Muscle pain is one of the most common reasons people book hands-on treatment, and myotherapy is often the name that comes up. Plenty of people still are not sure what a myotherapist does, or how a session differs from a remedial massage or a physio appointment.
This guide answers those questions. It covers what myotherapy is, what a myotherapist treats, the techniques used, how practitioners are trained, and what happens in a first session, so you can work out whether it suits the problem you have.
In short
- Myotherapy is a hands-on physical therapy for muscle and soft tissue pain and restricted joint movement.
- A myotherapist assesses the cause of your pain, then treats it with techniques such as trigger point therapy, dry needling, massage, stretching and TENS, plus exercises to do at home.
- It differs from remedial massage in its assessment and range of techniques, and from physiotherapy in training, regulation and scope.
- For acute or persistent joint pain, see your doctor first.
What is myotherapy?
Myotherapy is a physical therapy used to treat and prevent soft tissue pain and restricted joint movement caused by problems in the muscles and the fascia around them, known as myofascial pain (Better Health Channel). The word comes from “myo”, meaning muscle.
Its approach is grounded in anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. Rather than treating only the spot that hurts, a myotherapist looks at how you move, what loads the area, and what might be keeping the pain going.
Myofascial pain can show up as:
- A deep ache or tightness in a muscle.
- Tender knots, called trigger points, that can refer pain elsewhere.
- Stiffness and reduced movement in a nearby joint.
- Pain that keeps returning with the same activity, posture or sport.
What does a myotherapist do?
A myotherapist assesses, treats and helps you manage pain coming from muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. Treatment is hands-on, with exercise and self-care advice to carry on between sessions.
Assessment
Your first appointment starts with questions about your symptoms, history, work, sport and any previous injuries or surgery. The myotherapist may then use physical, orthopaedic and neurological tests to check movement, strength and nerve function (Better Health Channel). If something points to a problem outside their scope, they should refer you to your GP or another practitioner.
Treatment techniques
Myotherapists choose from a set of techniques based on what the assessment finds:
- Trigger point therapy: sustained pressure on tender points in the muscle.
- Dry needling: fine, sterile needles inserted into trigger points.
- Myofascial release: slow, sustained pressure and stretch through the fascia.
- Massage: remedial and sports techniques to work through tight tissue.
- Stretching and joint mobilisation: passive movement to restore range.
- Heat, cold and TENS: a TENS unit delivers a mild electrical current through pads on the skin to ease pain.
What is dry needling?
Dry needling uses the same type of fine, single-use needle as acupuncture, but the reasoning behind it is different. The needle targets a trigger point in the muscle, often producing a brief twitch, rather than a traditional acupuncture point. A systematic review of trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal pain found it reduced pain in the short term compared with no treatment or sham needling, though the authors rated the quality of the evidence as very low to moderate (Gattie, Cleland & Snodgrass, 2017).
Side effects are usually minor: bruising, short-lived soreness or a small amount of bleeding where the needle went in. Dry needling is not suitable for everyone, which is why your myotherapist will ask about medicines and medical history first.
Home care
Most plans include something to do between sessions, such as specific exercises, stretches, self-massage, heat or ice. This part matters. Researchers writing in The Conversation note that the evidence for exercise far outweighs the evidence for prolonged passive treatment on its own, and that hands-on care works best alongside active rehabilitation (Ganderton & King, 2020).
What is myotherapy used for?
Myotherapy is commonly used for muscle and soft tissue problems, including (Better Health Channel):
- Neck, shoulder and upper back tightness, including pain linked to desk posture.
- Some types of chronic lower back pain.
- Tension headaches.
- Overuse injuries such as tennis elbow and shin splints.
- Sports injuries and muscle strains.
- Some joint pain, such as shoulder impingement.
Where the cause of pain cannot be changed, for example arthritis or age-related disc changes, a myotherapist may focus on a pain management plan, often with other health professionals.
Myotherapy for desk and screen work
Long hours at a desk hold the neck, shoulders and upper back in one position for most of the day. Over time that can leave muscles tight and sore, and sometimes sets off tension headaches. Alongside treating the muscles involved, a myotherapist can look at how you sit and work, and give you short stretches and movement breaks to use during the day.
When to see a doctor first
See your GP before booking if pain follows a fall or accident, comes with numbness or weakness that is getting worse, or arrives with fever or unexplained weight loss. Better Health Channel advises that for acute or persistent joint pain, you should always see your doctor (Better Health Channel).
Myotherapy vs remedial massage vs physiotherapy
All three treat muscle and joint pain and none needs a GP referral. The differences are in training, regulation and how treatment is planned.
Myotherapy
- Training: an advanced diploma or bachelor’s degree in myotherapy or musculoskeletal therapy.
- Regulation: not registered with Ahpra. Practitioners belong to voluntary professional associations.
- Focus: assessing and treating myofascial pain and restricted movement, using trigger point therapy, dry needling, myofascial release, massage, stretching, TENS and home exercises.
Remedial massage
- Training: a diploma of remedial massage.
- Regulation: not registered with Ahpra. Practitioners belong to voluntary professional associations.
- Focus: hands-on soft tissue treatment for tension and recovery.
Physiotherapy
- Training: a university degree in physiotherapy.
- Regulation: registered with Ahpra through the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.
- Focus: diagnosing and managing injury, movement and function across the whole body, through exercise prescription, manual therapy, education and rehabilitation programs. Physiotherapy can be covered by Medicare under a GP chronic condition management plan.
Which one should you book?
A myotherapist is a good fit for muscle-driven pain and tightness, especially when it keeps coming back. Physiotherapists can diagnose a wider range of injuries, manage post-surgical rehabilitation, and treat problems involving joints, nerves and the heart and lungs. Many people see both: a physiotherapist to diagnose and guide rehab, and a myotherapist for hands-on work on the muscles involved.
How myotherapists are trained and regulated
The minimum qualification for a myotherapist is an advanced diploma, and many now hold a bachelor’s degree in clinical myotherapy (Better Health Channel). Myotherapy is not one of the professions registered with Ahpra, so membership of a professional body is the main sign of a qualified practitioner. Massage & Myotherapy Australia and the Institute of Registered Myotherapists of Australia both hold members to training and conduct standards.
What to expect in your first myotherapy session
A session usually runs for about an hour. Here is how it tends to unfold:
- History. You talk through your symptoms, what makes them better or worse, your work and activity, and any medical conditions or medicines.
- Assessment. The myotherapist watches how you move and tests the muscles and joints involved.
- Treatment. Hands-on work using the techniques that suit your assessment. You can ask about any technique before it starts, and say no to one you are not comfortable with.
- Plan. You leave with exercises or self-care to do at home, and a suggestion for whether and when to come back.
Bring any recent scans or reports, and a list of medicines you take. Let your myotherapist know if you take blood thinners, are pregnant, or have a bleeding disorder, as this affects whether dry needling and deep pressure are suitable.
Clinical myotherapy at Health104
Clinical myotherapy at Health104 in Middle Park uses massage, dry needling, stretching and TENS, with sessions planned around your symptoms and goals. Our clinical myotherapists work with musculoskeletal pain, sports injuries and chronic pain, and you can read about them on the Our Team page.
Because Health104 brings allied health, fitness and recovery under one roof, your myotherapist can work alongside physiotherapy, osteopathy and reformer Pilates when you need more than hands-on treatment, and you can follow a session with remedial massage or time in the wellness spa.
Key takeaways
- Myotherapy treats pain and stiffness coming from muscles and fascia, using assessment, hands-on techniques and home exercises.
- Common techniques include trigger point therapy, dry needling, myofascial release, massage, stretching and TENS.
- Myotherapy adds structured assessment and a wider set of techniques to remedial massage. Physiotherapy has a broader scope and is Ahpra registered, while myotherapy is not.
- Check that your myotherapist holds an advanced diploma or degree and belongs to a professional association.
- Do the home exercises. Active care makes the hands-on work count for longer.
If muscle pain or tightness is getting in the way of work, sport or sleep, book a clinical myotherapy session at Health104 in Middle Park. You can book online or call the team on 03 9088 3323.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional about your own situation.
References
Better Health Channel. Myotherapy. Victorian Department of Health. betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Better Health Channel. Myotherapist service. Victorian Department of Health. betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Gattie, E., Cleland, J. A. & Snodgrass, S. (2017). The effectiveness of trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal conditions by physical therapists: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 47(3), 133-149.
Ganderton, C. & King, M. (2020). Physio, chiro, osteo and myo: what’s the difference and which one should I get? The Conversation, republished by Swinburne University of Technology. swinburne.edu.au