Are you suffering from continuous muscle pain? Have you sprained a wrist or ankle and found that even weeks later you’re still suffering from the occasional pain flare-up? Ignoring this pain can lead to increased muscle strain and weakness.
Many Australians with this type of pain often resort to myotherapy for relief. This service is one of the many rehabilitative therapies offered by the physio Noosa locals rely on for pain relief. This post takes a look at myotherapy and how it can help you.
Understanding Myotherapy
The term myotherapy comes from the Latin word “myo” which means muscle. Essentially this means that myotherapy is muscle therapy and involves short- and long-term treatment of different injured muscles. You may know this type of therapy by its more common name, sports massage.
As a form of remedial massage, myotherapy is the assessment and subsequent treatment of the soft tissue in muscles that may restrict normal movement. The techniques in myotherapy are also used to treat myofascial dysfunction.
Typically, myofascial are the thin, fibrous layers of tissue that separate and surround muscles. Keep in mind that ligaments and tendons are primarily made of bundles of myofascial, myotherapy can effectively treat tendon and ligament injuries.
Myotherapy Techniques
Myotherapists will use a series of non-invasive techniques to alleviate your muscle pain. The most significant of these include:
- Remedial massage: This is a specialised massage technique that is geared at treating pain associated with superficial and deep tissue injuries. This type of massage may be performed in conjunction with other techniques.
- Electrotherapy (TENS): Typically used to encourage relaxation of muscle spasms, electrotherapy is also an effective treatment to boost blood circulation and aid in muscle rehabilitation.
- Dry needling: Unlike acupuncture which eases pain, dry needling stimulates the trigger points leading to pain and swelling.
- Cupping: This technique is popular among athletes and anyone leading an active lifestyle. Heated cups are strategically placed on the affected muscles which encourages immediate musculoskeletal pain relief.
- Trigger point therapy: As another massage technique, this technique targets specific pain areas and works well to rea inflamed issues and muscle knots.
Many Reasons to Opt for This Treatment
Your body will see significant benefits from a few myotherapy sessions. We’ve compiled the most significant ones that highlight why this treatment should be on your to-do list.
1.Increased Joint Movement
We can move our arms and legs because healthy muscles cross over equally healthy joints, enabling movement. When muscles are injured, or become stiff from localised pain, they tighten, and complete joint movement may be restricted.
Various myotherapies will rehabilitate soft tissue pain and reduce the pressure on surrounding tendons. As pressure in the tendons is released the joints can start functioning as normal. Sports and rotator cuff muscle injuries usually benefit from myotherapy techniques.
2.Minimises General Muscle Stiffness
Sore muscles are usually accompanied by sharp pain and stiffness. The most common areas affected by this include the neck, shoulder, wrist or ankle. Not only are these muscle pains annoying but they can seriously hamper the way you perform daily tasks.
A few sessions of myotherapy techniques will loosen the stiffness around the tight muscle, making it easier and less painful to move. Techniques such as massage and dry needling encourage blood flow to the injured tissues, which in turn, can speed up recovery. The amount of treatments you need will depend on the severity of your muscle pain.
3.Can improve Sleeping Patterns
It’s not uncommon for people with serious muscle ailments to develop poor sleeping habits. This is especially the case if it’s a neck or shoulder muscle that hurts even more when pressure is placed on it. Rolling over onto a sore shoulder is guaranteed to keep you awake.
Myotherapy techniques work because they focus on providing relief and relaxation around the affected areas. When combined with massages and cupping which increase blood flow you can not only expect pain relief, but you can also look forward to better sleeping patterns.
4.Encourages Stress Relief
Dealing with muscle pain that won’t clear up no matter what medicines you take or the ointments you rub on them can leave you feeling stressed. This is especially the case when the affected muscle affects your ability to work, sleep, play spots or even just relax.
Fortunately, all of the myotherapy techniques are geared at providing relief. This means that you will be experiencing less pain which will ease your stress levels. If you find that you’re still feeling stressed, speak to your myotherapist and they may include an additional therapy such as acupuncture to help ease pent-up anxiety.
Final Thoughts
If you’re struggling with muscle ailments, it’s a good idea to consider myotherapy. This type of therapy will help you deal with the trigger of the pain rather than creating temporary relief that only treats the symptom.
Ultimately this will ensure the underlying cause doesn’t lead to additional injuries. With so many patients seeing instant results, you’re guaranteed to be feeling better after the first appointment.
