What is Myotherapy?

Are you experiencing muscle pain and tightness as a result of work, sport, pregnancy, or just life in general? Myotherapy may be a great treatment option for you. This increasingly popular form of manual therapy draws on clinical practice and a variety of techniques to address musculoskeletal pain and associated conditions, often with wide-ranging benefits.

Let’s explore myotherapy in more detail, including what it is, which conditions it treats, and the difference between myotherapy and massage.

To book a myotherapy session, contact our team at 13 Beach Health Services today.

How Does Myotherapy Work?

Myotherapy involves the assessment, treatment and management of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Your musculoskeletal system is comprised of your skeleton, including your bones, ligaments, tendons and cartilage, and the muscles attached to your skeleton.

More specifically, myotherapists treat and prevent soft tissue pain and restricted joint movement caused by dysfunction in the myofascia – or the thin, fibrous sheets of tissue that surrounds and separates muscles. This form of soft tissue pain is also called myofascial pain.

One key technique myotherapists use is trigger point therapy, which involves identifying trigger points, or sensitive nodules within taut bands of tissue, that can either cause pain where they are or refer pain to other areas of the body.

Myotherapy is founded on Western medical principles relating to physiology, anatomy and biomechanics, and draws on several disciplines including massage therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic care. You don’t need a referral from a GP to see a myotherapist.

Myotherapy vs Massage

One useful way of understanding myotherapy is to explore its connection to massage therapy. The two therapies are sometimes confused, as they are both manual, meaning they use hands-on techniques; they also have similar aims, from addressing muscle tension to promoting relaxation. However, there are some key differences between the two.

• Their overall purpose: Massage therapy is often used as a preventative measure and maintenance tool for good physical and mental health. It aims to relax the muscles, reduce stress, and promote wellbeing. Myotherapy, on the other hand, specifically targets musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction and investigates the underlying causes, including trigger points, muscle imbalances and joint problems.
• Techniques: Massage therapy typically. involves long, flowing strokes or deep, sustained pressure to improve relaxation and circulation. Myotherapy adopts a more clinical approach and utilises a broader range of techniques, including trigger point therapy, dry needling, joint mobilisation and corrective exercises.
• Training: Both massage and myotherapy require specific qualifications and training, however myotherapists receive a more extensive education in physiology, pathology, and clinical assessment. This background enables them to identify, diagnose and treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.

What Conditions Can Myotherapy Treat?

Myotherapy has a wide range of benefits, from easing muscle pain and tightness to reducing inflammation and swelling and improving your overall health and mood. It also helps people manage a variety of conditions relating to joint and muscle pain, including:

• Neck and back pain, including chronic pain that develops as a result of muscle strain, tension and trigger points
• Postural issues and imbalances that cause chronic pain and discomfort
• Headaches and migraines, which myotherapists tackle by relieving muscle tension in the neck and shoulders
• Arthritis and joint pain, including pain that affects mobility
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) and conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, which myotherapists treat by addressing muscle imbalances and reducing inflammation
• Sciatica pain, or pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, which myotherapists treat by targeting surrounding muscles
• Injuries to the hips, shoulders and ankles, including sports injuries such as sprains, strains and overuse issues.

Common Myotherapy Techniques

We’ve already mentioned trigger point therapy as a leading technique used by myotherapists. But this isn’t the only approach they use to treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.

• As mentioned, trigger point therapy addresses trigger points, or taut bands of fibre, that either cause a muscle knot or tightness where they are, or refer pain to other areas of the body. Pressure is applied to specific trigger points to relieve pain and tension.
• Dry needling, or the use of fine needles, helps target trigger points and reduce muscular pain and dysfunction.
• Massage techniques, including deep tissue massage and myofascial release, are used to manipulate soft tissue and reduce tension.
• Hot and cold therapy, or the application of heat or cold, is used to target pain, inflammation and muscle spasms.
• Electrotherapy, or the use of electrical currents to stimulate muscles and nerves, can ease pain and help control pain.
• Joint mobilisation, or gently moving joints through their range of motions, can improve mobility and target stiffness.
• Finally, myotherapists often prescribe a range of stretching and strengthening exercises to strengthen weak muscles and loosen tight ones, which helps with balance and injury prevention.

Soft Tissue Symptoms To Watch Out For

At this point you may be wondering if you have any of the specific conditions and symptoms that myotherapists commonly treat.

Tell-tale symptoms of myofascial pain include deep and constant aching in the muscles, muscle tightness or numbness, specific sore points in the muscles (these may be trigger points), or stiff joints and joint mobility issues.

Myofascial pain can also cause symptoms you may not expect, like recurring tingling and prickling sensations.

Ease Pain and Reduce Stress With Myotherapy

Do any of the above symptoms or signs resonate with you? Our highly trained myotherapist excels in helping ease muscle pain and tightness caused by a range of activities and circumstances. They will assess your personal situation, craft a treatment plan to meet your needs, and leave you feeling relaxed and energised.

To learn more about myotherapy or to book an appointment, get in touch with 13th Beach Health Services today.

 

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