Erasing Pain With Myotherapy

By Eric Cho

Myotherapy is derived from the Latin word ‘Myo’ which means ‘muscle’. Myotherapy therefore is a specialized form of massage and stretching that uses deep manual pressure to release the trigger points in the body. These trigger points may result from trauma, strain, fall, injury or a birth defect.

For most people myotherapy is, quite simply, the technique of erasing pain. The trigger points in the muscles develop when the muscles have been insulted through misuse or injury. The damage can begin even before birth and remain silent for many years. However when conditions are just ripe – as in injury, stress, strain or emotional trauma – these points tighten up and cause pain. When stress subsides, these points become relaxed again.

Trigger points are vital to the success of myotherapy. While these points cannot be seen, they can be felt. A person will be irritable and pressure of any kind often causes intense pain. It is the job of the Myotherapist to de-stress and release these points.

Most of us experience two kinds of pain:

- Acute pain: This is the first symptom. It is limited and subsides after some time.

- Chronic pain: This may not have an observable cause and may come frequently.

The trigger points that reside in the muscle contribute highly to the pain. Trigger points may be latent or active. These trigger points live in the muscles throughout our lives and become activated when conditions are just right. When they are latent they cause pain only when compressed. But active trigger points will refer pain to other areas of the body too. Whether active or latent, trigger points directly lead to dysfunction.

Age is a significant factor in identifying the number of trigger points that cause pain. Since they tend to increase with time, older patients would have accumulated a larger number of trigger points.

Is Myotherapy successful?

Myotherapy has been successful in eliminating more than 90% of all physical pain related to the muscle. Patients suffering from different kinds of head, neck and back pain have greatly benefited from it. It also relieves symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis experience a drastic improvement and reduction in swelling. Athletes experience enhanced physical performance after undergoing treatment.

Myotherapy is totally non-invasive. The patient takes no internal medication. In fact, this is the only treatment in which pain is reduced without internal or topical medication.

Myotherapy treatment consists of two steps. The therapist first locates the trigger points by applying pressure. This relieves pain and relaxes the muscles associated with discomfort.

In the second step, the patient undergoes a series of exercises that progressively stretches the muscles that have been relaxed in the first step. Typically, a patient has to undergo at least 6-10 sessions before realizing the full extent of his recovery. To benefit fully, the patient should be open to the therapy and must have a positive attitude.

Myotherapy is a partnership program that requires full commitment from the practitioner as well as the patient. Only an attitude of self-healing can bring relief.

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