|
Bodywork has benefits for almost every condition of life. It assists the body's recovery from muscular tension,
injuries, stress and stress-related illnesses. Bodywork is an excellent way to promote wellness.
About Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a way of working with the body both physically and energetically, based on the same theory of energy
as acupuncture. In a Shiatsu treatment, the receiver is clothed and may be seated or lying down. The treatment is often done
on a pad on the floor, but may also be done on a massage table or chair.
Using rhythmic finger pressure, the
shiatsu practitioner sinks into and unblocks the energy pathways of the body. Various stretches may also be used to loosen
and free restrictions. The treatment can be very relaxing, and minor aches and pains relieved in one session. The body may
take several days or a series of treatments to assimilate and integrate some of the deeper effects of shiatsu.
Shiatsu is an excellent form of preventative medicine. It gives the receiver the opportunity to perceive and address areas
of weakness and imbalance before they have developed into a more serious condition. Shiatsu also is ideal as a form of complimentary
medicine. It enhances the use of conventional medicine by helping the body adapt and adjust to the changes brought about by
other forms of treatment such as surgery, prescription medicines, nutrition, and psychotherapy.
Shiatsu is
very adaptable to people in various stages of health and healing. It is therapeutic whether applied gently or vigorously,
according to the needs of the receiver. Because Shiatsu works on many levels it once, it sometimes achieves results where
other forms of therapy have not.
About Neuromuscular Therapy
Neuromuscular Therapy,
also known as Trigger Point Therapy or NMT, is so named because of a dysfunction in the nerve-muscle interaction resulting
in contractures in the muscles concentrated into points, known as Trigger Points. Working with Trigger Points is combined
with Deep Tissue massage to create a complete session.
What is an NMT session like?
NMT practitioners
use focused pressure on trigger points within a client's comfort levels, along with deep tissue gliding, kneading, and
other strokes to warm up, loosen up, and soothe painful tissue. NMT therapists rely on a thorough knowledge of musculoskeletal
anatomy as well as sensitive and patient palpation to give effective relief for chronic tension and injury rehabilitation.
The work can be done in very focused sessions, to address specific areas or muscles. It can also be incorporated into a full
body massage to give better relief of deep-seated tension than a basic Swedish massage, while still giving a relaxing massage
experience.
Trigger points & their referrals
One interesting and helpful fact about trigger
points is that they send or refer pain into other body parts. For instance, tight neck muscles can refer into the head and
cause headaches. Tight shoulder muscles can cause pain and tingling in the arm. The therapist can use these referral patterns
to figure out the source of a client's pain.
Perpetuating factors
These factors include
any thing that contributes to muscle pain and dysfunction. Overdoing it, lifting something too heavy, or sleeping in an awkward
positions, are examples of factors that can affect specific muscles or groups of muscles. But perpetuating factors also include
things that are hard on the whole body, such as illness, stress, fatigue, and poor nutrition. All of these things mean that
we are much more prone to experience muscle pains and aches. Through talking over their pains, activities, and lifestyle
with the therapist, the client can also learn to be more aware of things they may be doing to contribute to their pain, and
head off problems before they become overwhelming.
How does trigger point therapy help?
Just
as any thing that is bad for the body contributes to the formation of trigger points, so anything that is good for the body,
including many styles of massage, contributes to the release of trigger points. Trigger point therapy is simply one of the
most directly effective ways of lessening the severity and undesirable effects of trigger points.
Pressing on
the trigger points helps to
1) Release the contracture.
2) Reset the muscle to a more relaxed
level.
3) Interrupt the pain cycle.
The Bottom Line
Trigger point therapy
can be used to focus on an area of great need, such as working intensively on the neck, shoulders, and arms for a case of
thoracic outlet syndrome. Trigger points can also be incorporated very smoothly into a full body massage blended with techniques
such as Swedish and Myofascial to relieve areas of deeper tension within a relaxing session.
|
