Myofascial Alignment Manual Therapy (MAMT)
What is Myofascial Alignment Manual Therapy?
There are three important whole-body communication networks: the nervous system, the circulatory system, and the fascial system. The fascia system is one important system that has not been recognized and studied until the last two decades. The term ‘myo’ stands for muscle and ‘fascia’ stands for membrane, so myofascial stands for muscle membrane. Myofascia is a continuous woven layer of connective tissue that wraps the human body from head to toe like a tightly woven spider web. It is a specialized fibrous system covering and compartmentalizing muscle, nerves, blood vessels, internal organs, and the bones in the body. The myofascia functions to organize the muscle, tendon, and ligaments into different groups, and connects the different groups of muscle groups in a line. The myofascial system is like a muscle bag and coat that gives it structure and shape creating a tensegrity structure where strain is being distributed throughout a three-dimensional structure and tensional forces are distributed among the shortest distance to best withstand the stress applied. Therefore, a bodily injury at any part in the body can be triggered by long-termed strain or stress on other parts of the body. The injury happens possibly due to previous injury or weakness of the muscle and not always due to local strain. Most often, the cause of the pain in musculoskeletal condition is a result of misalignment of the myofascial and not the soft tissue itself.
Myofascial Alignment Manual Therapy (MAMT) is a form of manual therapy. It involves a series of gentle movement and manipulation administered to re-align the soft tissue and fascia back to its original optimal and functional position. The realignment of the myofascial also resets the joint or bone placement. Just like one takes the car for alignment for regular maintenance, the human body can use a myofascial alignment for maintenance to prevent injuries especially in the case of athletes who put their bodies through intense and severe stress and strain during sport activities. The goal of the MAMT is to remove the cause of soft tissue and joint pain which could result from trauma, muscle sprain/strain, repetitive movement or injuries, habitual poor posture, and nerve impingement due to herniated disk.
What conditions and symptoms can myofascial therapy treat?
- Pain in any area of the body (headache, migraine, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, carpal tunnel, elbow pain, stomach ache, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis etc.)
- Tightness of the tissue or muscle on one side of the body
- Numbness and tingling on the limbs
- Feeling of excessive pressure on muscles and joint that produces pain
- Enhance athletes’ performance in the sports competition
- Prevent injuries in athletes’ post-competition by ensuring the natural alignment is maintained
- Assist other treatments to increase effectiveness of the treatment such as acupuncture, physical therapy etc.
What are the advantages of MAMT?
The Myofascial Alignment is the most advanced and efficient technique in the field of manual therapies. Dr. Dave Liu’s Myofascial Alignment Manual Therapy (MAMT) is powerful and one-of-its-kind as it combines his 45 years of clinical experience and more than 10,000 successful case studies. The technique is very soft, gentle, comforting, and painless. Thus, the effect is almost immediate with incredible results. The technique is well-received by our patients and especially kids and teenagers.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture treats disease by inserting thin needles into designated points in the body. Once the needle is properly in place, the patient will feel a characteristic tingling.
According to biochemical and neurological research, acupuncture works by activating a natural pain suppression system in the brain. Substantial evidence demonstrates that acupuncture may serve to stimulate the release of endogenous morphine like substances, endorphins, that creates the analgesic effect.
Acupuncture also has an obvious effect of stimulating or strengthening the body’s immune system, by mobilizing the natural defense power inside the human body. This reaction is the major mechanism of anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious effects induced by acupuncture.
Tui Na
Tuina (Tui Na) uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation.
Tuina (Tui Na) methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, and directly affect the flow of Qi. The use of manipulation techniques, are aimed to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting).
External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.
Cupping
Cupping is an old technique used in both Asia and West. A vacuum is created inside a glass jar using heat and placed on to the skin where a suction is created and the heat dissipates. It is used to relieve cold symptoms, backache, muscle tension, chronic nausea and vomiting, frozen shoulder, sciatica and more.
The stimulating effect of a cupping treatment reaches approximately three inches below the skin surface to deeply remove blockes in the meridian system.
Qi Gong
“Qi is an infinitesimal substance by which the human body is nourished. It is the basic substance that sustains life, and is vital to the function of the internal organs.” -cen yuefang
Qi Gong is the exercise of Qi and its purpose is to improve physical and mental health. Dr. Dave Liu will give qi gong instructions to help with your specific ailments.
A qi gong master and use his/her own qi to heal as part of your treatment, but the value of qi gong is multiplied when you practice qi gong exercises everyday to heal and prevent the onset of diseases.