Dana is a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Neuromuscular Therapist (NMT). Her emphasis is on a holistic approach to stimulate the body into healing itself. Dana will assist you with a home care program to encourage your recovery process.
What is NMT:
Neuromuscular therapy is a comprehensive system of manual treatment protocols and precise palpatory applications. It is used for assessing, treating and preventing muscular imbalances, soft tissue injuries, and chronic pain. The intention is to reduce your pain and help restore homeostasis in the body by balancing the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) with the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones). When posture and biomechanics are restored to their optimal levels of function, a sense of overall wellbeing and vitality are achieved.
NMT recognizes six principles that contribute to pain and tissue dysfunction:
- Ischemia: A lack of blood flow (and, therefore, oxygen) to an area of the body. Ischemia leads to hypersensitivity to the touch, pain, postural distortions, and faulty movement patterns.
- Trigger Points: Highly irritated points in muscles that can “refer” pain to other parts of the body that are far away from the site of actual trauma or injury. They can weaken muscles and cause dysfunctional movement. For example, a trigger point in the calf muscle can cause pain in the hip!
- Nerve Compression or Entrapment: This occurs when soft tissue or bone applies pressure to a nerve. This can often lead to tingling, numbness and/or intense shooting pain along the nerve.
- Postural and biomechanical dysfunctions: An imbalance of the musculoskeletal system resulting in faulty movement patterns. For example: poor lifting habits; faulty golf swing; or impaired swim stroke.
- Nutritional Factors: Lack of adequate nutrition to the cells leads to an overall weakening of the entire system.
- Stress: Stress plays havoc with the functioning of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Relieving the chronic tension helps reduce nerve stimulation and allows the body to restore itself.
NMT is used to assist with treating and healing of:
- Chronic or acute neck, back, hip, shoulder or knee pain
- Restoring postural alignment
- Headaches
- Tempromandibular joint pain (TMJ Dysfunction)
- Sciatica
- Sports injuries
- Foot Pain
- Increased blood circulation
- Increased lymphatic flow
- Increased flexibility
- Strengthen immune system
- Decreased stiffness
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Shin Splints
- Spasms and Cramps
- Whiplash
- Stress management