When Berglov tried to pull one arm down, Hanson resisted him easily. But when the acupuncturist lightly pressed a place on Hanson's back, he was able to pull Hanson's arm down with virtually no resistance. This kind of muscle testing showed Berglov where tension was being held. He then used acupuncture and acupressure to relieve the tension. "My back completely relaxed," Hanson said. "I instantly felt better." Hanson enrolled in Berglov's school and learned acupuncture, acupressure, and precise muscle testing techniques. He worked in a gym, started his own practice, and wrote columns on sports injuries for Sweden's largest body-building magazine. But a trip to California had convinced Hanson that he wanted to live in the beautiful, sunny state. On the slim promise of a job interview with an Oakland chiropractor, Hanson packed his bags and left Sweden. He got the job, but then faced harsh disappointment. His acupuncture training from Sweden was not recognized by the state of California. He would have to spend years and thousands of dollars to go through state-approved training and exams. With only a few hundred dollars to his name, eager to get on with his career, Hanson chose to give up acupuncture. "I decided to develop something of my own using my hands." He took the few classes necessary to get an acupressure certificate. He worked in another chiropractor's office, then went out on his own. His outstanding results brought him new clients and more referrals. In 1994 he opened natty offices inside Pleasanton's Club Sport, a huge complex of sporting facilities that caters to well-to-do clientele in the upscale San Francisco Bay Area suburb.
Discharging the emotion or talking about the behavior can contribute to the release of discomfort.	Now Hanson works with people who have been injured in accidents, hurt at work, or have stubborn pain from unknown causes. He also treats professional athletes who come to him with injuries. As Hanson treats a client's physical complaint, he also talks about the emotions and issues often related to certain acupressure points. For example, the pressure points that he treats for back pain might be related to the kidney, which in Chinese medicine can indicate intense fear or reckless behavior. Discharging the emotion or talking about the behavior can contribute to the release of discomfort. "Eastern medicine does not separate mental and emotional states from the body," Hanson says. "Everything is energy. Physical trauma or mental overwork or emotional trauma can trigger pain in the body." Because his hands are his main tools, Hanson works to stay strong and relaxed. He continues to lift weights and rollerblades regularly. He also stays in tune with areas of tightness in his body so they don't turn into pain. "Everybody has tension or injury waiting to happen." Tobe Hanson can be reached at Sports Performance in Pleasanton, California: phone (510) 227-8555; or fax (510) 227-8558. Catherine Hedgecock is a freelance writer and editor in Berkeley, California. She has written for USA Today, Knight Ridder newspapers, GNN, and other publications. She has won first place investigative reporting awards from California Newspaper Publishers Association, Gannett newspapers, and Best of the West. Ms. Hedgecock is currently writing a mystery novel. © 1997 Catherine Hedgecock, all rights reserved.