The Healing Power of Touch
Neuromuscular Therapy is often thought of as a luxurious spa treatment meant for sheer pleasure, but Neuromuscular Therapy has actually been proven to be beneficial for a number of medical conditions as an alternative or complimentary therapy. The Touch Research Institute highlights the following conditions as being improved through Neuromuscular Therapy in Neuromuscular Therapy studies.1
Aggression: Neuromuscular Therapy has been shown to lessen the aggressive tendencies of adolescents exhibiting this type of behavior.
Anorexia: Neuromuscular Therapy has been able to reduce anxiety and improve mood through decreasing the stress hormone cortisol and increasing dopamine (hormone responsible for pleasure, calm).
Arthritis: Children with rheumatoid arthritis had decreased stress and decreased pain after 30 days of 15 minute per day massages.
Asthma: Asthmatic children showed improvement in lung function and decreased stress after Neuromuscular Therapy.
ADHD: Various studies have shown decreased anxiety, less fidgeting , better mood, less hyperactivity, better focusing and other improvements in children with ADHD after receiving Neuromuscular Therapy.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): People with CFS who received Neuromuscular Therapy immediately had reduced depression, anxiety and cortisol levels. After 10 days of Neuromuscular Therapy treatments, they also had decreased fatigue symptoms (anxiety and somatic), less pain and better sleep. Cortisol levels continued to decrease and dopamine levels increased.
Depression: Numerous studies have been done on the effects of Neuromuscular Therapy for different types of depression including clinical depression, adolescent depression, post-partum depression and more. Neuromuscular Therapy increases pleasure hormones (serotonin and dopamine) and decreases cortisol (a stress hormone) so it is highly beneficial in reducing depression. The positive experience of receiving a Neuromuscular Therapy alone helps people who are suffering from depression.
Diabetes: Diabetic children who received Neuromuscular Therapy had better glucose control and diet compliance after one month of treatment.
Fibromyalgia: People with fibromyalgia who received Neuromuscular Therapy had better sleep and less pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Again, cortisol levels were decreased.
These are just a few of the health conditions for which Neuromuscular Therapy is highly beneficial. For more information on Neuromuscular Therapy and its vast wealth of healing, please contact our office.
We treat patients in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor and other surrounding areas in Pinellas County, Tampa Area.
Call 727 481 3301
1. Field T, Morrow C, Valdeon C, et al. Massage Therapy reduces anxiety in child and adolescent psychiatric patients. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;31(1):125-31.
