What Is NeuroMuscular Therapy

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What Is NeuroMuscular Therapy
What Is NeuroMuscular Therapy	Benefits of NeuroMuscular Therapy	History of NeuroMuscular Therapy

NeuroMuscular Therapy is a system of mapping out pain anywhere in the body and identifying the precise muscle that is specifically causing the pain. For example, many different muscles can refer pain into the lower back, from areas as diverse as the abdomen, the hips, and even the calf. A NeuroMuscular Therapist would palpate the muscles in each of these areas searching for an active "Trigger Point" or spot within the muscle that is tender. Every tight muscle causing pain has a Trigger Point that when pressed will initially feel tender, though when compressed for a period of approximately one minute, will cause the tight muscle to release. NeuroMuscular Therapy has mapped out approximately 620 potential Trigger Points and their referral patterns throughout the body. Trigger Points may be classified as active, latent, key, satellite, primary and secondary.
Active Trigger Point: Is a Trigger Point that "actively" refers pain either locally or to another location.
Latent Trigger Point: Is a Trigger Point that does not refer pain, but may do so when stress, tension or movement is applied. Latent Trigger Points can influence muscle activation patterns, resulting in poor muscle coordination or balance, and can be a source of joint stiffness or limited range of motion.
Key Trigger Point: Is an Active Trigger Point that creates an Active or Latent Trigger Point along the same nerve pathway as the referral pattern.
Satellite Trigger Point: An Active Trigger Point that is created by a Key Trigger Point. Successfully treating the Key Trigger Point will often remove the Satellite Trigger Point, or at least convert it to a Latent Trigger Point.
Primary Trigger Point: Is an Active Trigger Point that creates an Active or Latent Trigger Point in another muscle not along the same nerve pathway as the referral pattern.
Secondary Trigger Point: An Active Trigger Point that is created by a Primary Trigger Point. Successfully treating the Primary Trigger Point will not remove the Secondary Trigger Point.

Trigger Points may be caused by virtually anything that can put a stress on the musculoskeletal system. Some of the more common repeat offenders are; Muscle Strain, Poor Posture, Skeletal Asymmetry, Emotional Stress, Traumatic Injuries, Hypoglycemia, Vitamin B6 Deficiency, Food Allergies, Ulcers, Iritable Bowel Syndrome, and Birth Trauma.

As a result of whatever type of cause initiates a strain in a particular muscle, a small number of muscle fibers within the muscle will begin to form as a local contraction and pull on its tendons and ligaments, causing irritation within the muscle and associated joint. The isolated contraction within the muscle will also begin to constrict capillaries in the area and inhibit the removal of metabolic wastes from the tissues. These accumulated toxins develop into clusters or "Knots" in this area of the muscle and become a palpable Trigger Point. Because the function of the muscle is now compromised, even a normal amount of strain can cause it to spasm and tighten. These knots can also entrap nerves and cause pain locally and refer pain along nerve pathways and into joints.

This muscle tension, shortening of the muscle, knots, numbness, tingling, local and referred sharp pains within the muscle and associated joint, all are "Symptoms" of Trigger Points.

By simply compressing these Trigger Points, circulation is restored to the area, removing wastes, dissolving the Knots, decompressing the nerves, and allowing the muscle to relax and function normally once again.