Myotherapy - What is it and when should I use it?

You may have seen the word at your physiotherapist or osteopath clinic, but what is it? By our Myotherapist, Ainslie Bryce

Myotherapy acts in a similar way to most allied health treatment methods, in that is uses a range of techniques that assess, manage and treat your soft tissue injuries, pain and dysfunction. It’s focused specifically around soft tissue, like muscles, organs and fluid movement through the body.

When working with patients or clients (I prefer to use the term clients), I ask questions during our friendly conversation to get more information from you, rather than just the run of the mill medical type questions. I will observe your movements and do specific movements with you to get a better understanding of what we will be working with. 

And yes, I mean what WE will be working with as it’s a collaboration. I’ll do my bit to ease your aches and pains, but you also then have to do the work in terms of looking after yourself, and jumping in to Pilates sessions to compound all of our hard work. This is not massage therapy alone. You may feel relaxed and great at the end of it, but you are a work in progress, as we all are!

How does Myotherapy work?

Myotherapy uses a range of modalities to improve your well being. These treatments may include, but are not limited to massage, dry needling, cupping, stretching and sometimes rehab exercises to get you back on track. 

What type of massage?

I use a blend of Swedish relaxation techniques and trigger point therapy, and I will get feedback from your physical, vocal and facial reactions (when you're not face down on the treatment table) to monitor if the massage is being effective. I could have you on your side or face up depending on what I’m treating and how you feel on the table. I will also ask you questions about the pressure and technique as I’m treating you. I’m here to help you, not hurt you.

What about the other techniques?

Other techniques I use in the treatment most of the time but not always, are cupping and dry needling. Cupping: the application of a strong, resin plastic cup with an air valve on top.  I use an application gun to pump the air out of the cup onto your skin. There is a little bit of pressure, but  it should be comfortable. I may leave it there or I may slide it over the muscle to increase blood flow to the area and release tension in the muscles and fascia (connective tissue) under the skin. You will feel the difference immediately after, when I massage this area again. 

Dry needling: very similar to acupuncture. As I am not a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, I use the term dry needling. I put the needles into tight muscles and trigger points, where TCM use their knowledge of meridian lines and acupuncture points to heal you with this technique. My use of dry needling is to release tension and painful areas in muscle groups or bundles, whereas TCM uses acupuncture points to ease dis-ease in organs and systems in your body. 

Stretching: used before and after to allow me to feel and see where there have been changes in your muscles because of the treatment you have just had. I’m sure the feedback you provide me will be just as valuable to yourself in recognising what has and hasn’t changed for you. You know what it felt like prior to the treatment and you will notice the difference after the treatment. Or even more interesting is when you don’t necessarily feel a difference, but I’m able to see a significant shift in the area we’ve been focusing on. This will help you in your rehabilitation as well. Your workout will be different depending on what you want your outcome to be. You may be more focused on the area that needs strengthening and your coach/Pilates Practitioner/PT will help you gain strength and mobility where you need it most. I want to work with you, not against you. As I am in contact with your Pilates Practitioner here in the studio, we will make sure you're moving to the best of your ability. 

When is the best time to have a Myotherapy treatment?

Anytime really, but in between Pilates or training sessions is good. It allows me to assess you when you're not warmed up and you're in a position that is as close to your every day at home or work as possible. If you are seeing another therapist for an injury, please check with them that Myotherapy would help you, not set you back.

Sometimes post surgery, you need a few weeks before there’s any manual treatment to be done in order to not upset any scar tissue that’s still healing. As long as there’s no major ligament damage, you can have Myotherapy treatment. Actually as a Myotherapist, I like to think I can treat you even if your leg or arm is in plaster, as there are other areas of your body that need to be treated too!

Pre surgery you could have some very light massage treatment, and I don’t have to treat anywhere near the surgical site. Manual lymphatic drainage can also help your body pre- and post-surgery, to help move your lymph fluid and kick start your immune system to be at its best. 

Will I be sore after treatment?

Any pain or discomfort after treatment is normal. I have just been manipulating your muscles while they were under duress, so having an outside force such as massage, cupping and stretches moving your muscles, increasing body fluids and altering your state of “normal” will change your pain threshold for a number of hours. Sometimes this change isn’t noticeable for a couple of days, but don’t be surprised if it happens. I recommend you use gentle movement to help you through this process of change. Heat can help, but if there was inflammation in that area to start with, I recommend a cool pack - not ice as such, as this can cause a sudden change in your structure and systems too. 

I hope to see and feel you on my tabel one time in the near future. Let's work together to get you back to optimal movement and well being!