What is neuromuscular massage (or trigger point myotherapy) and might it be a solution to muscle pain you’re experiencing?

As most of us have experienced at one point or another, muscle pain can be incredibly inconvenient and painful in everyday life, especially when it prevents us from getting enough sleep, being active, or even walking around comfortably.

There are numerous techniques to relieve chronic symptoms, from yoga to pharmaceutical ointments, but neuromuscular treatment (NMT) is one that you may not be so aware of and could be a good solution to a range of problems.

Neuromuscular therapy, also known as trigger point myotherapy, is a form of massage that focuses on relieving pain by applying pressure to certain ‘myofascial’ points in the body. A neuromuscular therapist is a massage therapist who is trained in the nervous system by knowing how it affects muscles.

Muscular pain: What exactly is going on?

We’ve all felt muscle pain, but have you ever stopped to wonder what exactly is going on in your body when you experience it?

Well a common cause of muscular discomfort is Ischemic muscle tissue. This is muscular tissue that isn’t getting enough blood, and when a muscle doesn’t receive enough blood, it doesn’t receive adequate oxygen. Lactic acid is produced when there is a lack of oxygen in the muscle, which produces discomfort after intense exercise. Because of all of these variables, your muscle spindle is unable to relax, therefore resulting in the development of trigger points or hypersensitive regions.

While a localised region of pain may not appear to need exhaustive neuromuscular therapy, the problem with ischemic muscle tissue and trigger points is that pain is hardly ever isolated. ‘Referral pain’ in parts of the body linked to the originating site is common with this type of muscle pain. Somebody with shoulder discomfort, for example, may be feeling it as a result of dysfunction in the hand or forearm and vice versa.

Sciatica and carpal tunnel syndrome – the scourge of many – are frequently caused by trigger points.

How is neuromuscular massage different to conventional massage?

Neuromuscular massage therapy is an extremely targeted form of deep tissue massage, not necessarily a ‘different’ sort of treatment than other types of massage therapy. It has a high success rate in treating chronic soft tissue pain.

To put it another way, NMT concentrates on discovering exact places in your body that are generating pain — sometimes referred to as ‘trigger points’ — in order to treat the condition at its source.

Neuromuscular therapy is typically the best treatment for pain caused by a sporting injury, a vehicle accident, or poor posture.

Simply put, neuromuscular therapy blends massage therapy with the science of trigger points to help people feel better and perform better.

Neuromuscular therapists will target five important components of the body before beginning the Massage to pinpoint the source of the discomfort, which include:

• Ischemia, which is essentially an insufficient blood flow to soft tissues that causes them to constrict.
• Targeting key trigger spots (extremely inflamed sensitive areas in your muscles).
• Detecting nerve entrapment or compression (soft tissue and muscular tightness put a strain on nerves).
• Determining the degree of postural distortion (examining your overall posture for any imbalances).
• Identifying biomechanical problems (atypical gait or inadequate joint motions from daily joint exercises such as golf).

Following the examination of these aspects the neuromuscular therapist will have a better knowledge of the nature of your pain and will be able to create a personalised massage strategy to help you feel better.

Why Neuromuscular Massage?

Neuromuscular Massage has a number of significant advantages.

The muscle is able to relax and lengthen when the pressure on the trigger point is removed, resulting in joint relaxation. This causes the joint and muscle to operate in harmony, therefore reducing nerve pressure and resetting the joint’s movement path.

Patients can expect the following benefits from neuromuscular release:

• Pain relief: Get rid of the afflicted/stressed area’s pain and chronic pain symptoms.
• Enhanced flexibility: Allows muscles and joints to move more freely and for longer periods of time. 
• Improved posture and weight distribution: Assists in balancing the body’s typical stress areas, resulting in better posture and weight distribution.
• Improves movement efficiency: by reducing tension and discomfort that prevents a full range of motion.
• Improved circulation: Stress points that block circulation in the affected pain areas are eliminated.
• Toxin elimination: Toxins accumulated in the trigger sites are released and cleared away.
• Increased energy levels: As pain levels decrease, circulation improves, and movement becomes easier, overall energy levels rise.

Based on the individual pain and injury history, a chiropractor, a doctor, or a physical therapist can discuss the benefits that patients may expect from a neuromuscular massage.

Although neuromuscular massage is non-invasive, it is not appropriate for everyone. Before beginning therapeutic massages, speak with a medical professional.

What are the main conditions that Neuromuscular Massage Treats?

While neuromuscular release treatment involves the relaxation of muscle at trigger points, it is intended to deal with mechanical problems caused by persistent pain.

A number of overuse injuries and chronic illnesses can be helped by physical therapists and doctors, including:

• Reduce back pain: Releases trigger points in the surrounding areas, allowing the spine to rebalance.
• Neck and upper back discomfort: Relieves pain in the shoulders, neck, and mid-back muscles caused by stress points.
• Hip pain: Releases trigger points in the upper legs, glutes, and lower back, allowing hip joints to relax.
• Chronic headaches: Helps to relieve headaches by increasing circulation in the neck and relieving tension in the upper back and shoulders.
• Iliotibial band friction syndrome: Releases trigger points and myofascial adhesions along the iliotibial band, allowing for more efficient movement.
• Knee pain: Relieves stress areas above and below the knee which obstructs effective knee mobility.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Relieves stress around the entrapped nerve, allowing the joint to glide and move freely.
• Sciatica: Relieves stress in the upper leg and lower back caused by the iliotibial band.

• Calf cramping: Releases trigger points under prolonged tension, preventing calf muscular spasms.
• Plantar fasciitis: Restores mobility between the small joints of the foot, allowing tension to be released from the bottom of the foot.
• Tendonitis (also known as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow): Relieves trigger points over and underneath the elbow (or joint) where tendonitis flares up. 
• Temporomandibular joint discomfort (TMJ): Releases along the jawline and upper neck free up the jaw joint.

Neuromuscular Massage can treat the most chronic pain concerns.

A good therapist will evaluate your injuries and inform you whether you should wait to utilise this method or start treatment right away.

The Neuromuscular Massage Procedure

Trigger point myotherapy is another name for Neuromuscular Massage and refers to the essential feature that distinguishes this treatment: the trigger point.

A complete examination of the body utilising regional protocols is the initial stage in neuromuscular therapy (NMT). If you’re in pain in one spot, your massage therapist will evaluate that area first, then the muscles that span the adjacent joints and link to or originate from that area.

For example, if you have discomfort in your lower back, your therapist will begin massaging the muscles in that region to get circulation flowing and pinpoint trigger points. He or she will then move on to other associated areas, such as the hip flexors, glutes, lats, and obliques, to find other trigger points that may be the cause of referral pain.

Once the trigger points have been detected, a qualified neuromuscular massage therapist will apply alternative degrees of concentrated pressure for 10 to 30 seconds directly on the trigger points. This method aids in the release of muscular tension and relaxation, allowing the muscle to get enough blood flow and oxygen. This helps reduce discomfort.

Is Neuromuscular Massage a painful experience?

This is a typical assumption made by individuals who are suffering from chronic soft tissue pain.

The concept of applying concentrated pressure directly to the source of pain might seem intimidating, yet soft tissue discomfort is one of the few instances where this method is helpful in bringing pain relief. When it comes to your soft tissue, you wouldn’t think to apply direct pressure to a surface level burn however, that’s exactly what you need to do. 

Nonetheless, while you may expect some discomfort during neuromuscular treatment at first, it should not be severe. To get the most out of your Neuromuscular Massage, be sure to communicate openly with your therapist during your session.

Likely side effects

Side effects may occur with any type of treatment, although they are usually low with neuromuscular release massage. The good news is that, unlike with other massage types, there is no risk of an allergic response because there are no oils or creams.

The following are the most common side effects associated with receiving a neuromuscular release massage:

• Light-headedness: This can be caused by increased circulation and the release of toxins. It’s suggested that you rest for a while whilst this passes.
• Nausea: Pain and enhanced circulation may cause nausea in certain people. This is unusual and usually lasts just a few minutes.
• Fatigue: Dealing with the procedure’s discomfort and the discharge of toxins might leave you exhausted for the rest of the day. However, those who suffer from chronic pain may feel exhausted for longer periods of time.
• Bruising: For a few days following the Massage, the region where the trigger points are stimulated for release may become bruised or painful.

Before undertaking a neuromuscular massage, consult your massage therapist if you have broken bones or are suffering from a severe injury. If you have a chronic disease like osteoporosis you’re more likely to experience significant side effects, including bone fractures and bleeding.

How to avoid side effects

You may avoid the adverse effects of a neuromuscular therapy massage by doing a few additional things. To assist, flush out any toxins created during the Massage by remaining hydrated both before and after the session. Wait a short while before getting up and allow yourself time before leaving the session to avoid light-headedness.

You may feel nauseated if you apply too much pressure on the trigger point; however, simply request that your therapist use less pressure. They’ll still have to apply pressure to obtain the release, but they’ll be able to do it more slowly to avoid making you nauseous.

To steer clear of becoming overly tired after your Massage, schedule a light day thereafter. Allow your body to recover by going to bed early.

Finally, knowing where your trigger points are can help you to gently rub the region before receiving a therapeutic massage. This will assist in preparing the region which helps avoid bruising.

In summary

NMT sessions have been shown to reduce the pain and symptoms of chronic illnesses such as back pain, migraines, and cramps.

Aside from the significant difficulties it may assist with, this type of therapy is a variety of Massage, so you’ll undoubtedly feel a lot more relaxed afterwards, with tight muscles feeling visibly less tense for many days afterwards.