Neuromuscular Therapy is an advanced form of bodywork that strives to address the cause and origination of pain in the musculoskeletal system not just its effects. It does this following scientific neurological laws that explain how the central nervous system initiates pain responses in the body.

By understanding how these systems produce pain responses in the body a therapist will develop a treatment plan with the client based on their goals and needs. This type of treatment is also an educational process so that the patient understands how to achieve structural balance in the body and recognize weaknesses they may have developed through repetitive use or poor postural control.

"How does Neuromuscular Therapy feel compared to relaxation massage?"

NMT feels very similar, as the techniques have been based on basic Swedish or Esalen massage styles. One of the first things that patients say about NMT is that the techniques access parts of the body like the anterior torso and neck for instance that they have never been treated before. The difference is that the therapist will assess the tissues to determine if they are lacking appropriate blood supply, which we refer to as ischemic. When these points are depressed they produce a stimulation of nerve receptors, which may elicit mild discomfort. If the pressure if too light, then the therapist cannot interrupt the physiopathological reflex circuits. This is always administered to the patient's tolerance so that the body does not sense the pressure as intrusive, which can produce a negative result. Again, this is why the patient's input is so valuable to the treatment session.

Ultimately by treating these specific areas of ischemia throughout the body it is "relaxing" in a longer lasting sense because the body's own natural healing process will be stimulated to help eliminate chronic pain cycles and musculoskeletal dysfunction.

"What conditions does NMT help?"

These are just some of the conditions that NMT has been successful with over the past 15years: TMJ Disorder, Neck/Back Pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Scoliosis, Postural Distortions, Shin Splints, Post Polio Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Piriformis Syndrome, Plantar Fascitis, Whiplash, etc.

"Neuromuscular Therapy at SOL"

NMT is an advanced form of bodywork that will be integrated into the session or comprise the majority of the session depending on the patient's needs, goals, and tolerance levels. The techniques established by Paul St. John have been proven to be effective for several patients since he developed the protocols over 25 years ago.

He was inspired as he began to study the functioning of the nervous system and the way the body works in order to eliminate his own pain after suffering an injury in the Vietnam War and a head-on motor vehicle collision.

NMT has improved my ability and capacity as a therapist but is not the only method of bodywork I utilize in my sessions, for NMT is not always effective for every patient as each of us has our own needs and goals. Because of this, I decide based on information from the referring health care provider and most importantly the patient, what the treatment plan will entail.

Most often I will incorporate several different techniques along with NMT such as deep tissue, Swedish, lymphatic drainage, and positional release techniques so that the body can adjust to the changes in a time efficient manner.