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Myotherapy
Myotherapyisaformofphysicaltherapyusedtotreatorpreventsofttissuepainandrestricted jointmovementcausedbymuscleormyofasciadysfunction.Myofasciaarethethin,fibroussheets oftissuethatsurroundandseparatemuscles.Ligamentsandtendonsarecomprisedofbundled myofascia. ThephilosophyofmyotherapyisfoundedonWesternmedicalprinciplesincludinganatomy, physiologyandbiomechanics.Youdontneedareferralfromadoctortomakeanappointmentwith amyotherapist.

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Symptoms of soft tissue pain

Painthatiscausedbymuscletissueormusclefascia(myofascia)iscalledmyofascialpain. Symptomscaninclude: Deepandconstantaching Muscletightness Sorespotsinthemuscle(myofascialtriggerpoints) Reducedjointmobility Stiffjoints Numbness Recurrenttingling,pricklingorpinsandneedlessensation Unexplainedtiredness.

Myotherapy can treat a range of disorders

Myotherapycanbeusedtotreatawiderangeofdisordersincluding: Overuseinjurysuchastenniselboworshinsplints Somesportsinjuries Tensionheadache Paincausedbypoorposture Sometypesofchronicbackpain Sometypesofjointpain,suchasshoulderimpingementsyndrome Musclesprains.

What to expect at your first myotheray appointment

Foryourfirstappointment,takeanymedicaltestresults(suchasx-rayfilms)thatrelatetoyour condition.Themyotherapistwillaskmanyquestionsaboutyoursymptoms.Tellthemaboutyour medicalhistory,includingpriorillnessandsurgery.Givethemalistofallthemedicinesyouare currentlytaking.Thisinformationiskeptinstrictestconfidenceandisusedbythetherapisttohelp pinpointthecauseofyoursymptoms. Themyotherapistwillexamineandmanipulatetheaffectedjointsandassociatedmuscles,andtest yourreflexes.Thisinitialexaminationisthoroughandhelpsthemyotherapisttofindoutifthe symptomsaremyofascial.Themyotherapistmayreferyoutootherhealthcareprofessionalsfor furtherdiagnosisortreatment,dependingonyourmedicalcondition.

Myotherapy techniques
Treatmentdependsonthediagnosis.Myotherapyusesarangeoftechniquesincluding:

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Massage,includingsportsandremedialtechniques Gentlymovingthepatientsaffectedbodypartthroughitsrangeofmotion(passive stretching) Hotorcoldtherapy Transcutaneouselectricalnervestimulation(TENS)therapy Triggerpointtherapy(acupressure) Myofascialdryneedling(acupuncture).

Mostpatientswithmyofascialdysfunctionwillhavepainreliefwithinonetothreesessions.Each sessiontypicallylastsonehour.

Self-help suggestions
Themyotherapistwillexplainyourconditionindetail.Dietarychangescouldberecommended.The myotherapistmayadvisetreatmentstouseathomeincluding: Exercisesandstretchesspecifictoyourcondition Self-administeredmassage Heatpacks Icepacks Relaxationtechniquesincludingmeditation.

Ongoing management with myotherapy

Themyotherapistwillworkwithyoutoidentifyfactorsthatmaybemakingyourconditionworse (suchaspoorposture,scoliosisorovertraining)andhelpyoufindwaystoavoidorreducethese aggravatingfactors. Ifsomethingcannotbechanged(forexample,arthritisorage-relatedchangestospinaldiscs),the myotherapistwilldevelopapainmanagementprogram.Thismayinvolvereferraltoother healthcareprofessionals. Foracuteorpersistentjointpain,alwaysseeyourdoctor.

Finding a myotherapy practitioner

Suggestionsforfindingapractitionerinclude: ContacttheAustralianAssociationofMassageTherapistsandaskforalistofmembersin yourarea. Askyourdoctororhealthcareprofessionalforareferral. Askyourfriendsforword-of-mouthrecommendations.

Where to get help

Yourdoctor AustralianAssociationofMassageTherapistsTel.1300138872 InstituteofRegisteredMyotherapistsofAustraliaTel.(03)94183913

Things to remember

Myotherapyisaformofphysicaltherapyusedtotreatorpreventsofttissuepainand restrictedjointmovement. ThephilosophyofmyotherapyisfoundedonWesternmedicalprinciplesincludinganatomy, physiologyandbiomechanics. Youdontneedareferralfromadoctortomakeanappointmentwithamyotherapist.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

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AustralianAssociationofMassageTherapists(AAMT)
Contentonthiswebsiteisprovidedforeducationandinformationpurposesonly.Information aboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotimplyendorsementandisnotintendedto replaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Contenthasbeen preparedforVictorianresidentsandwiderAustralianaudiences,andwasaccurateatthetimeof publication.Readersshouldnotethat,overtime,currencyandcompletenessoftheinformation maychange.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessional fordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestions. Forthelatestupdatesandmoreinformation,visitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au Copyight 1999/2013StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)atnocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth. Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthecopyrightareprohibitedwithout permission.

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