Neuromuscular Therapy is a structurally integrative approach to pain relief such as back pain, neck pain and sports injury using massage, muscle energy and trigger point release techniques. The method is based on finding improper structural (posture) and biomechanical patterns (movement) in the patient’s body.
Neuromuscular massage techniques will attempt to address (or at least take account of) a number of features that are commonly involved in soft tissue pain and dysfunction. These include, among others, the following factors that affect the whole body:
- Breathing Patterns
- Posture (including patterns of use, static and dynamic)
- Stress (physical, chemical or psychological)
- Endocrine and hormonal Imbalances
- Digestive health
- Nutritional imbalance and or deficiencies
- Food/environmental and chemical allergy or intolerance
- Faulty Movement patterns (habits , lack of flexibility etc)
Once these factors are analyzed and considered, a comprehensive Neuromuscular Therapy program is designed to guide the client through the five stages of rehabilitation:
- Eliminate muscle spasm
- Restore flexibility
- Restore proper biomechanics
- Increase muscle strength
- Increase muscular endurance
Through my health and performance services the purpose is to not only to eliminate trigger points, muscle spasm and dysfunction that lead to pain, but also to educate you, on ways to prevent a recurrence of the injury.
Neuromuscular Therapy fills a void left by traditional health care by analyzing soft tissue causes of pain. According to recent research approximately 90% of pain symptoms are considered idiopathic, which means there is no known cause. I believe the reason there is no known cause is that a proper investigation into the patient’s physical, chemical and mental emotional state has not been fully investigated. The body is a system of systems, with all bodily functions working together to create body balance or homeostasis.
Neuromuscular Therapy is a way to analyze and thoroughly explore the physical body such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments in order to find these hidden sources of pain but also taking into consideration the other factors described above.
Restoring proper postural alignment and movement patterns not only alleviates pain, but can positively affect a variety of chemical and physiological conditions. One of the neurological laws that are the basis for Neuromuscular Therapy is Wolff’s law. Wolff’s law states:
Form follows Function and Function follows Form – Wolff’s Law
Thus, a distortion in the form of the body is often correlated to improper function of the body. For example, a slouching posture can decrease digestive function or a trigger point into the ear can affect hearing or balance. When proper structure is restored to the body, the accompanying physiological problems are often alleviated.
What training does a Neuromuscular Therapist have?
Neuromuscular techniques and therapy are taught widely in Osteopathic and Sports Massage schools across the UK and forms part of their respected training. Courses are also taught in the US and in Dublin that are short but intensive or held over a series of months over weekends with prior training in Sports and Remedial Massage as a pre-requisite.
There has been a proposal to study Neuromuscular Therapy at Masters Degree level at the University of Chester with links to The National Training Centre in Dublin.
Tom Smith is a trained Neuromuscular Therapist through the Neuromuscular Education Research Institute developed by expert therapist Jose Laguno and CHEK Practitioner level 4 Steve Bessant. Tom has also studied the work of Paul St John and Leon Chatiow, pioneers in the soft tissue and Neuromuscular therapy field.
Additional to that Tom has had many years of experience working alongside Chiropractors, Osteopaths and Watford Football Club Physiotherapists and Sports Scientists.
Soft Tissue and Manual therapy Qualifications and techniques include:
- Sports Massage
- Remedial Massage
- Visceral Manipulation
- Muscle Energy Technique
- Strain/Counter Strain
- Positional Release Technique
- Cranial Manipulation
- Atlas balancing
- TMJ Dysfunction
- And of course Trigger Point Therapy
What Symptoms can it help?
These range from very specific problems in localized areas of the body such as calf muscle and hamstring strain, back, neck and shoulder pain to headaches and jaw pain. The essence of Neuromuscular therapy is to improve blood flow to ischemic soft tissue, eliminate trigger points that refer pain and shut down muscles and to restore balance in the soft tissue structures.
Soft tissues when in spasm or are hypertonic can impinge on nerves, blood vessels and create sciatic and thoracic outlet syndromes.
Patients with structural injuries may be referred to a massage therapist by doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors or physiotherapists prior to further treatment. This is done to release any tight muscles and improve blood circulation prior to a spinal manipulation.
Please see the list of symptoms below I have been able to help clients with:
- Back, neck and shoulder pain
- Sciatica
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Knee Pain
- Calf Strain
- TMJ Dysfunction (jaw)
- Headaches and Migraines
- General muscle aches and pains
- Muscle sorness and stiffness from athletics and exercise
Who shouldn’t have Neuromuscular Therapy?
If you have a fever, an infectious disease, an inflammation, osteoporosis, varicose veins, large areas of bruising, cancer of extreme fatigue, the massage therapist may prefer not to work with you until he or she has checked with your doctor or consultant.
Alternatively, the therapist might modify the massage in some way. If you are in any doubt, ask your doctor if you are suitable candidate for deep tissue, sports and remedial massage.
The qualified masseur is trained to not only decide what kind of massage may be of use, but also to assess when a patient is unsuitable for Neuromuscular therapy and should be referred to another practitioner.
Do you have an acute injury?
If you have an injury that has occurred in the last 72 hours of therapy, great care is taken to reduce the swelling, spasm and improve blood flow to the area. In the case of an acute injury, the acronym RICE is appropriate within the first 72 hours meaning Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. However at the time, Neuromuscular therapy can be used on other areas of the body that are involved in your injury and to reduce the overall structural distress accompanied with the injury.
Are you in chronic pain?
Chronic pain is considered to be 3 months after your injury or flare up and after the inflammatory stage has subsided a rehabilitation protocol can be implemented.
- Restore flexibility posture and muscle imbalance
- Restore proper biomechanics
- Increase muscle strength
- Increase muscular endurance
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