What is Neuromuscular Massage Therapy?
Neuromuscular Massage Therapy (NMT) is a clinically specific
form of massage ideal for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain
and traumatic injury to the muscles, tendons and superficial ligaments
of the body. It requires extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology,
as well as Swedish massage, sports massage, shiatsu/acupressure and deep
tissue and muscle therapy. The goal of Neuromuscular Massage Therapy is
to eliminate soft tissue pain patterns in the body through treatment of
the muscles, tendons and ligaments. In addition to hands-on-work, the treatment
involves postural assessment, muscle testing, determination of predisposing
factors and corrective exercise or stretching. Neuromuscular Massage Therapy
is an exceptional method of stress reduction because balancing and calming
the nervous system is an essential element in reducing pain. At the Center
for Integrative Medicine, massage therapists routinely cross-consult with
the physicians, nurse practitioner and other alternative practitioners
to produce the optimal treatment plan to meet each client's needs.
Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a very specialized form
of manual therapy. A therapist trained in NMT is educated in the physiology
of the nervous system and its effect on the muscular and skeletal systems.
The Neuromuscular Therapist also is educated in kinesiology and biomechanics
and how to work in a clinical or medical environment.
By definition, Neuromuscular Therapy is the utilization
of static pressure on specific myofascial points to relieve pain. This
technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and
connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. In a healthy
individual, nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement,
function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural
distortion or stress cause nerves to speed up their transmission, inhibiting
equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction. It
is therefore necessary to stabilize low levels of neurological activity
to maintain normal function and overall health.You have ongoing aches and pain from an injury (work/sports/accident
related injury), or you've been diagnosed with tendonitis/tendinitis e.g.
of the neck, shoulders, elbows; or you've been diagnosed with carpal tunnel
syndrome or some other repetitive stress injury -- these are some of the
reasons why people may be referred to a neuromuscular massage therapist
by their family doctor.
So what does a massage therapist do? First lets look
at some definitions:
Massage
...manipulation of tissues (as by
rubbing, stroking, kneading, or tapping) with the hand or an insturment
for remedial or hygenic purposes " [p.412 Webster's medical desk dictionary
/ Merriam-Webster Inc. 1986 ISBN 0-8-1779-025-6 ]
Neuromuscular...of or related to nerves and
muscles; esp: jointly involving nervous and muscular elements (~ disease)
" [p.473 Webster's...]
tendonitis-tendinitis
...inflammation of a
tendon... " [ p.707 Webster's Webster's medical desk dictionary...]
inflammation
...a local response to cellular
injury that is marked by capillary dilation, ... injury, redness, heat,
pain swelling, and often loss of function and that serves as a mechanism
initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue " [
p.335 Webster's Webster's medical desk dictionary...]
Neuromuscular Therapy will be used to address five elements
that cause pain:
1. Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which
causes hypersensitivity to touch
2. Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles
which refer pain to other parts of the body
3. Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve
by soft tissue, cartilage or bone
4. Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system
resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal
planes
5. Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal
system resulting in faulty movement patterns (i.e., poor lifting habits,
bad mechanics in a golf swing of tennis stroke, computer keyboarding)
Common reasons for treatment include:
* Whiplash
* Muscle Tension Headaches
* Post-operative Soft Tissue Pain
* Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
* Fibromyalgia
* Multiple Sclerosis
* Hypertension
* Low Back Pain
* Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain
* Repetitive Use Injuries
* Traumatic Muscle-strain Injuries
Soft-tissue sports injuries to treat with massage
therapy include:
* Golfer's Elbow (medial epicondylitis)
* Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
* Achilles Tendon Strain
* Ankle Sprains
* Plantar Fascitis
* Patellar tendonitis
* Medial and / or Lateral Collateral Ligament Strain
* Hamstring Strain
* Shin Splint
* Rotator Cuff Injuries
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