Neuromuscular TherapyNeuromuscular therapy has it's roots in both Europe and the US. Stanley Leif is said to be the founder of neuromuscular therapy in Europe. Stanley and his cousin Boris Chaitow developed the technique after studying with Bernarr McFadden in the US who was a prominent physician. Later Leon Chaitow who was a Naturopath and Osteopath went on to further develop neuromuscular therapy. Peter Lief, ND, DO was Stanley Leif's son who in 1963 began to categorize and describe what he called the 'neuro-muscular lesion' characterized by congestion of local connective tissues, fibrous adhesions and changes in the muscle tonus. He hypothesized that the neuromuscular lesion arose from several causative factors - postural distortions, fatigue, local trauma, poor nutrition and psychosomatic causes that create muscle tension. Neuromuscular therapy is a technique that attempts to normalize lesions in muscle and connective tissue. The early work focused on the dense connective tissue and muscular attachment sites at the base of the occiput (including the aponeuroses and muscular attachments) as well as the soft tissue attachments at the iliac crest and vertebral column. Later, these techniques were applied throughout the body. Raymond Nimmo, DC and Janet Travell MD were the early developers of this method in the US. Nimmo's text, The Receptor Tonus Method (1966) was the result of his studies. He had noticed that the many muscular areas were capable of referring pain to other areas and he came to call these 'noxious generative points'. Janet Travel, MD and David Simons MD went on to author a text called "Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Triggerpoint Manual: Volumes I and II which have become known as the bible for many neuromuscular massage therapists. The Concise Book of Neuromuscular Therapy By John Sharkey reports that a German Physical Therapist also had influence in the neuromuscular therapy concept with her creation of a method called "Connective Tissue Massage". Paul St John and Judith Delany also have carried on the work and study of Neuromuscular therapy and have created their own programs of study for massage students. For more on Neuromuscular therapy: Wiki on Neuromuscular therapy St John Neuromuscular Seminars Leon Chaitow - Seminars and books Neuromuscular Therapy Center Judith Walker Delaney Find a Neuromuscular Therapist Neuromuscular therapy works well with pain syndromes, hard to treat conditions, injuries, chronic pain, acute pain and others Have information on this type of massage?Share your information on the history of this type of massage or some of it's uses and resources on the type of massage. || FAQ's || Career Guides || Websites || Supervision || About Me ||
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