About Precision Neuromuscular Therapy

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Precision Neuromuscular Therapy (PNMT) is the creation of Douglas Nelson, a licensed Massage Therapist who has been in practice for thirty years.  What makes PNMT special is the way it approaches soft-tissue therapy.  More than a technique or modality, PNMT is really a way of thinking, essentially clinical reasoning in soft-tissue therapy.

The origins of PNMT are varied, as is usually the case with any science. The first influence was the traditional work of Raymond Nimmo, who taught Receptor-Tonus work to the Chiropractic world.  Nimmo's Receptor Tonus Technique was brought to the massage therapy world through St. John Neuromuscular Therapy, which played a role in the formation of PNMT.  As the years have gone by, the similarities of PNMT to traditional NMT get less and less.  PNMT has drifted far away from its original moorings, being drawn by new advances in the field and a constant effort to improve the work.

The role of trigger point therapy in PNMT is influenced not by Nimmo's approach, but by the work of Travell and Simons. Our approach to trigger point therapy is highly precise and efficient, reliant on the newest research and approaches.

The other main influences on PNMT are:

• Physical Therapy (measurement and clinical reasoning)
  
• Osteopathic principles
• Research studies
  
• We have someone on staff who scours the literature looking for relevant research
• We investigate relevant questions with our own studies. Often, the study results surprise us, sometimes confirming, often disconfirming commonly held beliefs about massage and NMT.
• Neurophysiology (Probably the strongest influence in PNMT is a deep understanding of the new advances in neurophysiology and how that can apply to hands-on therapy. We are putting the neuro back in neuromuscular therapy.
  

Precision Neuromuscular Therapy is about three things:

• Accurate assessment: Much of the training is based around tests and techniques that assure the therapist that the muscle they are treating is an important player in the client's discomfort. Just because a muscle is tender does not mean it is the cause of their pain.
• Precise Treatment: The heart of it all is precision. Move 5 mm and you are no longer on the source of trouble. In many cases, just the direction of your pressure could make a difference. When treatment is not precise, therapists tend to press harder just to attempt to be effective. (As if greater volume would make a speech more effective!) Precision will allow the therapist to work with less effort and the treatment will not only yield great results, but be much more comfortable.
• Stellar Results: It is all about results! All the training, all the therapy, all the philosophy does not matter if the client does not get the results desired. The assessment approaches we use become benchmarks for the effectiveness of the work. It will be very clear to you and your client when you are correct in your treatment approach. It will also be immediately apparent when the treatment did not work. This information is perhaps even more important. Change strategies and assess again. Perhaps there are other issues and the client may need to see their doctor or some other kind of care. Real mastery is also knowing when to refer the client to another approach rather than continuing down the same road and hoping for the best. By respecting the end of your boundaries, other health practitioners will be more likely to refer to you.

Realistically, no. It is for people who like to solve problems by addressing specific myofascial concerns. If you are happy doing a recipe or routine, this work isn't for you. If you have been practicing for awhile, and feel stagnant or not confident in helping specific problems, PNMT can take you to the next level!

Our formula for treatment is pretty clear:

1. Define the problem- fast! (We don't stand and analyze people for an hour- this needs to be done quickly.)
2. Set benchmarks and parameters ( We are big in setting measureable goals)
3. Target the approach (The work is very precise- 5mm and you are off the mark. It is NOT overly deep, invasive, or the brutal stuff often passed as NMT.)
4. Re-assess to gauge effectiveness. (If you didn't make a difference- you didn't make a difference. Change strategies- rethink the approach. If you are right, the results will show. No excuses!)

This pragmatic approach has been a hallmark of success for me personally and also for the clinic I own. Be clear about the strengths and weaknesses of the work. Don't over-promise- people have had enough of that. Engage the client in the work- problems are best solved together. If you can't solve it after a reasonable effort- refer them.

I've followed Doug's Precision NMT seminars across the US. Not only are they fascinating, but they always seem to reconnect me with the world of massage. I leave each seminar feeling more excited and enlivened about my work. Doug is passionate about his work, and always manages to incorporate something new into each seminar. He re-inspires my desire to help people through touch. Tara Mark, PNMT Therapist Chicago, IL

NMT MidWest, Inc • 407 West Windsor Rd. • Champaign, IL 61820 • 866-325-7668
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