What is Neuromuscular Massage Therapy?

Neuromuscular is a highly-specialized way to treat chronic pain. This form of massage uses soft tissue manipulation to release strain in the muscle and treat chronic pain. It addresses nerve compression, postural issues, circulation, and trigger points. It can improve poor posture patterns that lead to degeneration of joints. In addition, It can reduce stress and tenstion for clients with fibromyalgia,  compression syndrome,  or going through cancer treatment (Source).

Neuromuscular therapy, otherwise known as trigger point myotherapy, is a type of massage therapy that focuses on putting pressure on specific “myofascial” points in your body to relieve the pain. Massages are performed by a neuromuscular therapist, who is educated in the nervous system and how it affects muscles.

Some of the medical issues for which neuromuscular massage can be an appropriate treatment include:

• Low back pain
• Upper back pain
• Carpal tunnel-like symptoms
• Sciatica-like symptoms
• Calf cramps
• Tendonitis
• Knee/Hip pain
• Jaw pain
• Tempomandibular joint pain
• Headaches

In general, patients who undergo neuromuscular massage therapy can experience the following benefits:

• Reduced or complete elimination of pain
• Higher levels of flexibility and strength
• Increased ease and efficiency of movement
• Better posture
• Balanced musculoskeletal and nervous systems
• Improved blood circulation
• Lower levels of body toxins
• Higher levels of energy and vitality

For treatment of these points, a neuromuscular massage therapist would identify problem areas on your body and use his fingers, elbows and knuckles for treatment. Continuous and consistent pressure is applied over the strained or paining muscle with the use of fingers, elbows and knuckles. This consistent pressure would improve circulation around that area and would reduce stress or soreness of muscles and surrounding tissues. This pressure therapy would actually disperse the accumulated lactic acid, thus offering a clean and free circulation through that area for oxygen, nutrients and blood to flow easily.

Although it will do you good as the pressure that therapist would apply would actually help in relieving contraction of muscles. If incase the pain becomes extremely painful, you should let your therapist know and he may need to alter the intensity of this massage therapy to make it much comfortable for you.

Although surrounding area to that muscle or trigger area would be worked upon but some stronger pressure needs to be applied on specific muscle or point of problem. Clients may experience discomfort during the massage and soreness of muscles afterward. This soreness however would be relieved in next few days and you will find yourself more relaxed.