Annalisa Zisman, a proficient author and tutor, she is a leading practitioner for many massage courses. Annalisa specializes in Indian Head Massage, Thai Foot and Thai Herbal Compress Massage techniques.
massage courses | head massage | thai foot | thai herbal compress massage
Massage therapy has been used for thousands of years to help relax and calm people as well as offer physical healing. Neuromuscular therapy is used to relieve pain and specific problems a patient is experiencing. It is used to focus pressure on certain areas of skeletal muscle and can reduce pain and tension, but also help balance your posture and lengthen as well as strengthen tissues. These areas are often myofascial trigger points. Myofasical trigger points are hyperirritable spots located within skeletal muscle. These spots are associated with nodules of bands of muscle fibers. These nodules become small contracture knots and therefore cause pain to the patient. By focusing on these points with neuromuscular therapy, a massage therapist with the right training can help decrease the contractions and this help relieve the pain. It is a great therapy to assess, treat, and help prevent soft tissue injuries and thus relieve chronic pain. Neuromuscular therapy is often used by occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, chiropractors, and those that practice osteopathic and physical medicine.
The technique of neuromuscular therapy (sometimes referred to as NMT) was developed by Dr. Stanley Leif and Boris Chaitow. Both were trained in chiropractics and naturopathy, which is a philosophy that seeks to improve health by focusing on the body’s innate ability to recover. They worked with Dewanchand Varma and Bernard MacFadden to help develop neuromuscular therapy in order to help patients suffering from soft tissue dysfunction. One part of neuromuscular therapy focuses on the fact that the body can heal itself. Stimulation from neuromuscular therapy can help hasten the natural healing process.
A neuromuscular therapist takes into account many aspects of the patient before beginning therapy. Things like age, stress, prior therapy, family history, diet, and nutrition will be looked at. By looking at the patient’s history and health, they can ascertain what type or how much therapy is needed. They may work with the patient’s primary physician if certain conditions exist. For example, if an elderly woman with a calcium deficient diet had hip or lower back pain; the therapist will need to watch for possible osteoporosis or hip fractures. They may need to alter their procedures to accommodate such patients. They will also look at posture distortion to see what other pains that can be causing.
The therapist will use their thumbs, fingers, and elbows as well as pressure bars during the massage. The pressure bars help release the muscular contractions. One good thing about neuromuscular therapy is it concentrates on placement much more than degree of pressure, so a good deal of pressure is not normally necessary.
Who can be helped by neuromuscular therapy? Anyone that suffers from chronic pain can be helped by neuromuscular massage. Whether you have chronic pain due to an occupational injury, a sports injury, or an automobile injury, if you suffer from chronic pain, you may want to give neuromuscular therapy a try. Others that respond well to neuromuscular therapy are those that suffer from sciatica, rotator cuff dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and even migraine headaches.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Massage Courses for Beginners
- Massage Therapy Education Today
- Massage Education in America
- Programs in Massage Therapy - Healing Arts Today
- Why You Should Choose Massage Therapy Education
- Training in Massage - What to Expect
- The Healing Benefits of Traditional Thai Massage
- The Importance of Continuing Professional Development as a Massage Therapist



Why We Should use Natural, Eco-friendly Skin and Personal Care Products
By: Dr Danny Siegenthaler | 06/07/2009There are several reasons why using products such as natural skin care products, which utilise organically grown ingredients is good for our health and the environment.
Worried About Your Water? Could a Reverse Osmosis Water Dispenser Help?
By: Peter Foremski | 06/07/2009With all the knowledge we now have about the quality of our drinking water and the host of chemicals and contaminants present in our drinking water, it is of no surprise that many consumers are seeking quality water filtration devices.
Common Diet Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
By: Dane Fletcher | 06/07/2009There is a common saying that success leaves clues and this does not rule out bodybuilding. I will share with you dietary lessons I learned through interviewing various top ranking professional bodybuilders. If you are having flaws in your nutrition program then the tips provided in this article will help you correct them. In order to succeed in your muscle building pursuit, you need to avoid the following dietary mistakes.
Why It's Important To Complete Your Cardio Exercises
By: Dane Fletcher | 06/07/2009Research shows that if your appetite increases as a result of doing slow cardio, then this might ruin your efforts of training through the cardio approach. If you find that you are compensating for your efforts, then you ought to change your training methods and start using turbulence training.
Every Mental Illness is a Chronic Disease: Including Depression
By: Linda Rosenberg | 06/07/2009Equal treatment for all mental illnesses is crucial to ensuring that mental health patients receive the care and consideration that they deserve
Alcohol Rehab Minneapolis Minnesota
By: addiction | 06/07/2009Alcohol Rehab Minneapolis Minnesota
Tinitis End Your Tinitis
By: Jackson Stone | 06/07/2009It's quite transparent that anyone who suffers with tinnitis wants to get rid of it. Tinnitis is a really stressful condition that makes you hear sounds within your head that don't actually exist. The sound doesn't always have to be in your ears sometimes it can be in your head.Many individuals report their tinnitis is a consecutive beeping noise. Others lay claim that it sounds like musical tones, crickets, chirping, or birds whistling. Take just one ...
How Much Exercise Is Good Exercise?
By: Bette Dowdell | 06/07/2009Exercise can kill you. Well, so can lots of other things, but people tout exercise as all good, all the time. Before couch potatoes get excited here, life as an inanimate object doesn’t get excellent results either. Well, then, obviously, some middle ground exists.
How to Find a Good Sports Massage Therapy Course
By: Annalisa Zisman | 02/06/2007 | HealthToday, more than ever, people are playing many sports. Unfortunately, many people get injured each day playing sports whether it is a professional or amateur sport. Sports massage therapy can not only help an athlete who are injured, but is also great to help athletes keep toned and in shape to prevent injuries.
The Importance of Continuing Professional Development as a Massage Therapist
By: Annalisa Zisman | 02/06/2007 | HealthSome professionals, such as physicians and nurses, are required to complete a certain amount of continuing education each year. This is to make sure they keep up to date on the newest techniques available to help their patients.
Aromatherapy for the 21st Century
By: Annalisa Zisman | 02/06/2007 | HealthAromatherapy has become a very popular form of relaxation for many people. People find themselves under more and more stress in the 21st century than ever before. Many try to juggle a career, family, and still need to find time for themselves.
The Healing Benefits of Traditional Thai Massage
By: Annalisa Zisman | 02/06/2007 | HealthThai massage, also known as Nuad Phaen Boran, is an ancient massage that involves not only deep muscle massage, but stretching, elements of shiatsu, yoga, and acupressure as well. Nuad Phaen Boran actually translates into “ancient massage” or “traditional massage.”
Use of Herb Compresses in Massage
By: Annalisa Zisman | 18/04/2007 | HealthMassage therapy in and of itself can by very therapeutic, as many people can attest to. In many cases massage is done with certain oils; sometimes to simply make the massage easier, in other cases they can add beneficial aroma therapy. One way to take the benefit of massage even further however, is to add herb compresses. There are probably as many combinations of herb compresses for massage as there are masseuses who use them. Many herb compresses, however, have become very popular and esta
The Use of Natural Face Lift Massage to Help Combat Ageing
By: Annalisa Zisman | 18/04/2007 | HealthIn this day and age more and more people, both women and men, are turning to cosmetic surgery to stall the signs of ageing, or reverse the look of ageing on the face. One alternative to this, however, can be the natural face lift massage. Using a method that doesn’t involve the risks associated with surgery, or possible infection can be a very positive determining factor when it comes to improving the look of the face, making it look younger, fresher, and more vibrant. One of the reasons that
The History of Thai Foot Massage
By: Annalisa Zisman | 18/04/2007 | HealthThai foot massage dates back over hundreds of years, and has been one of the most effective and revered forms of massage in the Orient, and eventually all over the world. Though Thai massage can cover the entire body, the art of Thai foot massage is an art in and of itself. Thai foot massage was developed over the years by incorporating foot massage techniques from some places such as China, Japan, and Korea. Most people who have experienced Thai foot massage can attest to its benefits. Th