Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a specialised form of Bodywork which aims to produce a long-term change over a series of sessions. It works on the basis that much of the pain and tension we hold is, in fact, a result of ‘holding’ in the nervous system and that by retraining the nervous system we can deactivate painful spots (trigger points) and release long-term tension and restrictions in movement. Often, pain in one area comes from a trigger point somewhere else in the body, and this kind of therapy can be used to discover and deactivate these points, which you probably didn’t know existed! Neuromuscular Therapy releases these points and lengthens shortened and tight muscles. These problems can be discovered by touch, and by assessing your posture, walking and standing, and taking into account the balance of various muscles and joints. This enables the therapist to work with the whole body, discovering how dysfunction in one area of the body can cause problems in another.
What is Neuromuscular Therapy
Who is it good for?
Neuromuscular Therapy is perfect for treating chronic muscle tension and pain as it gets to the root of the problem instead of simply soothing the affected area. It is used to treat, for example :
– Chronic tension caused by old injuries
– Pain and restriction caused by tightened muscles
– Unexplained muscle and joint pain
– Muscles prone to cramp and spasm as well as many more
What can you expect?
Neuromuscular Therapy is largely done on a Massage couch and you will be asked to remove all clothing except your underwear and perhaps a pair of shorts. You will receive some treatment lying down and you may also be asked to sit in a chair or at the end of the couch for some of the techniques. The techniques used in Neuromuscular Therapy include Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Deactivation, Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Positional Release Technique.
What you will experience is a session in which you and I work together to discover where your problems stem from and how best to treat them. You will be actively involved in assisted stretches, as well as being passive during Massage strokes with and without oil, and using deep and light pressure. Although you may experience some discomfort as trigger points and problematic muscles are discovered and treated, you are unlikely to feel more than a little pain as the work is all done within the pain barrier.
You will also be asked to give feedback on how you feel the treatment is going and whether you feel it could be improved for you. For the best results, a course of six to eight sessions is recommended, however, you can have ongoing treatment for as long as you choose.
