Pain is not always where the problem is.
A tight band of muscle in one place can refer pain somewhere else entirely. That is why an ache never fully clears when you only treat the spot that hurts.
Most people search for trigger point massage. Neuromuscular therapy, or NMT, is the clinical framework I use to find those points and the referral patterns they create. I am a certified neuromuscular therapist with nearly twenty years of clinical experience.
A source-first approach
I assess movement first, then palpate for the specific bands of tissue driving your symptoms, then work them methodically.
Because NMT targets the cause rather than the sensation, relief tends to hold longer than chasing the sore spot alone.
An injury also affects more than the exact place you feel it. When one area stops moving well, the body asks neighboring muscles to contribute differently, and those compensations become part of the pattern. That is how soft tissue behaves, and it is why I look past the painful location.
Frequently treated patterns
Headaches & neck pain
Often driven by trigger points in the neck, shoulders and upper back.
Low back & hip pain
Where glute and hip trigger points refer pain down the leg or into the back.
Repetitive strain
Forearm, shoulder and wrist patterns from training or long hours at a keyboard.
Post-injury compensation
The knock-on tension that builds when you protect an old injury.
Treatment is a collaboration
I work alongside chiropractors, athletic trainers and physicians, and I will tell you plainly when something belongs with one of them.
The results I have seen come from that collaboration and from patient participation. Stretching and conditioning between appointments expedite the work and make the outcome better. Everyone has to take part.
I come to you for neuromuscular work
Trigger-point and NMT work at your home, not a spa table. Clothed. I bring the setup. In-home sports massage is $400 an hour. The Los Altos studio is $160 if you drive in.
Explore related services
Myofascial Release
Slow, sustained pressure that releases tight fascia and restores glide between muscle layers.
Deep Tissue Massage
Strong, precise work for chronic tension and the demands of serious training.
Sciatica Massage
NMT and deep-tissue work for hip and low-back patterns that refer down the leg.
Understanding Fascia
Why an injury affects more than the sore spot, and what recovery actually asks of you.
Frequently asked questions
What does NMT certification mean?
Neuromuscular therapy is a specialized field within massage that focuses on trigger points, nerve compression and postural patterns. I hold an NMT credential and have practiced this work for nearly two decades.
Why do you press somewhere that is not where it hurts?
Trigger points frequently refer pain to a different area. Releasing the true source is what produces lasting relief, so the spot I work may not be the spot you feel.
Is neuromuscular therapy relaxing?
It can be, but the goal is therapeutic change. Expect focused, specific pressure and clear communication throughout. I work with your threshold, not past it.
Is trigger point massage the same as neuromuscular therapy?
Trigger point massage is the common name for working those tight, referring bands of muscle. Neuromuscular therapy is the clinical system I use to find them, understand the referral and treat the source instead of only the sore spot.
Can my chronic pain actually be relieved?
Often, yes, though it takes a team effort. I do the hands-on work. You do the stretching and conditioning between sessions. Where another practitioner should be involved, I will say so.
Do you come to my house for neuromuscular therapy?
Yes. Same NMT work at home from San Jose to San Francisco. The Los Altos studio is $160 if you would rather come in.