Triggerpoints Neuromuscular Therapy
Precise and non-invasive contact
for the liberation of blockages and cellular registry.
Trigger Points are principally positioned in Miofascial tissues. They are irritable points found on tight bands of muscles that are normally painful beneath compression. When activated, they reflect pain and other sensations to diverse parts of the body, like sensitivity, motor disturbances and autonomous responses in other tissues of the body. Trigger points can form in the fleshy part of the muscle, the tendons or the insertions of the periosteum. They are also frequently found in the skin, fascia, ligaments, the surface of articulations and even in the visceras.
In spite of the different hypothesis that medics and professionals in the field have developed through the years, it is still not clear how these point are formed, although their location and behavior are quite predictable, as are their patterns of pain referral.
Neuromuscular therapy identifies and deactivates these points through the method of ischemic compression or trigger point pressure release, stretching the shortened fibers in which they are found annulling the factors that gave origin to its formation.
Three principal factors can de identified that stimulate the formation of Trigger Points. Bio mechanical, bio chemical and psycho-social factors.
An important bio mechanical factor is the compression of nerves caused by soft tissues, such as tense muscles, or osseous tissue, like a hernia. This compression can be caused by various motives: a traumatic incident, the result of bad movement patterns and repetitive work actions, sports, bad posture when seated, standing, sleeping, etcetera.
Neuromuscular Therapy tries to identify these nervous compressions and apply manual methods and rehabilitation exercises to modify and correct the bodily bio mechanics. Postural influences are also bio mechanical factors. Keeping in mind that certain ‘asymmetries’ are considered normal, a certain grade of functional balance should be observable within these asymmetries, such as the range of movement of the limbs., etc. Other factors to bear in mind are the genetic characteristics of the person, the corporeal typology and age.
This therapy seeks to correct dysfunctional patterns of posture, releasing tension in the fascia and muscular tissue. To achieve this, a personalized program must be established that the patient is able to continue in his home, integrating an improved corporeal consciousness to confront old postural habits, stretching techniques and appropriate strengthening work.
The second important factor in the formation of Trigger Points is the bio chemistry of the body. One must take into consideration nutrition, the lack of absorption of vitamins and nutrients, ischemic or lack of irrigation of the blood in the tissues, inflammation, and the tendency of hyperventilation (influences the exchange of O2 and CO2).
The third factor is psycho-social, through which it is important to keep in mind the emotional history of the person and his or her capacity to adapt in emotional situations, or his or her tendency to retain emotions in the body. Recent discoveries about the connection between the mind and the body tell us that cells not only metabolize and assimilate nutrients and toxins, but that they also process emotions and sensations. The majority of the time we are not conscious of our situation, nor of how and how much our thoughts and external situations affect each of our cells.
The intention of this therapy, through precise and non-invasive contact, is to help bring these blockages and cell registry to a more conscious plane, to be able to process and free them. The results tend to manifest themselves not only in the patterns of movement but also at a deeper level, in the sub conscious, with the cellular memory.
The body has the capacity to heal itself naturally; all that we try to do with this therapy is facilitate this process. Most of the time it provides subtle and profound changes that can be perceived in between sessions through internal movements. Other times, the changes are more intense, marked and long-lasting. All will depend on the commitment taken by the patient towards a healthy change, and upon his or her disposition to unlearn his or her physical and emotional patterns.
As therapists, we must tune our perception to be able to work deeper in contact with the cells, using the hands as tools to listen and perceive the internal movements of the body. It is our responsibility to educate our patients towards improved corporeal consciousness, to deeper breath, and how to maintain fluid communication between his or her body, sensations and internal perceptions.
Amongst the objectives of this course is to generate in each student an improved capacity of observation and postural analysis, to promote more efficient work, to achieve improved results. Emphasis will be placed on anatomy and movement patterns in each section of the body; on those muscles with propensity to cause postural deviations; on the principal Trigger Points and their respective patterns of pain; and on the principal laws of physiology and neurology upon which this neuromuscular therapy is based.
Being the first approximation to neuromuscular therapy, this course has been divided into two levels. The first course will focus on the neck and torso. In the second, the focus will be on the limbs and derivation towards a deeper and more subtle plane of the body, in which will be broached areas such as the throat, the temporal-mandible articulation, and the cranium.