Myotherapists are highly trained manual therapists which focus on the assessment, treatment and management of musculoskeletal conditions causing dysfunction and pain. Myotherapy utilises many therapeutic modalities within their treatments such as soft tissue massage therapy, trigger point therapy, joint mobilisation, dry needling, stretching, corrective exercises and postural advice.
Myotherapists and Remedial Massage Therapists are university certified and trained to quickly identify the original source of tension and pain and apply a range of manual therapy techniques to get you feeling great again. Massage benefits are vast and include reduced stiffness, pain, increased movement but can be a great way to manage stress with our busy lifestyles and the demands we place on our bodies.
Myotherapy definition - Myotherapy is a Allied Health Practice of manual therapy which is focused on the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pain and associated conditions.
Myotherapy defines as muscle therapy as 'Myo' in Greek explains and is a branch of manual medicine aimed to prevent, correct and rehabilitate sporting and occupational injuries to restore and maintain normal functioning of the body. Myotherapy techniques are aimed to restore and maintain the normal physical integrity of the soft tissue structures including muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.
A Myotherapy session involves a physical evaluation, a thorough history taking, followed by various muscle, joint and nerve testing. Myotherapy can be used for chronic injuries related to work or sports or in the prevention of symptoms, correction of posture and returning to optimal activity. Myotherapy treatment may include trigger point therapy, remedial massage therapy, joint mobilisation, dry needling, cupping, stretching, exercise and rehabilitation programs and pain management.
Myotherapy is a Westernised evidence based therapy which has grown as a popular treatment for muscle pain and injury, which is typically quite manual or 'hands-on' treatment which identifies the root cause of pain often resulting from either improper posture, poor biomechanics and injury. Myotherapy treatment approach is holistic taking into account all aspects of health and wellness. This means looking not only at a person's physical but psychological and occupational stresses for effective and long lasting results.
Click here for The Difference Between Myotherapy and Remedial Massage
Remedial Massage is an effective form of deep tissue massage focusing on tight and restricted soft tissue including muscles, tendons and fascia causing sore muscles and aching joints. Remedial Massage aims to increase soft tissue flexibility, joint mobility assisting in recovery and prevention of injury.
Muscle tension or chronic pain can be a result of a combination of factors such as stress from work, prolonged hours sitting behind a desk, lower activity levels or sports injuries. Soft tissue tension over time leads to movement imbalances and postural dysfunctions causing musculoskeletal pain.
Deep Tissue or Sports Massage is specifically used to effectively releases tight, overused or strained muscles associated with intense sports training loads. Deep tissue massage works by increasing blood flow to the tissues, assisting with scar tissue breakdown and encouraging lymphatic drainage of swelling and waste products. Treatment assists in sports performance to aid recovery time, reduce muscle tightness and prevent sports related strains and injury. Muscles without rest take longer to recover especially if combined with long hours sitting at a desk.
Dry Needling is a modality a Myotherapist can use. Dry Needling (also known as Trigger Point Dry Needling) is the use of solid filiform needles (also referred to as acupuncture needles) directed at a myofascial trigger point for therapy of muscle pain relating to myofascial pain syndrome. The dry needling approach is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles, which are not to be confused with the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique of acupuncture.
Dry Needling is a technique that has quickly become an increasingly popular treatment modality with many physical therapists using Dry Needling for the clinical management of musculoskeletal conditions and dysfunctions relating to myofascial pain and trigger points. Dry Needling combined with Myotherapy treatment provides effective and long last results. Dry Needling can reduce local, referred and widespread pain, restore range of motion, improve muscle activation pattern and normalise the chemical environment of active trigger points.
The history of Dry Needling dates back to the 1940’s with Dr. Janet Travell. She identified muscular trigger points and mapped out referral patterns we know today and still use today. She is remembered as President John F. Kennedy's personal physician and a researcher of the concept of trigger points as a cause of musculoskeletal referred pain. In discovering these trigger points “Wet Needling” was used where a substance (saline solution, botox or corticosteroids) was directed at trigger points via a hypodermic needle to reduce pain. With the help of Karel Lewit in 1979 he discovered that it was not the analgesic substance used in the needle but the needle itself that relieved myofascial pain. From then on Dry Needling got its name and grew to what is is today.
So whether your feeling tight and have sore muscle or you have an ongoing chronic injury seek advice and treatment to get you feeling great again and live pain free.
Find out more about Myotherapy and Remedial Massage Melbourne at Motion Myotherapy Northcote.
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