Commonly Asked Questions
What Is Neuromuscular Therapy?
Neuromuscular therapy is a specialized form of deep tissue technique in which digital pressure (often called "pressure points") and deep transverse friction are used to release areas of strain in the muscle. These areas of strain are called tender or trigger points and are the cause of muscular pain symptoms.
What are Trigger Points?
Trigger points are areas of hypersensitivity in a muscle caused by overstrain or overuse. These are small areas of the muscle in which there is a contracture of muscular tissue (think of a tiny snag in a knit sweater). Blood and nutrients are lacking in that part of the muscle and therefore the muscle spindle is unable to relax. Trigger points cause pain, fatigue and weakness in the muscle. Trigger points also cause a phenomenon called referral pain.
What is Referral Pain?
Referral pain is caused by trigger points and is a phenomenon in which areas far from the trigger point suffer from sensations of pain, tingling, or numbness. Example of referral pain include: sciatica like symptoms, carpal tunnel like symptoms, and headaches.
What is Neuromuscular Therapy used to treat?
Neuromuscular therapy is used to treat many different soft tissue problems. The following list is a small example of issues that may be helped by neuromuscular therapy:
Lower back pain, upper back pain, carpal tunnel like symptoms, sciatica like symptoms, hip pain, headaches, plantar fasciitis, calf cramps, tendonitis, knee pain, iliotibial band friction syndrome, jaw pain, tempomandibular joint pain (TMJ disorders).
Who gets neuromuscular therapy?
Anyone with muscular pain! Soft tissue pain that feels like "knots" in the muscle are very common, but can be treated by neuromuscular therapy. We all feel muscular pain in some shape or form and now we have something to do about it.