| If you have been in a car accident at one time or | | | | disciplines including: |
| have been living with pain for many years now, | | | | The physiology of the bodies nervous system |
| maybe you need to learn what's involved with this | | | | Its relation on the muscular and skeletal systems. |
| specific branch of massage technique. | | | | Is educated in the field of kinesiology |
| Neromuscular massage or NMT as some refer to | | | | Is educated in biomechanics |
| it, is specifically used to address the pain you are | | | | Is educated in how to work in a clinical or medical |
| currently dealing with. You must first understand | | | | environment |
| that your nervous system controls everything in | | | | How Can Neuromuscular Massage Benefit Me? |
| your body, including muscle tension and the | | | | Neuromuscular Therapy will be used to work on |
| amount of pain you can deal with... | | | | each of the five elements that cause pain in |
| Whereas a standard "relaxation" massage will | | | | everyone of us: |
| work on the general areas of your back...NMT is a | | | | Ischemia: We talked a bit about this one |
| deep tissue massage that addresses individual | | | | previously. Isechemia is just a need of blood |
| specific muscles, ligaments, connective tissue | | | | supply to soft tissues which causes |
| & tendons that are often overlooked in a | | | | hypersensitivity when touched. |
| typical relaxation type of massage. | | | | Trigger Points: These are really stressed points in |
| Here is what you can expect. | | | | muscles, which refer pain to other parts of the |
| First the client will sit in a a chair specifically made | | | | body. Remember we brought up about how |
| for receiving massages. Thumbs, fingertips and | | | | relaxing a trigger point in your left shoulder could |
| elbows are the tools of choice for the massage | | | | release or put an end to those terrible pounding |
| therapist to explore every fiber tissue looking for | | | | headaches. (Even though you might not have |
| bands of muscle fibers that are tighter than the | | | | related the two together before) |
| rest of them. These result in troubles such as | | | | Nerve Compression: This is only force on a nerve |
| hyper tonicity and ischemia. Hypertonicity is just a | | | | caused by one of the following: |
| fancy word for too much tension in your bodies | | | | Soft tissue |
| muscles. Isechemia is simply another word for a | | | | Cartilage |
| limitation of your bodies blood flowing to areas | | | | Bone |
| that need it. | | | | Postural Distortion: This is an unevenness of the |
| These areas will be massaged until they "release" | | | | muscular system as a result of the movement of |
| or relax. NMT will boost your bodies flow of blood, | | | | the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes. |
| diminish their pain and as a result release anxiety | | | | This is a different way of telling your body every |
| on nerves caused by previous soft tissue and | | | | now and then needs a muscle alignment just like |
| muscle injuries. | | | | your pickup tuck needs one after hitting too |
| The funny thing is that clients will ask, "why are | | | | many potholes! |
| you working over there? It Doesn't hurt there...it | | | | Biomechanical Dysfunction: This refers to the |
| hurts over here." The explanation is | | | | imbalance of the muscular skeletal system due to |
| Neuromuscular massage aids the freeing of | | | | bad habits like these: |
| trigger points and intense knots of tense muscle | | | | Incorrect lifting habits |
| that in turn free up pain in other areas of the | | | | Miserable golf swing |
| body that are related by the same muscle. This is | | | | Lousy tennis stroke |
| acknowledged as "Referred Pain". Lets take an | | | | Incorrect typing posture |
| example Releasing an uptight trigger point in your | | | | If you think that you could benefit from |
| back...could help ease pain in your shoulder or even | | | | Neuro-muscular Massage therapy, Why not call |
| reduce those never ending headaches. | | | | your local massage therapist and ask if they |
| What Does This Reveal About Your Massage | | | | concentrate on this form of massage therapy. |
| Therapist? | | | | After two or three appointments I think you will |
| Let this sink in for a second. This means that | | | | be overjoyed with the results. |
| your NMT therapist must be educated in Several | | | | |