Article: Myotherapy

"Myo" is a prefix meaning Muscle

Myotherapy is not just massage

Our practice recognizes the importance of soft tissue correction.

Without healthy connective tissue, the body cannot repair, the biomechanics cannot re-learn, and the treatment will have to be (frequently) repeated. How many times have you heard people who have had some treatment say "I feel great after I've had the treatment, but my problem keeps coming back"? How often does one small injury persist and cause secondary problems?

Frequently, because pain is felt in areas that we call "muscles" and because massage is considered to be "good" for muscles, massage is sought as a treatment of conditions that are felt to be "muscular". Examples are back pain, neck pain, cramps, chest pain, shoulder and arm pain, lower back and leg pain, ankle or foot pain, most sporting injuries and other supposed muscular conditions. Massage is great for relaxation and has some pluses, but massage is not a stand-alone treatment with any long term benefits. Some massage practitioners claim that the more painful the massage, the better it is for you. Some massage practitioners will tell you that "layers" of injury exist and require repeated (and painful) massage. To eliminate "scar tissue" or "adhesions", to correct "muscle memory" and to "retrain muscle"

We provide the ultimate in soft tissue technique, the original Myotherapy. A science in its own right, original Myotherapy is the soft tissue solution to chronic, recurring and unyeilding musculoskeletal conditions.

Our original Myotherapy is the pure, unadulterated, 100% organic, hands on soft tissue re-education. . Myotherapy is not massage, although most Myotherapists incorporate many massage techniques in their treatment.

Our original Myotherapy focuses on detection and correction of soft tissue lesions. If there is an underlying biomechanical problem, it will be observed during the course of Myotherapy treatment and appropriate reacommendations will be made.

How does it help? What can it do for me?

With our high levels of stress, sedentary lifestyle and repeated injuries, the soft tissue structures of the body do not have the opportunity to repair. The "muscle memory" locks in injury and restriction and our degenerative path is established. The correction of soft tissue injury is more complex than "rest" or "time". When injury has occurred, there is a change in the nature and construction of tissue. Fibrosis is a common result. Anti-inflammatories may reduce symptoms, but the cause remains uncorrected and the consequence is scar tissue and soft tissue adhesions which eventually limit range of motion and increase the risk of future injury."Time" actually makes most injuries worse, not better. Thickening of tissue causes compression of adjoining structures, interference to function and, you guessed, increases the risk of future injuries.

Myotherapy encompasses many forms of muscle manipulation and many varied techniques, including:
Swedish Massage, soft tissue, reflex and connective tissue manipulation; lymphatic drainage, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular techniques, proprioceptive stimuli, corrective exercise, stretching techniques & reflex stimulation.
Myotherapy can be utilized as 'before and after' Chiropractic or Osteopathic care and procedures, and for all biomechanical complaints such as: backache, bck pain, headache, head pain, neck pain, joint pain, joint stiffness and muscle problems, arthritis, repetitive strain injuries and to enhance general well-being, relaxation and circulation. We routinely use Myotherapy as an adjunct to our Chiropractic / Osteopathic procedures, imagine how effective the combination is? OK...try it and find out!

The main benefits are:

1. It can help realign and balance the spine without spinal manipulation.

2. Unblocks spinal nerve pathways.

3. Stimulates your circulation and breaks up adhesions without panfull massage

4. Exercises your muscles and mobilizes your joints.

5. Increases range of motion.
   

Myotherapy is an effective treatment option for your physical pain and restriction. It is one of the most powerful therapies to improve performance, promote human potential and direct us towards that elusive goal, "perfect health".

and if Myotherapy doesn't help...

the next step up the therapeutic ladder is:

Trigger Point Dry Needling

(Dry needling means that no injection of any substance is involved, just the little needle.)

Different from Acupuncture?

Yes! Very different.

The little needles are inserted into the muscle trigger points and they (the trigger points) are disrupted or broken-up or at the very least, reduced. This is a good thing because the trigger points are the cause of long term problems.

Just to clarify, acupuncture uses certain spectific points on the body that are energetically connected to each other and to the body as a whole. Acupuncture is a whole system of healthcare and Trigger Point Dry Needling is a specific method of treating musculoskeletal problems.