Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is a form of massage therapy that may be prescribed by physicians or sought out by spa guests desiring a highly therapeutic massage. NMT is especially suited for individuals with:
- autoimmune diseases
- musculoskeletal pain from accidents, fibromyalgia, or systemic disease
- arthritis and myofascial pain
- low back pain
- endocrine and neurological disorders
- neuropathy
- sciatica
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- migraine headaches
- thoracic outlet syndrome
- temporomandibular joint dysfunction
A non-invasive therapy, relieves pain, improves immune function, and restores homeostasis, enhancing the body’s ability to heal itself.
What is Neuromuscular Therapy?
Neuromuscular therapy is a type of massage that originated in England in 1930. NMT was developed by Dr. Stanley Leif and his cousin, the chiropractor Boris Chaitow. Understanding that imbalances between the nervous, immune, and musculoskeletal symptoms can both lead to disease and perpetuate the disease process, Leif’s primary aim was to develop a treatment that corrected this imbalance.
NMT improves function of the immune system, glands, joints, muscles, and affected soft tissue by relieving pressure on compressed nerves. NMT also increases endorphin production, which facilitates healing and immune function, thereby decreasing inflammation and pain.
NMT offers diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic benefits. The therapist’s first goal is to identify nodules or bands of muscle fibers representing trigger points and areas of hyper-sensitivity, inflammation, hyper-contractions, and tightened muscles that may result from and contribute to pain. NMT techniques are also used to assess areas of scar or fibrous tissue and edema, and to evaluate soft tissue tone.
Therapeutic Benefits of NMT
NMT focuses on six basic physiological factors known to affect pain, including:
- Trigger points—highly sensitive, irritable points in skeletal muscle
- Nerve entrapment and compression—pain of neuropathy, whiplash and rotator cuff injuries; pinched and inflamed nerves; nerves compressed by adjacent inflamed structures, including bone and muscle
- Postural distortions—myofascial disorders caused by injury, hypothyroidism, or systemic disorders that cause underdevelopment of supporting muscle
- Nutrition—Poor nutrition to cells; especially related to deficiencies in vitamins C and B and iron, or hypothyroidism that weaken the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
- Ischemia—Poor oxygenation of tissues and cells related to decreased blood flow
- Stress—Stress detrimentally affects the function of the nervous, immune, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems
NMT Procedure
NMT can be performed by certified massage therapists, osteopaths, naturopaths, chiropractors, integrationist physicians and physical therapists. NMT may be performed as a restorative or preventive therapy or as a complementary rehabilitative therapy. Patients with prescriptions for massage therapy need to check with their medical providers to see if their NMT procedures can be covered or reimbursed. Typical sessions last for 30-60 minutes.
Similar to acupressure/shiatsu procedures, NMT is typically performed over clothing. The therapist uses fingers, knuckles, elbows and pressure bars in the course of the massage in an effort to locate and treat affected areas. Pressure bars are particularly effective in releasing sustained muscular contractions. To help identify trigger points, a light touch works better than firm pressure although variable amounts of pressure may be applied to confirm trigger points. Trigger point areas characteristically have a diminished oxygen supply compared to the surrounding areas.
When affected areas are located, the therapist performs a series of static pressure manipulations and techniques used to stretch, lengthen, and strengthen the underlying muscle. NMT techniques include trigger point therapy, myofascial and positional release, muscle energy therapies, and soft tissue manipulations. By using variable pressure on underlying muscle, the therapist stimulates and repairs soft tissue. In addition, NMT stimulates endorphin production, improving immune function and restoring a healthy balance between the body’s major systems.
Expected Results
Spa guests can expect to feel relaxed, calm, and more limber after an NMT procedure. Patients with chronic pain may experience partial or complete pain relief within minutes following therapy.
Elaine Moore - I'm a retired medical technologist and medical writer with more than 30 years experience working in hospital laboratories. Currently, I ...
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