Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)

This technique manipulates the soft tissue of the body (muscles, tendons and connective tissue) to balance the central nervous system. Nerves transmit impulses (which are responsible for every movement, function and thought) to the body very slowly. Injury, trauma, postural distortion or stress cause nerves to speed up their transmission, inhibiting equilibrium and making the body vulnerable to pain and dysfunction.

Nerve compression or entrapment

Pressure or compression on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone. The nerve is unable to properly conduct its signal. There are many potential causes for a pinched nerve, depending on the location of the nerve.

Treatment involves:

1. Location, identification and treatment of trigger points
2. Postural and biomechanical correction
3. Restore neurological pathways

• ischemia (tight tissue with reduced blood flow)
• myofascial trigger points (hypersensitive points within muscles that give rise to referred phenomena, including pain)
• neural entrapment (pressure on nerves by muscles and other soft tissues), and nerve compression (pressure on nerves by osseous and other bonelike tissues, such as cartilage or  discs).
• postural assessment (assessment of the position of the body as a whole)
• and dysfunctional gait patterns (manner of movement when walking)
• with constant consideration for many other perpetuating factors, such as hydration, nutrition, breathing patterns, and psychologic stress.

NMT is highly effective for clients who present with chronic pain and is often successful in reducing or eliminating even longstanding painful conditions. Some of the techniques can also be applied to acute injuries and for post-surgical care; many help to improve performance in sport or dance and to prevent injuries due to these activities.


If you think neuromuscular therapy is the treatment for you then contact Caroline at Holistic Life Sports Injury Centre in Cheadle Hulme.

Getting the right type of sports massage

Pre-massage: A sports massage treatment can aid your warm-up and help to increase your circulation and flexibility.
Post-massage: A sports massage will increase your circulation to speed the removal of fatigue toxins, relieve your muscle spasms and prevent soreness, minimising recovery time.
Fine-tuning: A sports massage will help identify the areas of biomechanical stress in your muscles and correct any misalignments before they become problems, enhancing your endurance.
Injury Rehabilitation: Sports massage speeds your healing, increases range of motion, reduces scar tissue allowing the muscle to expand/contract normally. Involves different techniques adapted to the injury and individual.

Benefits of including Sports massage as part of your training plan.

Sports Massage techniques can help:

• Enhance body awareness
• Identify problem areas before they develop into injuries
• Remove knots in muscles formed as a result of injury or hard training
• Relax and stretch muscles that have become shortened and tight
• Improve range of motion in the joints
• Restore suppleness and elasticity
• Relieve pain and stress
• Free muscle adhesions and soften scar tissue caused by injury or overuse
• Improve circulation
• Flush out toxins that cause muscle stiffness and soreness
• Relax the body and mind
• Speed recovery and healing from exertion


At Holistic Life Sports Injury Centre, different Sports Massage techniques are used to ensure that each session is tailored to the specific needs of the sport, injury and the individual.

Cycling injuries and biomechanics

Cycling injuries and biomechanics

Cycling is unique due to its combination of postural inertia of the upper and lower body.
Set-up and positioning of the bike can help prevent injuries.  A cyclist requires both flexibility and stability, imbalances can result in overloading.

Seat height -
To high - power is reduced and injuries to pelvis, adductors, gluteals, hamstrings, calf and knee joint can occur.
To low - increases knee flexion and can cause patella bursal loading.

Bar reach and drop - Poor positioning can reduce flexibility and cause problems in the pelvis, hip and hamstrings.

Cleat positioning - important for the alignment of the hip, knee and ankle.

Seat - should be narrow enough to allow legs to pedal freely without impingement and comfort for endurance.

I would recommend getting a biomechanical posture assessment to identify any musculoskeletal misalignments.

My cycling and triathlete clients have benefitted greatly from biomechanical assessment at my centre in Stockport as well as advice on bike correction/posture to help aid their performance, endurance and less injuries.

Martin Hewitt and Mount McKinley

Helping to rebuild my clients tired muscles, Martin Hewitt who lost the use of his right arm in 2007 and went on to compete for Great Britain in adaptive ski racing, walked unsupported to the North Pole with HRH Prince Harry and led a team of injured soldiers on Mt Manaslu and Everest.  Read more at http://www.fieri.biz/leadership/expeditions/blog/

Five factors that cause pain:

1.     Ischemia: Lack of blood supply to soft tissues which causes hypersensitivity to touch.

2.     Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles which refer pain to other parts of the body.

3.     Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve by soft tissue, cartilage or bone.

4.     Postural Distortion: Imbalance of the muscular system.

5.     Biomechanical Dysfunction: Imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement.

Biomechanical Assessment
 

• Do you feel poor posture or movement is limiting you.
• Do you suffer with pains, niggles and injuries.

A biomechanical assessment involves an examination of the body, looking at the structure, alignment, strengths and weaknesses, looking at how you move as an individual. It aims to identify potential problems with your mechanics that could lead to injury or slow you down. Muscles are also assessed to make sure that they are in balance and the correct length. If any structures are unbalanced or an incorrect length, re alignment is then achieved through soft/deep tissue massage, manipulation and exercises for muscle strengthening.