Matthew Mahaley, LMT

Matthew Mahaley, LMT I specialize in Neuromuscular Therapy to help clients with myofascial pain and pain syndromes.

Please be sure to follow my new business page. I will be at Therapeutic Massage of Jonesborough through April 30th. I be...
04/21/2025

Please be sure to follow my new business page. I will be at Therapeutic Massage of Jonesborough through April 30th. I begin in my new location Monday, May 5th. I hope to see you there.

All too often I have heard "no pain no gain" applied to what you should experience in massage therapy. I do not agree wi...
12/17/2024

All too often I have heard "no pain no gain" applied to what you should experience in massage therapy. I do not agree with this philisophy. Neither does the research.

The hands-on technique of Neuromuscular Therapy is guided by the Arndt-Schultz Law...

Arndt-Schultz Law
Weak stimuli activate physiological processes; very strong stimuli inhibit them.

What that essentially means is: Less is more.

Heavy-handed treatment is not only ineffective in treating soft tissue that’s strained or in spasm, but can perpetuate pain cycles and fail to stimulate the body’s healing response. When soft tissue is in spasm it requires a detailed yet subtle hands-on approach. The main features of the Neuromuscular approach are:

Using gentle detailed strokes with moderate speed in only one direction at time. This is the most calming for both the nervous and muscular systems.

Staying well within the patient’s comfort zone which is constantly monitored. (Often it’s necessary to deconstruct with the patient the “no pain, no gain” mentality which is not useful in this context.)

Working the entire muscle including the belly, insertion and origin so that no ischemic tissues are missed.

What responses do you get from your massage treatment?

Neuromatrix Theory of PainThere are many factors to consider when looking at pain being experienced by a client. There a...
12/16/2024

Neuromatrix Theory of Pain

There are many factors to consider when looking at pain being experienced by a client. There are biological, psychological, and social elements to take in to consideration. This is why it is important to have a complete history of injuries, no matter how insignificant one may think it they are.

The neuromatrix is a theoretical model of pain that posits a complex brain-based mechanism for pain generation, influenced by both genetic and sensory factors. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the intricate relationships between biological, psychological, and social factors in the development and maintenance of chronic pain, and informs a more holistic approach to pain management.

One client I have came to me with a belief that pain would be forever a part of her life and massage therapy was a last-ditch effort to try to resolve some of the issues she had been facing for years. In my initial meeting with her we discussed what she had experienced and what led up to the pain she has been dealing with for so long. I explained my approach to massage therapy and what to expect out of the sessions. Out of the many items we discussed, one was her mindset regarding pain. It has been a few months since we started our sessions together. We have gone from every other week to once a month for "routine maintenance". One of the changes she has noticed is her perception of the pain she feels. She once told me, after just a few sessions, that she now feels HOPEFULL, which was a concept she hadn't experienced in some time. With this has come many benefits, including better sleep and even taking up swimming.

If you have a chance, please take a few minutes and watch this video from a TedTalk with Lorimer Moseley. https://youtu.be/gwd-wLdIHjs?si=eVfYXODMi9nOTbLB
From the video description: "Why do we hurt? Do we actually experience pain, or is it merely illusion? In this video, Lorimer Moseley explores these questions, and position the pain that we feel as our bodies' way of protecting us from damaging tissues further. He also looks at what this might mean for those who suffer from chronic pain."

Please don't continue on in life allowing pain to dictate what you can and can't do. Let me work with you to see if neuromuscular therapy is an option for you.

I have a few openings in my schedule this week. If you are in need of a therapeutic massage, here are your chances.Tuesd...
12/16/2024

I have a few openings in my schedule this week. If you are in need of a therapeutic massage, here are your chances.

Tuesday: 10:30am
Thursday: 9:00am and 10:30am.

Biomechanical DysfuntionBiomechanical dysfunction is an imbalance of the musculoskeletal system, resulting in faulty mov...
12/13/2024

Biomechanical Dysfuntion

Biomechanical dysfunction is an imbalance of the musculoskeletal system, resulting in faulty movement patterns. This can be from poor lifting habits, bad mechanics in a golf swing or tennis stroke, or working at a computer. These poor habits, uncorrected over time, lead to dysfunction.

In a previous life I was a personal trainer who specialized in corrective exercise. I am thankful to be able to bring this understanding of movement patterns and my training in neuromuscular therapy together to come up with a plan for treatment for all of my clients.

We have been told that "practice makes perfect." But, I am of the belief that practice makes permanent. Understanding where we are faulty in our movement patterns, as well as a good treatment plan, will get you well on your way to recovery.

Are you noticing pain from your everyday activities or from hobbies/interests? If so, reach out using the messaging feature in this post or call/text me at 423.797.6717.

Postural DistortionPostural distortion is an imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body of...
12/12/2024

Postural Distortion

Postural distortion is an imbalance of the muscular system resulting from the movement of the body off the longitudinal and horizontal planes. In other words, moving in a way in which you are not accustomed while under load or strain. This can happen when you start a new workout regimen, a new job that requires more manual labor, or take up a new game, like pickleball. This is why you will be asked a series of questions regarding the exact moment you started to feel a particular pain. Understanding the cause of the pain will assist in formulating a plan of recovery.

Have you ever experienced pain during a particular movement? What move did you make that caused this pain? How long did it take to recover? What steps did you take for recovery?

Trigger PointsTrigger points are highly irritated points in muscles that refer pain to other parts of the body. In the a...
12/11/2024

Trigger Points

Trigger points are highly irritated points in muscles that refer pain to other parts of the body. In the attached image, you can see a referral pain pattern stemming from trigger points in the scalene muscles. While this image is a little outdated, as Xs are no longer being listed as the exact location of a trigger point, knowing the referral pattern of pain can be a guide for locating the trigger point. There are different types of trigger points we need to look out for. These are active, latent, and satellite trigger points.

Active Trigger Points - These trigger points can cause pain even when the muscle is at rest. These are tender and produce referred pain.

Latent Trigger Points - These trigger points do not cause pain until pressure is applied to the point. They may not be tender to the touch and may not produce referred pain until stimulated.

Satellite Trigger Points - These points develop as a result of a weakened key trigger point, causing surrounding muscles to contract and form additional knots.

This is why communication is key. During a session with me, I will be asking questions about level of intensity and if the areas I am finding are referring pain to another area of the body. Sometimes, this also means you need to communicate with me when a referred pain occurs. Being aware and attentive during a session is of the utmost importance. This will ensure a more thorough treatment for the pain you are experiencing. It is not uncommon for a whole hour to be taken up on just one or two areas of the body, depending on the severity of the pain and how long you have been experiencing it.

Ischemia.Ischemia is a localized lack of blood supply to soft tissues, which causes hypersensitivity to touch. I have a ...
12/10/2024

Ischemia.

Ischemia is a localized lack of blood supply to soft tissues, which causes hypersensitivity to touch. I have a number of clients who come in with trigger points (to be covered in a separate post) that create areas where blood flow is restricted. One client I have suffered from pain in her hand that was attributed to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. We went through a series of assessments to ensure we weren't dealing with cervical radiculopathy. None of the signs from the assessments pointed to that. We instituted a series of sessions of Neuromuscular Therapy for CTS, followed by some simple movements and stretches she had been assigned from a phycical therapist. She was kind enough to share her experience on a Google review. I have attached a screenshot of that to this post. She is now following a routine maintenance approach and comes in as needed for treatment.

Opening up restricted pathways allowing for better blood flow allows for the body to function more properly.

If you, or someone you know, are suffering due to pain from an injury, ailment, post surgery, etc... please don't hesitate to reach out. We can chat and see if the treatments I provide will be able to assist you in finding comfort.

Nerve compression or entrapment. One of the things I do with my cleints is to provide an assessment so I can get a bette...
12/09/2024

Nerve compression or entrapment.

One of the things I do with my cleints is to provide an assessment so I can get a better understanding of what I am dealing with in regards to your current situation. One thing I need to do is rule out whether the pain you are experiencing is nerve entrapment or nerve compression. A nerve entrapment is caused when a peripheral nerve loses mobility, flexibility, or becomes entrapped by surrounding tissues. A nerve entrapment can cause neuropathic / neruogenic pain that can be either acute or chronic in nature. Nerve compression occurs when there is excessive pressure on a nerve by surrounding bones. This happens quite often in the spinal region but can be found in the other extremeties.

I can assist with nerve entrapment, allowing the muscle to move freely along the nerve. If, during the assessment, the findings point to nerve compression, then this is when I refer you to a physician or physical therapist.

Understanding what we are working with from the very beginning provides for a more comprehensive treatment plan. As the saying goes, "Assess. Don't guess."

12/09/2024

This week I will be writing a short series of posts detailing the benefits of Neurmuscular Therapy and how it addresses the different aspects of pain we experience on a daily basis. If you have any specific questions on this type of massage please be sure to ask.

I have one opening available this week. It is for Friday the 13th (ooooooooooh) at 2pm. It can be for 60 or 90 minutes. ...
12/08/2024

I have one opening available this week. It is for Friday the 13th (ooooooooooh) at 2pm. It can be for 60 or 90 minutes. If you have hurt your shoulder, neck or back putting up your Christmas tree or decorations I can help. You can message me here or call/text me (423.797.6717).

EDITED:Openings in my schedule next week.Dec 2: 10:30am and 3:30pm (60 or 90 min)Dec 3: 10:30am for 60 minDec 4: 11:00am...
11/27/2024

EDITED:
Openings in my schedule next week.

Dec 2: 10:30am and 3:30pm (60 or 90 min)
Dec 3: 10:30am for 60 min
Dec 4: 11:00am for 60 min
Dec 5: No spots available

Address

404 W Jackson Boulevard
Jonesborough, TN
37659

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 12pm
1:30pm - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 12pm
1:30pm - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 12pm
1:30pm - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 12pm
1:30pm - 5pm
Friday 9am - 12pm
1:30pm - 5pm

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