Neuromuscular Therapy in Redding, Weston and Wilton, CT

Neuromuscular therapy is a deep tissue approach to releasing tonus patterns throughout the body. A postural analysis is assessed both standing and reclining, this gives clues to what muscles, muscle groups, or soft tissues are fixated or locked in contraction; as oppose to musculature that readily releases when the stressor or demand for contracture is taken away. Postural assessments also gives clues to what muscles are locked short and in turn those muscles that are locked long. This is important because deep tissue techniques of friction, trigger points and/or myofascial therapy are very effective in releasing constricted muscles locked short. Only by releasing these shortened muscles can an overall imbalanced posture be corrected. In theory a therapist can do harm by releasing elongated muscles because even though the immediate effect may be soothing the long tern compensation pattern is only increased, hence contributing to the painful postural pattern.

• 60 minute sessions are $110
• 90 minute sessions are $160

Some of the medical issues for which neuromuscular massage can be an appropriate treatment include:

• Low back pain
• Upper back pain
• Carpal tunnel-like symptoms
• Sciatica-like symptoms
• Calf cramps
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendonitis
• Knee pain
• Jaw pain
• Tempomandibular joint pain (TMJ disorders)
• Hip pain
• Headaches

The first principle of neuromuscular therapy is to restore healthy muscular tonus. This is done by reducing the neurological activity, only then can the muscle relax, increasing blood circulation, decreasing joint pressure, increasing range of motion, and reducing pain from chronically tight muscles.

The second principle is to reduce myofascial trigger point pain and activity. When we experienced sustained contraction of our soft tissue eventually this begins to radiate out and affect other areas. Very often were not aware of those initial areas of increased tonus, only of those areas that are in pain. Again treatment may be soothing but only effective after treating those tonus areas that are referring into the pain full area.

The third principle is to reduce muscular tonus in an area that may be responsible for a nerve compression and entrapment syndromes. Chronically spasm muscles effects the skeletal system creating less space for vulnerable nerves, as in sciatica, as well as compressing directly on a nerve as in a Piriformis syndrome. Brachial plexus syndromes is a responsible component of all chronic hand and thumb pain including carpal tunnel, elbow pain as in tennis elbow or golfers elbow. Tight neck muscles in turn effects or inhibits heart and breathing function via the phrenic nerve.

The forth principle is to treat and educate for proper posture. When the body is not in alignment a tremendous amount of additional energy is required to simply stand. This additional energy requirement is translated as increase muscle tonus. To stand in good posture is to stand in the coronal and mid-sagittal planes. Standing correctly utilizes the least amount of energy, freeing up resources for recovery, healing …life.

The fifth and last principle of neuromuscular therapy is correcting for biomechanical dysfunction. Imbalanced muscular tonus put our joints at a disadvantage especially when loaded. Tight hip muscles may turn our legs and feet in or out, this in turn affects the knee and joints of the low back. Not only is the hip compromised by being loaded in an internal or external rotated position, the knees and low back is compensating to accommodate for tight hips.