Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular Therapy is a form of deep tissue treatment that involves charting the posture of the body standing, lying down, and sitting and then determining from that chart where and how to treat dysfunction. Much of the focus of treatment in on pressure points; specifically, those involving muscles where the ends of the muscles are chronically held close together. The charting approach I use is called Posturology. When specific pressure points are desensitized or released, they relieve localized and/or referred pain and allow for better alignment across the body.
Neuromuscular Therapy works with five types of imbalance that occur within the body.
- Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissue
- Trigger Points: Specific pressure points in muscle tissue that refer pain to other parts of the body
- Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage, or bone
- Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes
- Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system and the incorrect movement patterns that go with it
I worked part-time for a clinically oriented massage establishment called New Directions Health & Bodywork Professionals between May of 2004 and October of 2008. They place a strong focus on Neuromuscular and CranioSacral Therapy. Working there has been a driving force for me to get to know both of these modalities.
