Neuromuscular Therapy in Gainesville FL

What is Neuromuscular Therapy and How Does it Help?

Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) was developed in England in the 1930s by Dr Stanley Lief, who trained in the US as a naturopathic physician and chiropractor. The technique that he developed in conjunction with bodywork professionals is designed to balance the central nervous system with the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system.

NMT is perhaps best viewed as a natural approach to pain management. While practicing the technique, I apply pressure to myofascial trigger points or “knots” to interrupt pain signals to the spinal cord. This reduces the intensity of nerve activity in the tissue, and helps to alleviate the pain felt in those areas.

NMT focuses on spasming muscles that are painful to the touch. The pain you feel in a spasming muscled is caused by what we call ischemic muscle tissue. That’s basically just a fancy way of saying that the muscle isn’t getting enough blood flow, usually due to the muscle spasm itself.

The lack of blood flow means that the muscle is not receiving enough oxygen, causing the muscle to produce lactic acid which is the same thing that makes our muscles feel sore after we exercise. Once we can relax the muscle with NMT, the lactic acid is released and the muscle will start receiving enough oxygenated blood once more.

NMT can be painful at first, since the muscle is tender, but the pain should be alleviated through applying the massage technique. I do of course encourage open communication with those I massage, in order to gauge the appropriate amount of pressure to be used. Most often, although my clients experience some pain, they end up enjoying the experience. Especially once they feel the results!

In addition to muscle spasms, NMT can relieve the pain felt in numerous conditions, such as:

• Arthritis
• Back Pain
• Bursitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Sciatica
• Sports Injuries
• Whiplash

To name a few. NMT has also been known to help with:

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• High Blood Pressure
• Migraines
• Nerve Entrapment
• Sleep Disorders

In addition to pain relief, those that I massage often experience a sense of relaxation and holistic well being. It is truly amazing the degree to which our physical state can affect our feelings of mental wellness.

Neuromuscular Massage in Gainesville FL – Come and See Me!

I hope that this has helped to explain some of the benefits and mechanisms for how NMT works. My office is one of the top locations for neuromuscular massage in Gainesville FL and I welcome anyone in the area to come in and experience the technique for themselves. It can truly be a life altering experience, especially for those grappling with the unfortunate effects of chronic pain.

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