What is Myotherapy?

Coastal Natural Therapies Gold Coast strive to address and restore the entire body which is why we have an amazing Myotherapist in our clinic on the Gold Coast. Myotherapy aims to address and treat musculoskeletal pain. There are several reasons why we may experience this type of pain however it is usually as a result of muscle imbalance, joint misalignment, neural dysfunction or a combination of all three. Some causes include acute injuries from direct trauma or muscle overuse that has crept up insidiously over time and often associated with sustained, repetitive movements.  Pain and injury may also be linked to poor posture, muscle weakness associated with a sedentary lifestyle or simply degeneration as a natural life progression.

Whatever the cause of your pain, myotherapy can help. So, what is myotherapy you may ask?

Myotherapy is a form of manual therapy that addresses a number of musculoskeletal conditions including but not restricted to:

• Back
• Neck
• Shoulder
• Sacroiliac joint (SIJ)
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain
• Headaches/migraines
• Sport related injuries amongst others.

As myotherapists, pain reduction is our immediate aim. However, over a longer period our goal is to restore muscle, joint and nerve function in order to achieve optimal range of motion and correct biomechanical function.

Whilst treatments are quite specific and targeted, myotherapists use a more holistic approach in both assessment and treatment. We assess the entire musculoskeletal system, including muscles, joints, and the lymphatic and nervous systems to determine the underlying cause of your pain. Assessment includes postural observation, identification of range of motion and biomechanical deficits which are mostly attributed to certain lifestyle (including work) activities. The initial session also includes a thorough patient history, biomechanical and possibly orthopaedic special testing should this be necessary to determine a differential diagnosis.

Once the possible cause of your pain has been determined, one or more of the following treatment techniques will be used:

• Soft tissue release which utilises a variety of massage and myofascial release techniques.
• Trigger point therapy in which direct pressure is applied to specific points to reduce muscle tension and relieve pain.
• Myofascial dry needling in which sterile, single use needles are inserted into the muscle belly or active trigger point to elicit a twitch response that ultimately results in a reduction of pain.
• Myofascial cupping which involves the use of glass or plastic cups to decompress and draw the superficial muscles and fascia into the cup causing sustained stretch to release tension and improve muscle tone.
• Joint mobilisations that comprise gentle oscillations to a joint to improve movement and reduce pain.
• Neural flossing which involves releasing a nerve that may be compressed between stiff joints or tight muscles and as a result has become irritated and painful. This technique encourages the nerve to glide smoothly along its pathway between the joints or muscles.
• Electrotherapy (electro-needling) which uses a low voltage electrical current through needles or pads to reduce pain and tension, stimulate circulation and increase muscle performance.
• Muscle Energy Techniques (METs) or Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) that engage neurological reflexes to promote stretching of the myofascial tissue.
• Corrective exercise to facilitate and improve muscle imbalances as well as postural and biomechanical dysfunction; and/or
• Taping to unload injured tissue, stabilise a structure, encourage correct posture and reduce pain.

Your myotherapy session is definitely not a passive treatment and you should expect to actively participate in various movements and stretches facilitated by your therapist as part of the process.  You may also be required to follow through with an exercise regime at home as part of your healing journey. This will lead to rapid improvement but also long-term prevention of further injury.

If you wish to see our Myotherapist Leslie-Ann to discuss your health, please contact us at the clinic on 07 5531 6461 or email us at info@coastalnaturaltherapies.com.au. You can also book online here. 

© Coastal Natural Therapies ™ Gold Coast 2022