Neuromuscular Massage Therapy

According to the Center for Neuromuscular Massage Therapy website, the use of massage therapy has been around for over 4,000 years. In Ancient Greece healers such as Hippocrates used massage as a form of therapy to treat patients for a variety of conditions. Today, neuromuscular massage therapy is one form of massage used to treat a variety of injuries and conditions.

Neuromuscular

Neuromuscular massage therapy, or trigger point therapy, is the use of concentrated pressure applied to particular areas of pain or injury. Pressure is applied to injured areas using the fingertips, knuckles, hands and elbows for between 10 and 30 seconds at a time. Areas that are massaged during neuromuscular therapy include the muscles, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue, according to the Body Technician website.

Injuries

Neuromuscular therapy can be used to treat a variety of injuries and conditions, the most common being muscle spasms according to Spine Health. Neck injuries, such as whiplash, can also be treated with neuromuscular therapy. Conditions causing back pain, such as sciatica and hip pain, can also be treated. Problems with the head such as headaches, migraines, facial and jaw injuries are another type of pain that can be treated by neuromuscular therapy. The Center for Neuromuscular Therapy says tingling and numbness in the limbs, and carpel tunnel syndrome are commonly treated with neuromuscular therapy.

Ischemia

The treatment of ischemic muscle tissue is commonly completed with neuromuscular therapy. The Spine Health website reports the condition known as ischemia leaves muscles tender and sore to the touch. This soreness is caused by a lack of blood pumping through the muscle due to poor circulation leaving the muscle starved of oxygen, which in turn causes the muscle to produce lactic acid making the muscle tight and tender to the touch after physical exertion. Spine Health explains that when neuromuscular therapy is completed on the ischemic muscle tissue, the circulation of blood and oxygen is restored to the muscle dispersing the lactic acid.

Effects

The effects of neuromuscular therapy on a patient are described by Spine Health as being felt within 24 and 36 hours following the therapy. Pain and tenderness should be reduced with the muscles remaining relaxed for between four and 14 days following the therapy.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle and levels of stress can have a great effect on the ability of muscles to remain relaxed and recover from an injury. Spine Health reports stress levels can affect the impact of therapy on the muscles, while the severity of problems and the previous activity level of a patient can affect how long neuromuscular therapy remains effective.