This is a technique that I carry out in conjunction with McTimoney Chiropractic treatment.
Neuromuscular Re-education is a soft tissue technique that aims to clear adhesions, reduce pain and restore joint movement. It lessens muscular tension and restriction and lengthens and strengthens connective tissue. It is by no means a gentle and relaxing massage it is however extremely effective.
Treatment will always be carried out to your level of tolerance, a little bit of discomfort is well worth the rewards you could reap. When an area is injured, whether it's muscle, connective tissue, fascia (the layer surrounding muscle), tendon or a combination of these elements (as most injuries are), after a number of processes the body ultimately lays down fibrous tissue in the affected area. This is scar tissue (known as adhesions) which is less elastic and has a poor blood supply. As a muscle begins to stretch and encounters an adhesion, the muscle contracts to prevent any further stretching and to protect the area involved. This results in reduced strength and a decreased range of motion. Freeing the adhesion is only part of recovery, it is also important to regain range of motion. Often when we experience chronic stress or pain we compensate and adapt our movement to avoid further discomfort and protect the area, this compensation persists even after recovery has occurred. If these compensatory patterns persist they can result in a cascading effect on posture creating further muscular tension and restriction of movement and in some cases result in debilitating pain. Neuromuscular Re-education is effective in helping to correct the movement patterns that often are the source of physical pain.