Myotherapy

Myotherapy is a form of manual medicine focusing on the diagnosis, treatment and management of musculoskeletal pain.

Definition

Myotherapy treatment involves an extensive physical evaluation with an integrated approach to the treatment of involved muscles, joints and nerves. Myotherapy can be utilised to treat acute and chronic conditions, as well as in the area of preventative management and prescriptive exercises.

A distinguishing feature of Myotherapy is the clinical reasoning used, in which standard methods of evaluation are used such as orthopaedic tests, postural assessment, neurological and functional testing in conjunction with a thorough palpatory assessment of the spine, peripheral joint play, and the contractile evaluation of musculature.

Myotherapists are primary health care practitioners, although they are currently often the last point of call for many patients. Currently, a Myotherapy qualification can be obtained at several tertiary institutions. In Australia, there is currently only one not-for-profit institution that provides a degree level Myotherapy qualification. In time, students graduating from this university will be known as Clinical Myotherapists, which will then differentiate between Myotherapists with a Bachelor degree, and those with an Advanced Diploma.

History

Myotherapy is based on the research of Drs Janet Travell and David Simons who established the neuro-physiological basis of myofascial pain and dysfunction, and has evolved to include the assessment techniques and treatment modalities.

Modalities

Myotherapy includes many treatment modalities which include massage, cupping, myofascial dry needling, stretching, exercise prescription and joint mobilization. These modalities are used to treat a variety of conditions.

What can a Myotherapist treat?

Common conditions that Myotherapists can treat include:

• Sporting & occupational injuries
• Stiffness & pain associated with poor posture
• Associated joint & vertebral dysfunction & pain
• Acute & chronic conditions affecting function & mobility
• Scoliosis / Kyphosis
• Headaches / migraines
• Acute and chronic stiff and painful neck
• Chronic overuse syndromes - tendonitis, RSI, tennis/golfer's elbow, carpal tunnel
• Acute & chronic back pain / 'sciatica'
• Shoulder pain, impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder
• Hand & finger numbness / tingling – thoracic outlet syndrome
• Knee, leg & foot pain – shin splints, patella tracking dysfunction, runners knee, ankle sprains
• Arthritis / Multiple Sclerosis
• Pregnancy – pre/post natal complaints
• Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia
• Pain & dysfunction associated with stress & tension
• Rehabilitative stage of an injury or illness

Further reading

• Gunn C.C.; 2007, The Gunn Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain – Intramuscular Stimulation for Myofascial Pain of Radiculopathic Origin, 2nd edn., Churchill Livingstone, CN
• Jamison J.R.; 2006, Differential Diagnosis for Primary Care – a handbook for health care practitioners, 2nd edn., Elsevier, LON
• Kendall, F.P. et. al 2005, Muscles Testing and Function with Posture and Pain, 5th edn., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA
• Magee D.J.; 2006, Orthopedic Physical Assessment, 4th edn., Saunders Elsevier, USA
• Petty N.J. & Moore A.P.; 2002, Neuromusculoskeletal Examination and Assessment – A Handbook for Therapists, 2nd edn., Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier Science Ltd., CN
• Travell J.G. & Simons D.G.; 1999, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction – The Trigger Point Manual: Volume 1. Upper Half of Body, 2nd edn., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA
• Travell J.G. & Simons D.G.; 1993, Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction – The Trigger Point Manual: Volume 2. The Lower Extremities, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA
• Tritton, B.; 1996, Massage and Myotherapy, 2nd edn., RMIT Publishing, AUS