Precision Neuromuscular Therapy (PNMT) video description by Becky Waterman
More about Precision Neuromuscular Therapy (PNMT)
Also known as medical massage this is an approach that uses techniques for working a specific muscle from origin to insertion. Many people suffer from muscular pain and this technique can really benefit those clients. Muscle pain or imbalances can come from trauma, poor posture, and repetitive movements. The pain may also be coming from a different part of the body than where the pain is. These are called trigger points and refer the pain. For example, clients experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome may have tightness in their neck, shoulder or arm creating pressure on the nerve and giving them that feeling and it is not true carpal tunnel. Therefore in this case getting a massage to relax these muscles will release the pressure.
With PNMT work the massage therapist is being precise when massaging the muscles. Based off what the client presents with, it is a process of looking at the specific muscles that could be causing that problem and working each one individually to see what works. Every symptom a client presents with can have a different cause. There is not a specific routine done based on where the clients pain is. We look at what makes the pain better or worse. Throughout the massage it is important for the client to let the massage therapist know if they massage a spot that replicates the pain they have been feeling. It is also important to let them know if it refers pain to certain areas of the body.
Some of the benefits with PNMT include:
- Increase range of motion
- Muscle tension release
- Muscle strengthening
Some of the different conditions we have dealt with but are not limited to include:
- Whiplash
- Sciatica
- Certain types of headaches, such as tension type headaches
- Variety of back pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
As you can see from the NMT Midwest website the only person with this prestigious designation in Iowa is Becky Waterman, the owner of Dubuque Massage Therapy LLC. Emily Mckeon has started on the PNMT track and is already integrating what she has learned into her client massages.