What is Integrated Neuromuscular Massage including Trigger Point and Myofascial Release Therapy? A comprehensive and advanced system of soft tissue manipulation that specializes in working with accute, and chronic myofascial pain and pain syndromes. In the last 60 years, neuromuscular therapy (NMT) has emerged as a significant way to assess, treat and prevent soft-tissue injuries and chronic pain. Today, NMT is widely used not only in the treatment rooms of massage therapy, but also in occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, dentistry, chiropractic, osteopathic and physical medicine clinics worldwide. Simultaneously in the U.S., the same theories about this work were emerging, and although each group, knew nothing of the other, their discoveries and the techniques that came out of them were much the same. Now, in current changing times, much more, and much deeper understanding as to how and why this therapy works is being revealed more and more, almost daily, by the team of the International Fascia Congress, as well as by those of us following their research. How does it work?:
Muscular injury causes a chain reaction that begins with vasoconstriction, or narrowing of the blood vessels in the affected area. While this is helpful in limiting fluid flow and reducing bruising, it also causes myo-fascial tissue to tighten. When the tissue becomes hypertonic (locked in contraction), toxins such as Lactic, Pyruvic, and Hyaluronic acids can become trapped due to reduced circulation: Ischemia. These naturally occurring acids cause pain because they are euro-exciters, meaning that they increase nerve sensitivity. This reaction, combined with the tendency of the hypertonic tissue to pinch nerves against bones, or other muscle tissues in a process known as nerve compression, has the capacity to generate considerable amounts of pain. Eventually, the body learns to perform certain tasks in different, less efficient ways in order to minimize pain, resulting in fascial adhesions, distorting posture and biomechanics dysfunction. Occasionally, this pain is even redirected from one body part to another via Myo-fascial Trigger Points. Neuromuscular Therapy works to melt the fascia of the hypertonic muscles and restore circulation to the affected area, breaking the chain reaction and relieving the client’s discomfort. When the Myo-fascial obstructions are removed, the rest of the fascial system is able to relearn the correct methods of functioning, resulting in restoration of homeostatic balance. The Big Thick two volume Text’s, that Neuromuscular Therapists study and refer to are entitled: Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, by Janet Travell and David Simons. The latest research in Fascia explains so much better how the pain patterns in these texts form, function, and can be released with much less invasive procedures than those listed as to how to address in the books (which, even those, are much less invasive than the standard, now Old School, Western Medicine approach of addressing fascial issues (surgery, which leads to more fascial issuies). Contrary to many previous beliefs, working as it does with the central nervous system, NMT is a great manual therapy to use for people in a large amount of pain. Many times, direct, deep pressure cannot be applied to help relieve pain. by using techniques inherent to NMT, such as passive positional release (PPR) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), to help achieve release - a therapist can work someone’s painful area effectively, without causing them further pain. By Using the nervous system synergistically with the Myofascial system, a neuromuscular therapist can facilitate working an area that would otherwise be too painful to do so.
