The BBTOA Approach
NEUROMYOFACIAL THERAPY (NMFT)
NeuroMyoFascial Therapy (NMFT) is a hybridization of CORE Structural Integration* and Neuromuscular Therapy** and inclusion of concepts practiced and learned at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Beijing Hospital: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Additionally, it applies practical and conceptual aptitude in engineering level physics. This hybridization allows for systematic evaluations and helps to determine the applications and/or modifications necessary for manipulating soft tissues primarily with finger tips, some myofascial tools (e.g., scraping tool), and the least used, forearm, to address the pain/dysfunction that occurs from motor nerve, different sensory nerves, muscle, and fascia constructs.
Furthermore, there are few times in which direct contact to the skin is necessary so this is practiced with the patient fully clothed.
ACTIVE NEUROMYOFASCIAL PROPRIOCEPTION (ANMFP)
Active NeuroMyoFascial Proprioception (ANMFP) is a process by which a muscle(s) is isolated while the patient/client is in a relaxed, neutral position. The target muscle/region is slowly elongated with one hand, while the other palpates a designated area. This allows for initial testing for fluid range of motion, tonicity, and spasms of that area also being mindful of spasms in other areas.
The purpose is to take the muscle(s) into varying degrees of elongation and have the patient lightly contract the muscle(s) where pressure is applied, sometimes in a pulsing manner. The patient will most likely find this action difficult to perform properly. The patient will then perform this action 3-5
times, and then be allowed to let the area relax to a neutral position. Verbal cues are given to let the
patient know how well they are progressing while conducting the treatment. Most important to note is that the patient must perform this action lightly. The harder the contraction, the more secondary/complimentary muscles will be involved.
The ultimate objective is to have the patient contract at such a light level where the muscle(s) will cease to contract and then only the fascia*** surrounding that small area contracts. Theories behind this treatment include:
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Proper muscle facilitation to create a particular movement,
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Redefine the proper muscle contraction to facilitate a movement required as far as intensity,
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Have the conscious brain redefine the actual parameters of what is attainable, not what is predicted, thereby redefining the parameters for the unconscious brain, and
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Enable both the conscious and unconscious brain to be aware of, and use, the contractile nature of fascia in a more correct and efficient manner.
DEFINITIONS
* CORE Structural Integration is a newer discipline created by George Kousaleos (originally developed by Ida P. Rolf: Rolfing) which is a system providing structural and functional improvement by gradually working with the deeper layers of myofascial tissue affecting the more intrinsic structure of the musculoskeletal system. For more information, go to www.coreinstitute.com.
** Neuromuscular Therapy is a precise, thorough examination and treatment of the body’s soft tissue, while taking into account compensation, dysfunction, and potential nerve compression. Manual techniques are used in treatment of these situations. Summarized definition derived from https://nmtcenter.com/description/.
*** Facia is a band or sheet of connective tissue, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. It is made up of fibrous connective tissue containing closely packed bundles of fibers oriented in a wavy pattern parallel to the direction of the pull. Fascia is consequently able to resist great unidirectional tension forces until the wavy pattern of fibers has been straightened out by the pulling force. Summarized definition derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascia.