26 Oct Neuromuscular Massage for Chronic Pain

Whenever you experience pain in any part of your body, it is a sign that something is wrong. Pain occurs when something is causing unpleasant or uncomfortable feelings, or when something hurts. However, you need to understand that you are the best judge of your acute or chronic pain.

Difference between Chronic and Acute Pain

Acute pain occurs suddenly due to something specific and goes away quickly. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can last for months and persist even after treatment of the illness or injury that triggered it in the first place.

Acute Pain

This type of pain is usually sharp in its quality and usually goes away following the treatment or healing of the underlying cause. Some of the common causes of acute pain include:

• Broken bones
• Cuts 
• Burns
• Surgery
• Labor and childbirth
• Dental work and more.

You can resume your everyday activities once the acute pain goes away. Everyone experiences occasional acute pain. This is not always a bad thing. Sudden pain is a way for your nervous system to alert you of a possible injury or condition. When you suffer an injury in any part of your body, pain signals travel from the affected area, up to your spinal cord, and your brain.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is an ongoing condition that lasts longer than six months. As stated earlier, this type of pain can persist even after the underlying cause of the injury or illness heals or goes away. This is due to the pain signals remaining active in the nervous system for months or even years. Furthermore, you may experience chronic pain even when there is no current or past physical injury. Chronic pain usually stems from conditions such as:

• Back pain
• Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Nerve
• pain and more.

Chronic pain can cause stress effects on the body, which can lead to various physical conditions. These include a lack of energy, muscle tension, changes in appetite, and limited mobility. It can also cause emotional effects such as anxiety, depression, fear, and anger.

How to Manage or Treat Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can affect any part of your body and last for months or years if left unaddressed. It can lead to anxiety and depression, in addition to interfering with your daily life. If you are living with chronic pain, the first thing you need to do is find out the cause of the problem. This will help you determine the best course of action.

If that is not possible, the most effective approach is a combination of medical and alternative therapies, in addition to lifestyle changes. When most people think about alternative therapies, they often picture a sports massage, Swedish massage, or orthopedic massage.

Treatment for Chronic Pain

When it comes to chronic pain management, treatments are quite varied. They are as diverse as the causes. They range from the use of prescription drugs to various body and mind techniques such as massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and more. Some of the most common treatments for chronic pain include:

• Neuromuscular massage
• Prescription or non-prescription pain medications
• Trigger point therapy
• Deep tissue massage
• Sports massage
• Therapeutic massage therapy
• Surgical implants for pain control
• Hot stones therapy
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy
• Bioelectrical therapy and more

However, if you are looking for one of the most effective ways to get relief from chronic pain, consider getting a neuromuscular massage.

What is a Neuromuscular Massage?

Also known as trigger point therapy, this is one of the most effective therapies for lower back pain. It is a type of soft tissue massage technique that aims to relieve chronic nervous system, muscle problems, and disorders.

Massage therapists and physical therapists usually use this type of massage to fix a sports-related injury, poor posture, and repetitive movement injuries such as tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. It is also effective in fixing nerve compression conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as circulation issues and other chronic conditions. The purpose of this form of massage therapy is to focus on the root cause of the pain and treat the problem.

Difference between a Neuromuscular Massage and a Deep Tissue Massage

There is a difference between neuromuscular therapy and deep tissue massage. Both of these therapies dive deep into affected areas of the body to alleviate pain. Whether you are experiencing pain due to a sports-related injury, a car accident, or one of many medical conditions, you should consider getting one of these alternative therapies.

However, you need to understand the difference between the two. A deep tissue massage targets on affected areas such as muscle fibers, tendons, and tissue deep within the patient’s skin. Neuromuscular therapy, on the other hand, is a form of therapeutic massage that focuses on the nerves.

Furthermore, massage therapists administer neuromuscular therapy regularly to patients until the chronic pain goes away completely. This is why a massage therapist or physical therapist may refer to it as trigger points therapy.

A deep tissue massage, on the other hand, is a form of occasional therapy. The sole focus of this massage technique is to alleviate back pain and relieve muscle tension. This means that neuromuscular massage therapy can treat more problems than deep tissue massages.

What Conditions Can A Neuromuscular Massage Address?

A skilled physical therapist or massage therapist can use this form of therapeutic massage to treat a wide range of conditions. Most people recognize this form of therapeutic therapy for its ability to relieve any muscle tension and pain, as well as back pain. However, this form of trigger point therapy can treat a wide range of symptoms and disorders, such as:

• Headaches
• Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Symptoms of sciatica
• Plantar fasciitis
• Jaw, knee, and hip pain
• Calf cramps
• Temporomandibular joint pain and more

Massage and physical therapists, doctors, and scientists continue to study and test this form of therapy to determine whether it can treat other pain areas and illnesses. Since it focuses on trigger point therapy, this form of therapeutic massage can also offer relief from tense areas of the body, such as strained muscles.

Neuromuscular Massage in Johns Creek GA

The information above should give you a better understanding of neuromuscular massage therapy. You do not have to live with chronic pain. Visit Medical Fitness and Wellness Group at our office in Johns Creek, Georgia. We specialize in massage therapy, personal training, weight loss nutrition, stretch therapy, diabetes prevention, corrective exercises, and more.

Our team of skilled, experienced, and dedicated massage experts will structure a therapy program tailored to your specific needs. Chronic pain should not take over your life. Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of a neuromuscular massage? If so, call Medical Fitness and Wellness Group on 770-623-4078 today to request an appointment.