neuromuscular therapy

NMT (Neuromuscular Therapy) is a form of Advanced Structural Bodywork designed to bring the central nervous system into balance with the body’s muscular system. The theory of NMT is based on scientific medical laws formed by physicians. These laws pertain to pain and the way the central nervous system reacts to pain signals. 

While initial signals of pain are a protective mechanism of the body, the central nervous system may become overwhelmed with pain signals. In response, it will send nerve impulses to the muscular system telling it to stay in a state of sustained contraction. In this state of prolonged contraction, changes can occur to the muscle tissues themselves, and set the stage for chronic myofascial (muscle/soft tissue) pain and dysfunction.

There are five principles common to Neuromuscular Therapy:

1. Ischemia
2. Trigger Points 
3. Nerve Compression or Entrapment 
4. Postural Distortion 
5. Biomechanical Dysfunction

Ischemia is a localized condition of lack of blood flow to a muscle or soft tissue area. Ischemic areas of tissue are typified by their sensitivity to touch with light to moderate finger pressure.

Trigger Points are ischemic muscle and soft tissues which, when stimulated by any number of stressors, refer high neurological activity into other areas of the body. Because of the activation of trigger points, pain can felt be in areas of the body which are often distant form their muscular source. It is for this reason that you will find that you will be sometimes massaged in areas that seem distant from your pain.

Nerve Compression/ Nerve Entrapment is pressure on a nerve by bone, cartilage or muscle/ soft tissue. Symptoms are typically numbness, tingling, or paralysis, but can also include electric-like shocking pain. Nerve entrapment is the most common type of pain. It will also contribute to the ischemic process. As a soft tissue therapist, a neuromuscular therapist will focus on cases of nerve entrapment to prevent the development of associated trigger points.

Postural Distortion is an imbalance of the muscular system which results from the continuous movement of the body off of the natural coronal and midsagittal planes. Examples easy to visualize are shoulders which droop forward, a flattened lumbar spine due to a rotated pelvis, or a head which tilts to one side. When a person has a postural distortion the body will compensate in order to retain balance and prevent the body from falling to one side. To do this, muscles are recruited to perform the duties of bones. Over time these muscles become thicker, denser and harder. The results of these compensation patterns are muscle contraction, body distortion and pain. Once a distortion pattern is eliminated and proper posture is restored, associated pain caused by the distortion can be reduced and, in many cases, eliminated. An important component of Neuromuscular Therapy is to determine why these postural distortions have occurred so that the patient can be educated to prevent their reoccurrence.

Biomechanical Dysfunction is an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system which results in faulty movement patterns. More easily defined, it a postural distortion in motion. 

Having defined these principles of NMT theory, it is easier to explain how NMT can help you. When applied correctly over time, NMT will:

• Release muscle spasms and hypercontractions. 
• Eliminate trigger points that cause referred pain. 
• Restore postural alignment. 
• Educate you in proper biomechanical function to prevent your pain from reoccurring.

While many people have had a massage therapy session before, an NMT session can be new ground from what they may have previously experienced.

During your first NMT session it is important for you to be actively involved by helping the neuromuscular therapist to understand your particular condition. You will be asked many questions. Some may even sound silly. All are important and should be answered as thoughtfully and specifically as possible. The goal of NMT is to find and eliminate the cause of your pain, not just placate your symptoms. Only through proper communication with your therapist can you achieve this goal.

Additionally at your first visit, the neuromuscular therapist will perform a postural evaluation and a palpatory exam. A postural evaluation is simply the process of measuring common bony landmarks on the body and their relationship to certain gravitational planes. Documenting this exam provides a reference to gauge improvement as therapy progresses. During the palpatory exam the neuromuscular therapist will touch different muscles and tissue groups by finger to determine if there are any ischemic, trigger point, or nerve entrapment possibilities. 

Once this information is obtained, the neuromuscular therapist can develop a treatment plan based on what muscle involvement is observed. This plan will be discussed with you to satisfy any questions you may have. 

It is important to understand that NMT is not like a typical relaxation massage. The aim of NMT is to keep you out of pain. While there may be some discomfort associated with the techniques, maintaining pressure without entering the zone of pain is paramount. Throughout your NMT session, you will be continuously asked to maintain communication about your level of discomfort from the pressure used by the therapist. 

-Excerpt from http://www.bmm-painfree.com