Treatments
Soft Tissue Massage
Myofascial release
involves a slow continuous stroke, gliding the fascia over the length of the muscles. The myotherapist sinks into the tissue in order to “melt” the fascia. Deep touch melts and hydrates the proteins in the fascia allowing the collagen fibres to slide more easily on each other. Resulting in sustained lengthening of the tissue.
Deep tissue massage
involves the myotherapist applying deep sustained pressure to the muscle. The stroke can reach deeper layers of muscle. This type of massage is great for sport and exercise recovery, as well as anyone that has increased muscle tension and pain. Deep tissue massage may be uncomfortable at first but your body will adjust throughout the session.
Trigger point (TrP) release
involves sustaining pressure on a trigger point “knot” in order for the pain to ease. We can use the press and stretch technique to uncouple muscle fibres that are stuck together. Another TrP treatment is the positional release technique which involves applying pressure for 90 seconds and shortening the muscle.
Joint Mobilisation
The aim of joint mobilisations is to increase normal joint range and reduce pain. This technique is used when you’re feeling stiff and restricted when moving through range of motion. Oscillations, traction or a sustained hold are applied to the joint in order to create space and increase movement between the articulating bones.
Dry Needling
Dry needling involves inserting needles into the skin. The needle can either be inserted quickly in and out or left in for a period of time, depending on the technique and pain level. The aim of dry needling is to heal and breakdown trigger points.
Dry needling stimulates a local twitch response (LTR) which is when you feel a spasm in the muscle. This is a response from the spinal cord, causing a release of chemicals and blood flow to the area, reducing the concentration of nociceptive substances (pain chemicals).
Dry needling can also stimulate the healing process, to regenerate the damaged muscle. As the needle is inserted into the muscle the body thinks the muscle needs to be healed. Cells migrate to the area to repair the damaged tissue.
Fire Cupping
When applied, the myofascial cups decrease the air pressure between the cup and the skin, causing a suction effect. The suction and heat from the cup causes vasodilation (expanding blood vessels), allowing more blood flow to the area. Increased fresh oxygenated blood to the area allows the tissue to heal and eliminates the muscle’s waste back to the kidneys. Better waste management assists for faster recovery times, decreases soreness after a workout and increases overall tissue health.
A myotherapist can either use static cupping or dynamic cupping. Static is when the cup is placed in one area and left for a period of time, leaving a mark on the skin. Dynamic cupping is when the cup is glided up and down the muscle. This lifts the skin and fascia up into the cup, creating space between the fascia and muscles. More space equals more room for the muscle to move.
The marks left on the skin are not bruises. They are a result of tissue dysfunction, the darker the mark the more dysfunction. The marks can appear on the skin for a few hours or up to 10 days.
MET Stretching
Muscle Energy Technique (MET) stretching uses your own muscle’s energy in order to relax the muscle. The manual therapist will lengthen the desired muscle, you will contract the muscle at 20% for 8 seconds, you’ll exhale and the therapist will stretch the muscle to a new barrier.
exercise
Although manual therapy is great for pain reduction, it is paired best with therapeutic exercise. Therapeutic exercise can involve strengthening, stretching and mobility exercises. The exercises prescribed to you will allow you to take control of your recovery and progress. It will add to the benefits of the myotherapy treatment when you are not in a session.