Neuromuscular Therapy Massage vs. Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue is not the same as neuromuscular therapy. We get this questions a lot. Deep tissue is a massage technique that is mainly done to treat general muscle tissue, accessing deeper layers of tissue. It is usually listed in a spa setting as massage with deep in pressure. Deep tissue massage is mostly done as a full- body treatment with relaxation being the goal. Neuromuscular therapy is a highly-specialized form of manual therapy that are to help correct pain and movement dysfunction of the body and also with the nervous system. The treatments are typically done in a medical setting. This is done by releasing fascial (connective tissue) patterns, muscle adhesions and releasing trigger points that may be caused from bad posture, muscle imbalance, specific trauma or repetitive movements. The pressure used during this treatment is based on a client's pain threshold. Neuromuscular therapist must have additional education beyond a traditionally massage therapy education. The training involves biomechanical aspects of trigger point formation (watching your gait and how the body moves). Learning the fascial patterns, trigger point and their referral zones in the muscles and region. Neuromuscular therapy is needed for a specific conditions or injury to the tissue that needs treated. For a joint and mobility issue, sometimes it takes more then one session to help retrain the soft issue for longer pain relief and mobility improvement. This is why we education our patients in self care techniques to help with the process of the tissues and joints.
Medical Issues Neuromuscular Therapy Treat
- Low back pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendonitis
- Shoulder pain
- Temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ disorders)
- IT band syndrome
- Knee pain
- Carpal Tunnel
- Sciatica symptoms
- Jaw pain
- Whiplash
- Frozen shoulder
- Tennis Elbow
- Piriformis syndrome
- Post surgical rehabilitation
- Injury prevention
- Scars
- Nerve compression or entrapment
- Muscle activation