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Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)/Trigger Point

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)/Trigger Point Therapy:

Neuromuscular massage is an intense form of bodywork that consists of focused, concentrated pressure on one specific area of the body. The pressure may continue for a period of up to thirty seconds at a time, and is designed to alleviate tension that extends from a “trigger point” into an entire muscle.  This “trigger point” is aptly named because it is the area that “triggers” pain in another area of the muscle, sometimes called referring or transferring.

When a muscle (or trigger point) spasms in the body, blood flow to that area is severely decreased, sometimes ceasing altogether. When the blood flow is diminished, oxygen necessary for the muscle to work properly is also decreased, causing a buildup of lactic acid. Trigger points can cause a cycle of soreness and pain because the buildup of lactic acid combined with the body’s desire to compensate for the pain will inevitably lead to less blood flow, less oxygen, and the continued production of lactic acid. This is why muscle soreness and pain can continue for years without relief.  This effect is made worse when a tight area of muscle places pressure on a nerve or series of nerves, which can cause numbness, tingling and other symptoms. And because nerves carry sensations throughout the body like a pulse, it is possible to feel these numbing sensations in areas of the body not associated with the trigger point.

A neuromuscular/trigger point therapist is trained to locate the trigger points associated with muscle pain, and then alleviate the stress using intense, concentrated pressure on that area.  Pain is relieved when the pressure causes the muscle to restore blood floow to the area.  Sometimes several sessions are required, as trigger points can also cause more trigger points and it can take time to actually locate the trigger point(s) because the patient may be feeling pain in areas unrelated to the source of the problem.

Other benefits can include increased flexibility, wider range of motion, more balanced posture and increased energy. Neuromuscular massage/Trigger Point Therapy is used primarily to treat the lower back, the neck and arms, repetitive motion injuries, headaches and reported numbness and tingling in the limbs.