Neuromuscular Therapy is also known as Myofascial Release.  When muscles are over extended they can lose their ability to relax, this is called "hypertonic".  These over tight muscles harbor myofascial trigger points.  They also cause stress on the muscles that oppose them and the joints they cross.  Massage therapists trained in clinical massage can use a variety of body work procedures for the condition being treated.  Most of these procedures will involve releasing the body from a dysfunctional holding pattern that has developed from a recent or old injury.  Among these procedures are:

• Neuromuscular/Myofascial Therapy:  a method of carefully searching for and treating ischemic trigger points, which are often the key factors in chronic and severe pain.  This type of therapy is widely acclaimed and extremely successful in pain relief.
  (More Trigger Point information here)

• Post-Isometric Muscle Release:  gently facilitated joint movement to assist a muscle in regaining a normal relaxed length.  The client actively participates.  These can be assisted with David Simons MD and Janet Travell MD, method of "spray and stretch".  This is a noninvasive method to inactivate trigger points.  It is important to note that this stretching technique required specific training and skills not associated with basic massage licensure.

• Fascial Release:  Fascia is our bodies own version of "Saran Wrap".  It covers each individual muscle fiber, to all of our muscles as a whole.  It can become dysfunctional through postural and chemical imbalances, and simple twists and turns.  Fascial release is a subtle manipulation of the fascial planes so they can release and normalize.

• Positional Release:  a gentle release wherein the dysfunctional part of the muscle, is placed in a position of pain-free relaxation.  This allows the muscle to normalize during a 90 second period of neuromuscular reorganization.