Surgery Prevention

“Doctors told me I needed surgery.  Now they are scratching their heads at my recovery.”…was the feedback we received after working with Grant, who’s follow up MRI scan revealed complete structural recovery.

After a very different prognosis from the medical professionals, Grant was referred to Advanced Myotherapy through a friend.

While an initial MRI scan showed a herniated disc causing nerve impingement, a few short months later, a new scan showed the spinal discs had realigned after the much needed corrective care, that not only was non invasive, but saved Grant from costly surgery.

Since then, Grant regained feeling in his legs where there was numbness and tingling down to his feet, and began to live more fully again.

Regardless of how an injury is sustained, there are basic principles of recovery that allow muscle and bone to heal faster. Regaining musculoskeletal stability by increasing both length and strength of the muscles is key to restoring range of motion (ROM) and mobility after injury.

Another key element of healing after injury is sufficient rest which is something most people don’t realise. Returning to normal duties at work or getting back to sport as usual too soon will prolong injury recovery where further rest often times speeds up the return of muscular stability.

Myo (muscle) therapists encourage people to ensure they reduce physical activity for a sufficient amount of time before re-introducing specific exercises that build up muscle fibres to original strength while undergoing a treatment to break up any acquired scar tissue. What this type of treatment does is free the area of injury from trauma and restriction that ultimately ends up causing further damage left untreated or unhealed, further down the track.

Myotherapists also offer education around corrective self care that reduces the likelihood of re-injury as well as helping to restore musculoskeletal integrity and general wellbeing. Many of our past, present and ongoing clients have found that even long standing injuries that reduced their quality of life, have dissipated after a speedy recovery with correct maintenance and treatment.

If you have a long standing or even recent injury, Myotherapy is a type of treatment that can help you recover fast and for the long term. For those who have never seen a Myotherapist, have tried all other avenues, we encourage you to inquire about how we can help. Many of our clients have found that after trying a multitude of modalities…finally they find results with us. So please don’t hesitate to call or email us to ask about your injury. We are always willing to chat.

Pelvic Tilt and Back Pain

Top 5 causes of the dreaded pelvic tilt that contributes to lower back pain:

1. Weak hamstrings
2. Weak abdominals
3. Weak glutes
4. Tight erector spinae
5. Tight hip flexors

The answer? Lengthen & strengthen! Want better posture? Stretching and exercising are the two most vital keys. Being fit beats being "skinny or slim" and by no means are they the same thing. Fit people come in all sizes, but generally as you will see looking at the image here, their shape indicates a better resistance to gravity and more grace of movement. 

Sitting wrong or for too long is another leading cause of the pelvic tilt, given that over time, it tightens the hip flexors which places pressure on the lower back. Most of the people we see that come to us with lower back pain have very tight hip flexors, which is a result of desk work. 

As you can begin to see, there are two essential elements in maintaining good posture and preventing premature shortening of the spine, along with other signs of ageing. These are "stretching and strengthening". The longer and stronger the muscles, the better health we have as these promote better health all round in allowing freedom of movement and increased range of motion. 

Myotherapy works to do just this, in assisting clients to restore the perfect posture by adjusting the spinal alignment with the support of muscle balance and integrity. Myotherapists are becoming more and more popular in finding solutions to musculoskeletal imbalances and conditions because they treat both together by providing the body's structure muscular support to hold the bones in correct positioning. 

If you have a posture problem and associated pain and wish to avoid depending on costly drugs or time off work, call us today for a consultation on 9347 5764

NMIT Interview with Director Matthew Cleary

Interview with Director Matthew Cleary by Trish Gallagher from NMIT

What is a career in massage really like once you leave the classroom and hit the clinic? Matthew Cleary, founding Director of Advanced Myotherapy in inner city suburb of Carlton commenced his studies at NMIT in 2001 and has since gone on to establish his highly successful Myotherapy business.  Matthew and his team of therapists are highly sought after in the industry and have worked with organisations such as the AFL, South African Rugby Union team, professional sportspeople in the disciplines of gymnastics, ice hockey and boxing.
We spoke to Matthew about his fascinating career and find out what it takes to be successful in this industry.

What made you decide to choose Myotherapy as a career?

Myotherapy was a natural career choice for me as someone who first began working as a Remedial Therapist, discovering the impact it could have on people’s wellbeing. Helping people overcome debilitating pharmaceutical addictions to costly pain medications was a great inspiration. My mother worked in a Pharmacy for 43 years and establishing my first clinic in the adjoining Doctor’s surgery, allowed me to witness the needless dependence many people had on this type of treatment. Not only did I see the potential for an incredible long term financial benefit to people finding a natural solution to postural and lifestyle related musculoskeletal conditions, I became increasingly passionate about being able to contribute to a better quality of life for people.

How does this differ from other massage careers?

Myotherapy has the advantage of more specialised training with regard to muscle health and injury recovery, especially longer term. Myotherapists are trained to a higher level than other Massage therapists as it requires more clinical knowledge for an educational approach in corrective self care understanding. Here lies the difference, where many Massage practitioners can merely offer treatment that will only suffice for a more temporary relief of pain symptoms.

Tell us about some of your clients?

Working with the Brisbane Lions football club for ten years during their historical 3-peat premierships with consecutive grand finals, I gained incredible knowledge of the important role a therapist can have in helping people achieve a much better level of physical performance and injury recovery. Many of the clients that now come to my clinic are elite professional athletes from AFL players, to Ice Hockey teams, Soccer players and professional netball players. We treat many people for sports performance with a natural approach that promotes a greater self care and recovery awareness. Our patients also include many people who are referred from other health professionals such as Doctors, Neurosurgeons, Osteopaths, Chiropractors and the like for surgery prevention with natural drug free care.

 Is there much travel involved?

Our team of therapists all live very locally, although have originally come from the country for their studies and career. Melbourne is the leading city in Australia for Myotherapy as it is much colder and our lifestyle is much faster in pace than the warmer states. There is certainly more demand for more specialised muscle health care in the cooler climates. The demand for injury recovery and pain management in this city is much higher than elsewhere, as we are also the world’s sporting capital. So if you are in or near Melbourne, there is certainly not a great need for travel when it comes to work in the Myotherapy profession.

What specialist equipment do you need to be a Myotherapist?

Though starting out as a mobile therapist, when I opened Advanced Myotherapy, It was important for me and the team to have electric tables so as to prevent muscular imbalances of our own. It’s important to have the table at the right height to avoid straining and injuring yourself as a therapist. Other than that, we have grown from a paper booking calendar to an online booking system which also saves our clients a lot of time being able to see therapists availability and booking appointments at any time of the day. This also allows for the phone to ring a lot less while we are in treatment, to keep the ambiance of a quiet practice.

What advice can you give to budding Myotherapists?

Apply all of your knowledge and keep educating yourself. If you want success in anything you must live it, breathe it and love it. You will become infectious to others when you are passionate. Don’t be afraid to start out working hard. Business success is built on a solid foundation of commitment in hours, energy and time. You must have the experience if you want to gain the confidence that goes with getting results. This is what people respect. The experience comes from a willingness to start somewhere and not give up.
Contact NMIT’s Personal Services department today to find out how you can start your career path in massage and myotherapy

Sciatic Nerve Pain – Sciatica

Understanding sciatica is key to helping heal faster and prevent the painful condition returning. So many people suffer needlessly with sciatica and with the right knowledge, it can be significantly reduced and reversed, even “remedied” with self care education, Myotherapy and Remedial Massage. Sciatica is the experience of sharp and shooting pain through the glut and down the leg, which can frighten a lot of people who do not fully understand what it is caused by.

Sciatica arises when there is an impingement of the sciatic nerve which is compressed by the discs of the lumber spine. How these discs come to close in and compress the nerve to create referred pain, is in being restricted by tight fascia surrounding the discs! That is how simple this condition is, and unfortunately so many people not knowing this will turn to medication.

The problem with pain drugs is that they do not treat the underlying cause of the pain as Myotherapy and remedial massage do. There are a number of leading factors that contribute to the onset of sciatica, which are assessed and addressed at our clinic Advanced Myotherapy Carlton. Understanding the biomechanics of the body is something we wish to instill in our clients, so as to facilitate long lasting results, through self awareness and lifestyle changes.

Some of the most important changes you can begin with today include regular (daily) corrective stretching. Focusing on the legs (particularly hamstrings) and gluts, to reverse sciatic nerve pain is essential to reduce pain and bring relief. Secondly, simply using a ball to lay on underneath the affected glut and hip, can help with “trigger point therapy”. Holding position where the pain is for several minutes or until fully released, can bring instant release.

The key to getting results with such self treatment at home is in holding both the stretches and the pressure of the (tennis sized) ball under the body for long enough to allow for full release. The trick can be not to release the stretch or remove the ball before this relief comes, so as to avoid “activating” the pain further. To avoid this, simply be gentle with yourself enough to be able to hold the position long enough for it to be effective in allowing the tight muscles causing the pain to fully “let go”.

Another incredibly effective self care method of treating sciatica is by applying heat (a wheat bag) to the area. Heat relaxes the tight muscles enough to let them soften to release the affected area, and take the pressure off the discs compressing the sciatic nerve. Along with these few very effective practical steps you can take at home, we use Myotherapy and Remedial Massage to manipulate the the surrounding area to allow softening and restoration of a better range of motion for less pain and restriction. This is the key to recovery when it comes to many neuro-musculo-skeletal conditions in the body that Myotherapy specialises in treating.

Neck Pain & Headaches

Hairdressers, office workers, students, house wives, therapists and labourers are common sufferers of tension related headaches and neck pain.  Sitting wrong and for too long, with poor posture is a large contributing factor causing neck problems as the head tilts forward and places pressure on the neck and shoulders, straining to keep the weight evenly balanced for spinal support. This is a problem we often treat that is related to poor posture. Myotherapy uses a range of techniques to reach and release the restricted areas to restore full range of motion in the vitally influential alignment of the neck and spine for pain management and posture correction.

Many people opt too quickly for drugs that mask such pain that is dissolved easily with correct care and prevention with the right awareness and understanding. By dulling the nerves and compromising the body’s intelligence, pain medications fail to deal with the root cause underlying neck pain and resulting headaches. Using modalities that free the body of restriction,  Myotherapy releases the muscles that place pressure on the neck area to prevent problems related to poor posture and lifestyle related physical imbalances.  Some find temporarily relief with various methods and modalities of treatment, however Myotherapy is considered far superior in being a holistic approach to resolving pain from it's leading core origins.

Specific stretching is one of our most effective treatment methods that help people achieve lasting results that prevent ongoing dependence on costly forms of pain management, treatment and medication. We often have clients who we don't see for lengthy periods, who thank us for making a difference in dealing with the underlying cause, rather than the symptoms alone.  These are the clients who keep us in business, because they are the people who generate further business through referrals and recommendations for friends and family in need of effective pain management. We don't keep any secrets at Advanced Myotherapy because we prefer to educate and empower rather than have people rely on ongoing treatment for temporary relief. Our success depends largely on the successful recovery from injuries and pain that people come to us for.

If you are someone, who like many of our clients, who has tried everything and still suffer from neck pain and headaches, then Myotherapy might just be your last stop, as it is for most of our client community. If you suffer from headaches and neck pain, ask us about effective treatment options for lasting results and future prevention. We pride ourselves on empowering people with the knowledge and understanding that makes the difference. Call us today to find out how we can help you become pain free for good.

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Myofascial Medicine for Muscle Health

 

As a Health fund approved clinic, you can claim with us on the spot to benefit from Private Health Insurance that doesn't roll over to next year.  Don't let your health benefits go to waste.

Providing Self Care Education and Myofascial Medicine for a Pain free life, Click here to read what people are saying about Advanced Myotherapy.

We target the muscles that are causing / contributing to pain and though little known, most lower back and hip pain is due to tight Psoas muscles, deep in our  pelvis.

  

Our aim is to educate you in how to identify and reduce such pain. From Sciatica to herniated discs and degenerative joint disease, tight hips can cause many issues including knee pain/degeneration. To become pain free, we must regain lost mobility in our hip muscles and joints. The number 1 rule is to never strengthen when you have pain or loss of mobility, or you will cause more pain, degeneration and increased loss of mobility. Many exercises and stretches can be harmful if there is any spinal damage and it's important to know what not to do in order to prevent further degeneration. At Advanced Myotherapy, we promote correct self care to increase the results of Myofascial Medicine.  

 Benefits of Myofascial Medicine Regain lost mobility in muscles and joints Takes stress off joints to prevent unnecessary degeneration Decrease and eliminate muscle pain Improved posture and balance Takes painful toxins (lactic acid) out of muscles Prevents injuries   To discover more, check us out on facebook & twitter. Also remember to check in on facebook next visit for exclusive offers. Like us here   

8 Ways to Better Your Health

Here we suggest 8 simple and practical changes that you can make to enhance your quality of life through better lifestyle choices that make the difference. Smart, easy and realistic, these ideas are small but significant changes that you can make in your life towards living healthier and having more energy.

1. When going shopping, out to dinner or on your way to work, park a few blocks away to have more walking distance. 

Fresh air is one of our most basic needs, yet today most people spend most of their time indoors. We were not born to live this way or designed for such environments. Too many buildings have millions of toxic chemicals contained just within the paint on their walls, let alone the building materials and furnishings. People wonder why there is such a rapidly growing rate of health problems, yet most of their time is spent in such detrimental environments that overload the immune system to cause weakness long term. 

2. Take the stairs when and where ever you can. 

When there are elevators or escalators, take the smarter option of doing some resistance training. Walking up and down stairs is a great way to tone up the legs and gluts. It's a small change that over time will make a big difference, especially if you work or live in a building with stairs. It all adds up.

3. Think of drinking water as the same thing as taking a shower, only for your organs.

Would you shower in soft drink? Why would you shower your organs with it? Water provides lubricant and cushioning for the organs to function better (more intelligently). "Drying is dying." So drink water, rather than coffee for energy as water is a far better source of energy. Warm water especially is the best cleanser, helping to flush waste from the body and move things along in the system for better digestion. Besides, the less hydrated you are, the quicker you wrinkle and age. 

4. Swap sugar, not for "artificial" sweetener, not for "natural" sweetener, but for Honey.

Honey has looong been used as a great healer. It's well known for its "antibacterial" properties and ability to break down mucous, clear cold and flu congestion and heal skin problems like wounds. It does matter what quality of honey you have though so be sure to buy only the best. Don't use runny honey. The best is raw, thick honey that has not been heated and treated or watered down. Raw honey is nature's gold!

5. Snack right!

Stock up on easy to eat plant food. It's simple and it's the "real" fast food. Nature prepared it, ready to eat! Celery sticks, ready to go, wash and break off. You don't even really need a knife...that's how fast it is. So don't use "convenience" as an excuse that you are hungry. That is why we call it dis-ease pre-vention. It's pre-paring, by caring...about your health. Buy plant foods like celery and cucumber, apples and bananas. They are ready to go, straight from the source. 

6. When dining out, share your meals.

Don't order two entrees and consider sharing a main that everyone or at least two of you can enjoy together. It saves money too. That way you won't feel uncomfortably full and heavy afterwards. Food is supposed to energise and nourish, not weigh down and tire. Consider down sizing everything you eat. They say "The less you eat, the longer you live." So eat a little, moderately. People too often think they are hungry, when really they are dehydrated. Next time you feel what can be mistaken for "hunger pains", drink up and see how much better you feel.

7. Quit tv or use it as time to get down and sweat it out. 

TV can be poison not only to the mind, but the body. It has been found that you burn more energy when sleeping than when watching tv. If you can't give yourself a little test of time out from tv, say a week or two, to see the difference this makes, then use the time productively. Work out when watching the set. Or swap your cooking shows for work out dvds. Sweat is fat crying, so a small half hour of power a night could change your life rapidly. It's another small change with big potential.

8. Break your dependence on the Doctor. 

Next time you feel a symptom coming on, research it and find natural home remedies that cost "nothing". Most Doctors prescribe drugs rather than educating you around the simple steps to self recovery. In fact, Doctors are not even trained in "health" at all! They are trained in sickness and drugs. It's well known that more than 96% of Doctors have not training what so ever in nutrition or health. In all those years of training, not one subject is on nutrition and natural remedies? Consider this next time you seek their "help".  

At Advanced Myotherapy our passion is helping you avoid resorting to toxic pharmaceutical dependence, that causes long term health defects. Our focus lies in leading people away from destructive means of pain management and towards conscious self care, balance and wellbeing. We have a high success rate helping people avoid and prevent surgery where recommended by Doctors and pride ourselves on the fast and long term results we have a reputation for. 

If you have concerns for your health or have been diagnosed with a musculo-skeletal condition, recommended surgery, or have a persistent injury and pain, and would like professional help to recover fully, call us to discuss how we can help on 9347 5764.

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Advanced Myotherapy

Pain in the neck?

Too many people suffer needlessly too often with preventable neck pain that can easily be treated affectively with the right skills. Its our lifestyle in the world today with computers a central aspect of most businesses, job roles and studies, that causes much of the pain. Manual labour and poor habits tend to govern much of our life which too often winds us up to the point of excruciating tension. 

With Hairdressers, cutting and blow drying hair all day long and administrators, sitting wrong and for far too long, what's most important for our long term health is posture correction and reversal. What Myotherapists do is exactly that. 

Myotherapy targets muscular imbalances in order to align the body, correct the posture and release the pain. We approach neck pain with a hands on technique of getting to the core of the problem, assisting the neck to restore natural range of motion and stability with stretches, manipulation and prescribed corrective self care plans. 

Key to our successful practice is the strong educational support to help you make the needed changes for lasting results and long term freedom. Our passion is to create independence from the costly pharmaceutical approach to pain management. We believe that this route is an ineffective way of masking the real underlying problems by dulling the nerves and compromising the body's intelligence.

Using deep and soft tissue manipulation, dry needling and cupping, our treatments combine the best techniques to resolve the root causes of neck pain. If you have had persistent pain and only been able to temporarily achieve relief with other forms of treatment, then Myotherapy is worth trying. 

People turn to us when they are seeking lasting results, beyond short term relief. If you would like to banish that pain in the neck for good, call us today on 9347 5764 to book an appointment.

Advanced Myotherapy is an experienced and qualified team who successfully treat many debilitating injuries, pain and muscle imbalances. Our passion is helping prevent unnecessary and costly surgery and drug dependence for pain management. We pride ourselves on fast & long term recovery and self care education for smarter lifestyles and posture health.

Visit  www.advanced-myotherapy.com or call 9347 5764 today to take a step in the right direction for your long term health.

Kick that pain in the butt

Glut and Hip pain is caused by stiff muscles surrounding the weight bearing hip joints. Lower back and pelvic tilt issues can also contribute to hip problems and at Advanced Myotherapy we have a number of effective techniques of tackling the root causes of these imbalances for lasting results.  

We have helped many people avoid taking pills or resorting to surgery for issues like sciatica and hip problems, which has often times been the very first recommendation. With correct treatment and self care advice many of our patients have been able to recover from such problems with ease. 

Hip pain and glut tightness can come from trauma to the area from accidents, slips or other types of injury, causing problematic symptoms like sciatica and nerve root compression. In some cases hip pain is developed due to a lack of strength where as glut tension can be a result of inflexibility or incorrect sitting posture.

The nerve roots compression that develops sciatica and hip pain can lead to serious long term degeneration and premature ageing. What we do at Advanced Myotherapy is find the cause of the such problems by making a thorough assessment, so as to direct the approach of treatment.

Our treatment is advanced with prescribed self care to prevent further issues and pain as well as improve the issues at the core of the problem. 

To increase the speed of recovery from hip and glut pain it's important to maintain a healthy body weight and normal range of motion. Weight resistance training is an important aspect in avoiding injuries related to weakness and poor muscle health. We have a number of self care techniques that our clients swear by, in effectively treating glut and hip pain. If you would like to know how to kick that pain in the butt, give us a call today. 

We would love to hear from you if you have any questions and are looking to manage pain naturally without drugs or costly treatments without any real results. 

www.advanced-myotherapy.com

The Importance of Posture

The better your posture the more air can fill the lungs to help dissolve fatigue. Research from the Ohio State University in the US found that good posture is linked to higher confidence levels and overall wellbeing. 

Perfect posture is our passion and purpose to help awaken the mind-body potential through natural alignment. Advanced Myotherapy is devoted to the best professional practice in promoting the potential for greater energy and helping you get the most out of life. 

Alignment is the core foundation of energy flow, longevity or in other words "prevention of premature ageing" or resistance to gravitational forces, that are synonymous with older age and degeneration of spinal strength. Spinal health is the birth place of nerve control, functionality and life connection which gives us every little aspect of physical movement and responsiveness that allows energy to flow through the body. 

Like the sails of a yacht controlling the steady balance of the sail in the wind, the muscles are the foundations that support the movement and resilience of the body's structure under the force of gravity. Muscles join bone to bone, controlling the movement of the spine which is the most influential channel through which all CNS (central nervous system) - brain / neural messages are sent and received. Like the telephone line, the spine, held strong by the muscle movements...is the vessel through which our vitality and physical intelligence gains momentum and strength. 

It's undeniably evident that good posture develops healthier appearance, brighter outlook, increased confidence, ability, resilience, agility, more youthful radiance and the invaluable immunity to stress build up. The number one cause of death, associated with mental health issues, stress is predominantly prevented with the support of healthy brain function. Good posture is like a face lift, but one that includes the body, giving you an air of health because one who has physical alignment, benefits from the freedom from pain and stress accumulating in the body and mind. Most people have the ability to regain good posture with the right help and corrective treatment.

People that have come to us have reported getting more from their body than they ever have, even from their youth, when health may well easily be taken for granted and put last on the list of priorities. Bad habits however do set things in place to solidify and become stubborn, stiff and rigid, which speed up the ageing process which is less noticeable until we begin to degenerate and tire in middle age. The number one priority that instils good posture is standing tall. Not only does it make you look more confident and approachable, but it brings out your best mood! Opening the chest, helps open the heart space for others to connect. 

It is a sign of good character and honesty to look and appear open by standing tall and adopting bright, energetic body language. Our body stance and stature says a lot! You cannot put a price on the freedom from pain.

Give foot pain the boot

Pain in the facia area underneath the foot, often comes from long term posture imbalance through activities that cause misalignment of the centre of gravity / core of the body. This results in strain on the planta facia which is the biggest risk factor  of insufficient sports recovery when it comes to planta faciitis / heel pain. Advanced Myotherapy combine various modalities and techniques in the effective treatment of Planta Faciitis, otherwise experienced as Heel Pain. Taping is one method incorporated in the maintenance and recovery of this condition.

One cause of Planta Faciitis/ Heel Pain, is the gradual wearing down of the fat padding in the heel, which causes nerve irritation. This is why sufficient rest is a crucial part of successful recovery from this injury. Home self care is a vital aspect of effective rehabilitation from Planta Faciitis, as it is an injury brought on initially by lifestyle factors over time without enough recovery from sporting activities and poor foot wear.

Planta Faciitis/ Heel Pain is often quite a painful and restrictive injury that can also be a result of poor fitting foot wear or long term wear and tear from endurance sporting activities like running, as well as insufficient recovery and rest. The effective treatment of Planta Faciitis involves not only Myotherapy techniques and modalities, but the vital role of guided, correct self care and home maintenance.

Foot wear can be a major contributing factor leading to Planta Faciitis/ Heel Pain. This is one of the first factors considered in the successful treatment and rehabilitation of this injury. At Advanced Myotherapy we promote client commitment in their own self care and recovery, which speeds up the process of rehabilitation. There are also great stretch that help release the tightness in the planta facia that can make a huge difference when done correctly.

Rolling balls underneath the facia is a very effective method in relieving the pain associated with planta faciitis. Advanced Myotherapy regularly offers personal condition coaching around the successful recovery and rehabilitation of injuries like Planta Faciitis. Downward dog is also one of the most effective Yoga postures in releasing the facia and relieving heel pain that comes with this injury.

Planta faciitis is a result the connective tissue in the planta facia essentially being worn down or tight, and can be a very painful restrictive injury if not treated properly. Planta Faciitis is much of the time a matter of wear and tear after long term overuse in endurance sporting activities such as running or wearing poor quality shoes such as high heels. If you suffer heel pain or planta faciitis, call us or visit us today for a consultation to find out more about how we can help on 9347 5764 or www.advanced-myotherapy.com 71 Elgin Street Carlton.

Pelvic Tilt & Back Pain

Top 5 causes of the dreaded pelvic tilt that contributes to lower back pain:

1. Weak hamstrings
2. Weak abdominals
3. Weak glutes
4. Tight erector spinae
5. Tight hip flexors

The answer? Lengthen & strengthen! Want better posture? Stretching and exercising are the two most vital keys. Being fit beats being "skinny or slim" and by no means are they the same thing. Fit people come in all sizes, but generally as you will see looking at the image here, their shape indicates a better resistance to gravity and more grace of movement. 

Sitting wrong or for too long is another leading cause of the pelvic tilt, given that over time, it tightens the hip flexors which places pressure on the lower back. Most of the people we see that come to us with lower back pain have very tight hip flexors, which is a result of desk work. 

As you can begin to see, there are two essential elements in maintaining good posture and preventing premature shortening of the spine, along with other signs of ageing. These are "stretching and strengthening". The longer and stronger the muscles, the better health we have as these promote better health all round in allowing freedom of movement and increased range of motion. 

Myotherapy works to do just this, in assisting clients to restore the perfect posture by adjusting the spinal alignment with the support of muscle balance and integrity. Myotherapists are becoming more and more popular in finding solutions to musculoskeletal imbalances and conditions because they treat both together by providing the body's structure muscular support to hold the bones in correct positioning. 

If you have a posture problem and associated pain and wish to avoid depending on costly drugs or time off work, call us today for a consultation on 9347 5764 or visit www.advanced-myotherapy.com

Wrist pain - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpus comes from the Greek word which means wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is when  there is irritation and pain that comes from tight tissue which makes up the carpal tunnel, squeezing the nerves and causing tingling and numbness in the fingers. 

The very same thing occurs in Tarsal tunnel syndrome because the anatomy of the ankle and the wrist are very similar. What usually leads to this condition is exerting pressure on the nerve at the wrist, which can be a results of a number of other conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, arthritis and trauma. It can be a result of RSI / repetitive strain on the wrist and inflammation from work such as uninterrupted typing and the like. 

In surgery the carpal tunnel is cut away to take the pressure off the nerves, which is most of the time preventable with correct care, awareness and treatment. Carpal tunnel can even resolve itself over a period of time and is often a temporary condition or it can also persist and progress which is when Myotherapy should be sought for treatment and recovery. 

Sometimes Carpal tunnel syndrome can be mistaken for tendonitis, which is the inflammation of the tendon that extends the thumb. This can be corrected with the R.I.C.E method of rest and ice along with correct support in place. Carpel tunnel left untreated however can lead to weakening in the hand grip and strength along with atrophy and deterioration. 

Here is what one of our clients had to say after treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome...

“I was diagnosed with CTA – carpel tunnel symcrome, tendonitis and fibromialga and was treated by a Psysio for 4 months once a week.  You have done more for me in one session  than the physio did in that whole time and the tingling is almost gone already.”- Malina Larm

Knee Pain

Knee pain, runners knee and ITB syndrome are all problems associated with the knee which can mostly be treated without drugs or surgery. Soft tissue injuries around the knee can easily be treated with the R.I.C.E method of Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. When related to arthritic problems, heat and movement help enormously to heal the condition and the faster you seek treatment the earlier recovery will be possible to avoid developing greater severity of the problem. 

It is recommended that sufferers of knee pain and conditions such as those listed above only perform low impact exercises that strengthen the muscles without injuring the joints (swimming, cycling, walking). A muscle strengthening program is essential in recovering from knee problems to avoid surgery which often results in degenerative disorders. 

Degenerative changes such as osteoarthritis are more likely to develop if knee surgery takes place. Myotherapy is recommended for muscle tears to help restore integrity and strength around the area without having to resort to toxic drugs or intrusive surgery.

Most sprains of the ligaments heal fast if the client follows a Myotherapists advice and recovery program which includes self care exercises. In cases where the ITB is affected and causing restriction, strengthening and stretching exercises help the process of recovery, alleviating the IT band pain. People often think that training will only make things worse when it comes to knee problems however this could not be further from the truth. 

Training the hamstrings and inner and outer thigh can help significantly in the healing of knee problems. Strength and flexibility are key to restoring balance to any musculoskeletal condition. Daily movement no matter what, is essential to keep things functioning properly, and where there is resistance, you must have persistence, in getting things back to normal.  

Problems such as Patellar Tracking Disorder come from an imbalance in the knee that causes the kneecap (Patella) to tilt as the leg angles bend which result in chronic and acute types of pain. Often the problems are a result of weakness in the thigh muscles (quadriceps), overuse, RSI, strain, trauma to the area or a growth spurt. The key is allowing the knee to rest when it is aggravated while strengthening the muscles around it to restore normal tracking and repair damage, with correct guidance and technique. 

Shoulder Pain

From frozen shoulder to sprain and inflammation, shoulder pain is a result of a wide range of factors. Most clients we see for the first time with shoulder complaints have had this pain for any length of time, and have spent many wasted dollars trying different forms of therapy and treatment. 

Sometimes they will have suffered months, even years with this condition without successful recovery because many practitioners simply address the symptoms and rarely the underlying cause. Because of this the person only gains short term relief  from the treatment and rarely any long term results and benefits. 

Our priority lies in addressing the underlying reason / roots of shoulder pain to determine whether is comes from postural imbalances, muscular imbalances or injury, so that we can treat not just the pain, but also the cause for immediate and long term improvement and pain relief.  

Chronic and ongoing shoulder pain originates from muscular imbalances which irritate the function of the shoulder joint. This can come from stiffness in the pectorals at the front of the chest or between the shoulder blades (rhomboids). Releasing these tight muscles with deep tissue myofascial therapy alongside strengthening self care exercises, is affective in correcting such complaints.

In chronic cases where someone has tried all other forms of treatment with no success, we find that the cause is often related to other areas of tension and imbalance. In such cases we treat the body holistically to restore balance overall and alleviate pain rather than isolating the symptoms. 

Assessing the muscles in the hips and back will also be essential in working with such problems, to address and issues where lengthening and strengthening is needed, which eradicates postural imbalances. Once bi-lateral treatment restores postural balance, clients will become free from the cause of such pain and will no longer suffer with this condition. 

The Benefits of Muscle Therapy

Muscle Therapy, which includes Myotherapy and Massage has endless healthy benefits. A recent research study states that anxiety sufferers undergoing withdrawal from psychoactive drugs experienced both significant immediate and sustained reduction in symptoms. By improving the experience of the withdrawal process, providing patients with healthier approaches to managing the way they feel, the study concluded that massage may help retain patients within service areas, improving overall wellbeing. This study was published in the Journal of Alternative & Complimentary Medicine (2010).

Studies have also shown significant reduction of symptoms in endometriosis / painful menstruation sufferers, after receiving a series of (massage) treatments. Results showed that the severity of pain and symptoms subsided immediately and lasted up to six weeks. The research concluded that massage therapy can be used to reduce menstrual pain and endometriosis as an inexpensive method of treatment with no reported side effects. Findings showed that there was a significant difference between the intensity of pain before the intervention started and immediately after. This study was published in the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research (2010)

Research has also showed significant improvements in fatigue and insomnia in massage patients. Massage has been shown to promote fast recovery in patients who have undergone surgery for a range of conditions, even preventing surgery in countless cases. We ourselves at Advanced Myotherapy have seen a number of successful recovery cases who have previously been recommended surgery, but thankfully sought a  (our) second opinion. Read some of our success stories below.

“I’d like to thank you for the awesome work on my back and legs. 6 months ago I couldnt walk and now I have done the dandenong mountains 1000 steps 2 weeks in a row. You are a life saver. I feel so much better and happier with all the pain gone. Keep the good work up. Again thank you” – Nazih Dib

“Told I needed surgery for Achilles Tendonitis, I wanted a second opinion. After treatment I became more aware of my own contribution to the condition and have since recovered fully without surgery.”- Theo, TNM Consulting

“I had doctors telling me I needed surgery,  now they are scratching their heads after seeing my follow up scan only months later. NO more herniated disc!” - Grant Smith, Sound technician

“I was diagnosed with CTA – carpel tunnel symcrome, tendonitis and fibromialga and was treated by a Psysio for 4 months once a week.  You have done more for me in one session  than the physio did in that whole time and the tingling is almost gone already.”- Malina Larm

“Self Care is the key word for 2012….highly advocated by Advanced Myotherapy ….thanks for the inspiration Advanced Myotherapy…..although I am ageing I get much more out of my body than ever before!”  - Cindy James

“Thank you for a great treatment today and the follow up plan. It was my first experience of a dry needling treatment today, I can truly recommend this treatment. Feeling more movement already.” – Sandra Cleary

“I had severe pain in my elbow and lost a lot of strength in my fore arm. Now I’m back to work as usual without restriction.” – Ramsey Pedro, Electrician

“Running a highly demanding corporate organisation with a family at home, I came to Advanced Myotherapy on recommendation, for the severe pain down my leg. I am now free from the debilitating pain I was constantly in. I highly recommend Advanced Myotherapy for anyone seeking better health.” – Lazarus, Skillup Australia

“Advanced Myotherapy came highly recommended to me for the treatment of my painful feet. I have now been able to maintain an active lifestyle with a more conscious awareness of recovery and self care.” - Cindy James, Interiors That Fit

“Success in the melbourne marathon in tough conditions a pb of 5.06 half an hour faster than expected! Legs feel great thanks to training and Advanced Myotherapy!”  - Joanne Baxas

“Thanks a lot! No matter what persistent pain I have, you make them disappear in an instant! You are a true PAIN MAGICIAN!!!”  - Veronika Nemes

You can also visit us at www.advanced-myotherapy.com

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Comprising of bones, nerves, joints and muscles, musculoskeletal disorders are treated my Myotherapists who are trained specialists in this area. Muscles join bone to bone which forms the foundation of the structure of the body. The focus of Advanced Myotherapy is not only the treatment of root causes of conditions, as well as their painful symptoms, but on lengthening and strengthening the muscles in order to maintain and promote strength and flexibility. 

These are two key principles that we place importance on as Myotherapists for the purpose of increasing mobility, range of motion and physical alignment. For the full effects of Myotherapy to be gained, it is normal for a person to have 3 - 5 sessions for lasting results of most musculoskeletal conditions. Disc herniation is a common problem that often affects the lower back, given these discs normally absorb the greatest pressure from the spine. The next most common area for disc herniation is your neck, given the weight it carries in holding the head, affected by the pressure of poor posture.

Common signs of disc herniation

Disc herniation happens when poor posture leads to irritation from the spine placing pressure on the nerve roots. A common sign of disc herniation is constant pain, numbness or tingling in the leg, foot, arm or hand or shooting pain in the lower back. Pins and needles sensation is another warning sign of this condition which impinges the nerve roots. Weakness in certain areas or the inability to stand straight / tall is often the result of pinched nerves. 

If being recommended for surgery, always seek a second opinion. Surgery is invasive and often results in further pain and long term restricted use. In most cases it is largely preventable and easily avoidable with correct treatment, advice and care. Musculoskeletal disorders can easily be reversed using myotherapy to correct causes and relieve resulting pain. Below are a few examples of what is possible with the right treatment care.

“I’d like to thank you for the awesome work on my back and legs. 6 months ago I couldnt walk. Doctors said they could do nothing and now I have done the dandenong mountains 1000 steps 2 weeks in a row. You are a life saver. I feel so much better and happier with all the pain gone. Keep the good work up. Again thank you” – Nazih Dib

“Running a highly demanding corporate organisation with a family at home, I came to Advanced Myotherapy on recommendation, for the severe pain down my leg. I am now free from the debilitating pain I was constantly in. I highly recommend Advanced Myotherapy for anyone seeking better health.” – Lazarus, Skillup Australia

“I had doctors telling me I needed surgery,  now they are scratching their heads after seeing my follow up scan only months later. NO more herniated disc!” - Grant Smith, Sound technician