Soft tissue pain and restricted joint movement can be severely limiting. These problems can stop us from living life to the fullest and participating in activities that bring us joy. When dealing with chronic back pain, a sports injury, an overuse injury, or other forms of tissue pain, it’s only natural to seek out treatment options to alleviate your discomfort. That’s where myotherapy comes in. Keep reading to learn more about this form of physical therapy and its potential to enhance your life.
What Is Myotherapy?
Whether you seek out myotherapy in the Melbourne CBD or elsewhere, it’s a type of physical therapy to prevent and treat soft tissue pain and limited joint movement where myofascial or muscle dysfunction is the cause.
Myofascia is the name for the thin, fibrous sheets of tissue that both encompass and separate the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Myofascia incorporates a range of techniques to help with several disorders, such as muscle sprains, tension headaches, chronic back pain, and more:
- Soft tissue massage
- Joint mobilization
- Trigger point therapy
- Myofascial release
- Cupping
- Dry needling
- Exercise prescription
What’s Involved in a Myotherapy Session?
It’s worthwhile to become familiar with the treatment you’ll be receiving, so you can make a well-informed decision about your health. During the average myotherapy treatment session, your myotherapist will ask questions about your pain and assess your range of motion.
Next, they will explore manual therapy techniques, such as dry needling, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy. After the treatment has concluded, the best myotherapists curate a treatment plan, unique to each patient, before providing education and corrective exercises.
What Are the Benefits of Myotherapy?
Research exploring the benefits of myotherapy for a range of illnesses and conditions is still in its infancy. However, the individual techniques used by myotherapists alleviate the pain and discomfort of many people.
For example, trigger point therapy delivers pain relief, improved mobility, enhanced muscle function, and faster recovery from injuries for many people. Available evidence also suggests that cupping may help manage chronic pain, low back pain, neck pain, and knee osteoarthritis. Many people with tennis elbow find dry needling helpful because it targets tight forearm muscles and trigger points, relieving pain and improving grip strength.
How to Choose a Myotherapist
If you believe that myotherapy is the right treatment for your unique needs, it’s time to find an experienced myotherapist in your area. Ask friends, family, and healthcare professionals for recommendations. You can also look up qualified, registered myotherapists through professional bodies in your area and read online reviews to learn about other people’s experiences.
When you find options in your area, consider their expertise and how it could benefit your needs, such as managing a chronic condition or experiencing pain relief. If you’re still unsure, consider scheduling an initial consultation with a myotherapist in your area to ask questions and learn more about their services.
Myotherapy is one of many worthwhile options to explore for managing pain and discomfort in muscles and joints. Now that you understand what it is, its potential benefits, and how to choose a myotherapist, you may be ready to explore this treatment option in earnest.