Clinical Myotherapy is a branch of manual medicine which focuses on the treatment and management of musculoskeletal pain. This involves an extensive physical evaluation and an integrated therapeutic approach to affected muscles, joints and nerves and is used in the treatment of acute or chronic conditions and in the area of preventive management A key factor in the application of Clinical Myotherapy is the use of soft tissue and joint mobilisation in which manual techniques are used both diagnostically and therapeutically. These procedures are augmented by the use of modalities such as: dry-needling, electrical stimulation, pain management techniques and prescriptive exercises.
The distinguishing feature in Clinical Myotherapy is its specific form of clinical reasoning where standard methods of assessment such as postural evaluation, orthopaedic, neurological and functional testing are accompanied by a thorough palpatory exploration of spinal and peripheral joint-play, the contractile state of specific muscles and an interpretation of these findings in their relationship to musculoskeletal pain.
Musculoskeletal pain may be divided into three primary categories:
a) myofascial pain originating from trauma or muscle contracture, which can be general throughout a muscle or may present as myofascial trigger point/s or as taut bands of muscle fibre, and
b) neuropathic pain which may originate from the central or peripheral nervous system, and
c) articular pain originating from joint pathologies. Musculoskeletal pain will normally involve more than one of these categories and must be assessed and treated in an integrated fashion
A major component of Clinical Myotherapy treatment is directed towards muscle contracture which may be caused by trauma, ageing, overload or misuse of muscles arising from occupational, sporting and recreational activities or congenital factors such as short leg discrepancy. Systemic disorders can also cause myofascial pain and may include chronic fatigue, post viral myalgic conditions, fibromyalgia, vitamin deficiency. In many instances the use of Clinical Myotherapy is directed to the alleviation of symptoms for patients suffering from pathologies such as narrowing of disc spaces, arthritis, or other conditions involving chronic pain in which treatment is directed to improving quality of life rather than resolving underlying condition.
Pain management is an important aspect in this type of treatment. The application of Clinical Myotherapy requires a comprehensive theoretical knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences combined with a proficiency in clinical reasoning and the dexterity to utilize discipline-specific manual skills. These attributes must also be supported with communication and management skills, an appreciation of legal and ethical issues as well as an understanding of potential psychological issues.
Clinical Myotherapy is based on the research of pioneers in the field of manual medicine such as Cyriax, Maitland, Travell and Simons, whose work in the area of musculoskeletal pain established the methods of assessment and treatment taught in this four-year Bachelor Degree. Clinical Myotherapy can play an important role in manual medicine as a single mode of treatment or used in conjunction with treatment provided by both medical and other allied-health practitioners.
Clinical Myotherapy - The Integrated Approach to Musculoskeletal Pain |
