MM Chapter 21: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Approaches

C. Guidelines for the Application of Neuromuscular Therapy

NMT aims to locate and treat trigger points causing pain, muscle shortness, and muscle weakness. Treating trigger points can reduce pain and help prevent chronic pain conditions. Locating Trigger Points Regular assessment methods such as a health intake form and interview, posture assessment, and range-of-motion assessment can help you determine if the client’s pain results […]

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A. Origins of Neuromuscular Therapy

Ideas that led to similar systems of treating soft-tissue pain associated with trigger points emerged in the mid-1930s and early 1940s. In Europe, Stanley Lief and Boris Chaitow developed neuromuscular techniques.4 In America, Raymond Nimmo and James Vannerson published a newsletter titled Receptor Tonus Techniques, which described methods for addressing “noxious nodules” in muscles.5 A

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Lesson 21-2: Neuromuscular Therapy

Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is a form of bodywork that aims to locate, treat, and prevent chronic pain associated with myofascial trigger points. Many healthcare professionals, including massage therapists, athletic coaches, physical therapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, nurses, dentists, and occupational therapists, use techniques derived from NMT.  This section briefly discusses the origins of NMT, explains the basics

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B. The Application of Specific Proprioceptive Techniques

Massage therapists find that applying proprioceptive techniques enhances the benefits and effects clients experience from massage. While these techniques are most often used in healthcare sessions to achieve specific treatment goals, many can also be used successfully in wellness sessions because they are comfortable and enjoyable to receive. As you begin to integrate a variety

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A. Proprioceptors

Chapter 4 described how proprioceptors in muscles, tendons, and joints can be manipulated with certain techniques to alter muscle tension patterns and re-educate muscles about proper resting lengths. Bodywork techniques like those described here take advantage of somatic reflexes that help ensure smooth, coordinated movement and protect muscles and tendons from damage. To understand the

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Lesson 21-1: Proprioceptive Techniques

Several bodywork systems (e.g., proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, muscle energy technique, and others) have been developed based on the idea that proprioceptors like Golgi tendon organs and muscle spindles can be manipulated to reset muscle tone and resting length to improve muscular balance and function. In some cases, techniques strengthen weakened muscles and help to facilitate

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Lesson 21-0: Introduction

It is safe to say that every person, at some point in their life, has suffered from muscles that feel tight and cause stiffness and soreness that lead to a decrease in freedom of movement. This chapter looks at a number of techniques that address short, tight, sore muscle tissue and the interplay of neurological

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