• Myotherapy

  • About myotherapy

    Myotherapy is a form of physical therapy used to treat or prevent soft tissue pain and restricted joint movement caused by muscle or myofascial dysfunction.

    Myofascia are the thin, fibrous sheets of tissue that surround and separate muscles. Ligaments and tendons are comprised of bundled myofascia.

    The philosophy of myotherapy is founded on Western medical principles including anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. You don’t need a referral from a doctor to make an appointment with a myotherapist.

    Symptoms of soft tissue pain

    Pain that is caused by muscle tissue or muscle fascia (myofascia) is called myofascial pain. Symptoms can include:

    • deep and constant aching
    • muscle tightness
    • sore spots in the muscle (myofascial trigger points)
    • reduced joint mobility
    • stiff joints
    • numbness
    • recurrent tingling, prickling or ‘pins and needles’ sensation
    • chronic pain.

    Myotherapy can treat a range of disorders

    Myotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of disorders including:

    • overuse injury, such as tennis elbow or shin splints
    • some sports injuries
    • tension headache
    • pain caused by poor posture
    • some types of chronic back pain
    • some types of joint pain, such as shoulder impingement syndrome
    • muscle sprains.

    What to expect at your first myotherapy appointment

    For your first appointment, take any medical test results and reports (such as x-ray films) that relate to your condition.

    The myotherapist will ask questions about your symptoms. Tell them about your medical history, including prior illness and surgery. Give them a list of all the medicines, natural and prescripted, that you are currently taking. This information is kept in strictest confidence.

    The myotherapist will perform some physical assessment as well as orthopaedic and/or neural tests to assess dysfunction and address pain, if necessary.

    This initial examination is thorough 

    Myotherapy techniques

    Myotherapy uses a range of techniques which may include (but is not limited to):

    • massage, including sports and remedial techniques
    • gently moving the patient’s affected body part through its range of motion (passive stretching)
    • hot or cold therapy
    • transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy
    • trigger point therapy (acupressure)
    • myofascial dry needling
    • myofascial release.

    Each session typically lasts one hour.

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