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Do you want to offer therapeutic massages that relieve chronic and acute pain? If you do, then you have to complete a neuromuscular therapy course. Completing this programme is one of the essential requirements you have to satisfy to work as a neuromuscular therapist in Dublin.
Neuromuscular therapy is a form of massage that focuses on the body’s nervous system and muscles. It aims to relieve pain and improve function in those who have suffered from injuries or disorders like fibromyalgia and arthritis.
When you take the course, you will learn how to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain using a combination of therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and joint mobilisation. You’ll learn about the structure and function of the nervous system, skeletal system, and muscles as well as how these systems interact and how to apply this knowledge in clinical practice.
You’ll also have hands-on training on treating soft tissue pain through gentle stretching or deep massage. You will learn how to use your hands and other parts of your body to manipulate soft tissue to improve your patient’s range of motion, decrease pain, and reduce muscle spasms.
Finally, you’ll gain an understanding of how biomechanical changes can affect muscle length and tension. You can use this knowledge to help your clients improve their posture, reduce stress levels, and practice good habits that can aid in recovery from injury or illness.
The length of time it takes to complete a neuromuscular therapy course depends on where you take the course and whether you attend full-time or part-time.
Basically, the duration of NMT courses varies per training provider due to a variety of reasons, such as the type and design of the programme. For example, advanced NMT courses tend to run longer than entry-level ones. It is also possible to find providers that offer an online introductory course which lasts 30 hours or less.
However, it is worth mentioning that accredited NMT courses in Dublin take a while to complete. These aren’t your typical short courses which can be finished in just a matter of hours.
For example, the National Training Centre, the longest established training provider in Ireland, offers the only accredited Neuromuscular Therapy course in Ireland which lasts for over a year. For their evening course, they conduct 48 tutorial sessions held one evening each week. Meanwhile, their NMT weekend course has tutorial sessions held one full weekend each month.
Why does it take long to complete a neuromuscular therapy course? There is so much you need to learn to become a competent neuromuscular therapist. Truth be told, 30 hours is not enough to acquire all the information and skills essential in providing therapeutic massage. This is why NTC’s SMA-accredited NMT course involves over 100 class hours.
If you decide to take a part-time neuromuscular therapy course, it may take a while to finish it compared to a full-time programme. This is because you’ll have to put in more hours per week when you take the course full time.
The mode of delivery also varies per training centre. Some institutions offer purely online programmes. There are also training centres that deliver the course both online and in person.
While taking an online programme is convenient, you have to realise that it lacks an important part – hands-on training. This is critical in developing the skills you need to safely and effectively provide therapeutic massages. Suffice to say, if you want to become a good therapist, taking a purely online programme is not enough.
The best option is to take an NMT course that uses blended learning (a combination of online and in-person instruction). In these programmes, some of the theory or knowledge part of the course is delivered online, while hands-on training and further theory content is delivered face-to-face.
In conclusion, it is understandable that you want to finish the course quickly so you can start your career immediately. However, never sacrifice quality education for speed. Do not pick a course just because its duration is short. Enrol in it because it is guaranteed to equip you with the competencies you need to excel as a neuromuscular therapist.
Are you looking for a Neuromuscular Therapy Course in Dublin? Take your pick between our SMA-accredited NMT evening and weekend programmes. Call us today at 01 882 7777 or click here to book a slot!
