7 Main Techniques Myotherapists Use To Treat Muscle Issues

Have you ever experienced an aching back, a stiff neck, or sore muscles that won’t go away? You may benefit from myotherapy, a type of physical therapy that focuses on addressing muscle pain and movement issues. Myotherapists in Diggers Rest and Sunbury are specially trained to assess and treat issues with your muscles, joints, and tendons using a variety of hands-on techniques. Here’s an easy-to-understand guide to the main techniques used by myotherapists.

1. Soft Tissue Manipulation

Soft tissue manipulation is at the heart of myotherapy. It means using hands (and sometimes elbows or forearms) to massage and move your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This can:

• Break up “knots” or tight areas

• Improve blood flow

• Reduce swelling

• Help your body heal faster

Techniques might include:

• Deep tissue massage: Firm pressure to release stubborn tight spots.

• Myofascial release: Gentle stretching and pressure to loosen the thin layer (“fascia”) that covers your muscles.

• Cross-fibre friction: Rubbing across the muscle fibres to reduce scar tissue.

2. Trigger Point Therapy

We all get “muscle knots”—tiny hard spots deep in our muscles that can hurt and make it hard to move. Trigger point therapy means finding those spots and applying careful, direct pressure. You may experience some discomfort during the treatment, but afterwards, it often feels significantly looser.

Benefits of trigger point therapy:

• Reduces muscle pains and spasms

• Improves movement and flexibility

• Helps headaches and pain from injuries

• Makes it easier to sit or stand with good posture

3. Dry Needling

This technique uses fragile needles (not the same as those for shots) that are put gently into your muscle’s trigger points. The needle helps calm the muscle down and decrease pain. Dry needling is only done by trained professionals.

Benefits of dry needling:

• Rapidly relieves pain and muscle tightness.

• Helps stubborn injuries heal faster

• Increases blood flow for quicker recovery

4. Passive Stretching

Sometimes your muscles aren’t just tight—they’re stuck. In passive stretching, the myotherapist helps move your limbs or body parts for you, slowly stretching tight spots. This can help:

• Improve your flexibility

• Stop your joints from feeling “stuck”

• Reduce future injuries (like pulled muscles)

5. Exercises and Self-Care Advice

Myotherapists don’t just treat you in the clinic; they teach you how to help yourself at home. This can include:

• Simple stretches that target your sore spots

• Strengthening exercises to support your joints and muscles

• Advice like ours includes using heat or ice packs, proper sitting techniques, and even repositioning techniques if needed to manage your condition.

6. Hot and Cold Therapy

This includes the use of:

• Heat packs: To relax tight muscles, improve blood flow and reduce stiffness.

• Cold packs: To decrease swelling and numb sharp pains, especially after injuries.

7. TENS Therapy

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Myotherapists may use a small device that sends gentle, mild electrical pulses through your skin. This can help block pain signals going to your brain and reduce soreness.

How Does a Myotherapy Session Work?

When you visit a myotherapist, they will:

• Talk with you about your pain and health history.

• Examine how your body moves and where it hurts.

• Choose the best techniques for you—sometimes using one, or a mix of several, depending on your problem and what feels comfortable.

In Conclusion:

Myotherapy is always focused on working with you, not on you. The goal is to help you move better, feel better, and get back to doing what you enjoy.

If you ever experience stubborn muscle pain, you now know some of the main ways a myotherapist can help you heal. Experience an amazing myotherapy session at Be Active Myotherapy, by the best Myotherapist in Diggers Rest and Sunbury.