Have you ever considered the difference between Myotherapy and Musculoskeletal Therapy? Maybe you’re planning to study and want to know the best option, or perhaps you’re already a qualified professional wondering if the grass is greener on the other side?

History of Myotherapy

Myotherapy and Musculoskeletal Therapy are two forms of therapy that have grown in popularity in Australia in recent years. Myotherapy is best known in Victoria where the profession has existed for some time. Originally developed at Melbourne’s RMIT, Myotherapy ran its first course in 1989. The course was designed to provide a higher level of training to the field of Remedial Massage. Currently there are eight registered training organisations (colleges) that are recognised for training Myotherapists.

(For more information see: History of IRMA)

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The minimum level of training for a Myotherapist is an Advanced Diploma and this is the course that most Myotherapists complete. In addition, there is currently a bachelor degree course running in Clinical Myotherapy within Victoria.

Creation of Musculoskeletal Therapy

Musculoskeletal Therapy, or MST, was a term coined with the creation of the Bachelor of Health Science (Musculoskeletal Therapy) in 2006 by the Australian College of Natural Medicine, now the Endeavour College of Natural Health. For the sake of fair debate, I should disclose that I worked for the college at the time and played a key role in the creation of the course.

Similar to the creation of the Myotherapy course, MST was created to provide a higher level of training to the field of Remedial Massage.

Common Modalities?

While different colleges and registered training organisations  have variations in their courses, the key skill set between these two different professional titles is very similar, and some would argue, the same. There is a Wiki page for Myotherapy that provides a fairly detailed description of therapeutic modalities used in Myotherapy. This includes;

• Soft Tissue Therapies – trigger point, myofascial release, positional release, muscle energy technique, stretching and lymphatic drainage
• Joint Mobilisation
• Myofascial dry needling
• Electromechanical Stimulation – TENS, Interferential, Ultrasound and Low level laser therapy
• Thermal Therapies – Heat and Ice applications including infrared
• Rehabilitative and Corrective Exercise

According to the Wiki page, any consultation will include a history and physical assessment including observation, palpation and orthopedic assessment.

(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myotherapy)

While there will be a natural variation between colleges and practitioners in terms of the emphasis on modalities used, the Wiki page does provide a reasonable scope of what a Myotherapist will use within their clinical setting. To find a similar source for Musculoskeletal Therapy is more difficult. However as a MST myself I can say that the assessment and treatment options are essentially the same, without training in the electrotherapies including interferential, ultrasound and Laser. TENS is taught within the the MST program.

What Is In a Name – Myotherapy Vs Musculoskeletal Therapy?

As a practitioner within the fields of Remedial Massage, Soft Tissue Therapy and Musculoskeletal Therapy it is my opinion that any variation between a Myotherapist and Musculoskeletal Therapist will be very limited. In fact the majority of the variation between a Myotherapy and a MST practitioner will more likely be related to their philosophical approach to treatment, their personal experience and training and their preferences for treating methods, rather than their title.

What Is Better From a Professional Association/Health Fund Recognition Point of View?

Two of the key industry associations for MST and Myotherapy are ANTA (Australian Natural Therapists Association) and IRMA (Institute of Registered Myotherapists Australia) both have recognised the closeness of these two professional titles. IRMA will recognise the Bachelor of Health Science (Musculoskeletal Therapy) as equivalent to the Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy and as such accredit graduates as Myotherapists, which includes registration with private health insurance providers as a Myotherapist.

ANTA takes a slightly different approach, they have created a Myotherapy/MST branch within their governance structure and will recognise graduates of Myotherapy programs as Myotherapists, including health fund status. However graduates of Musculoskeletal Therapy are recognised separately as MSTs. The logic being that their qualification is Musculoskeletal Therapy not Myotherapy. In terms of private health fund provider status, MSTs are recognised as Remedial Massage providers which creates issues for MST therapists as they are not specifically recognised by private health insurers, whereas Myotherapy is.

This is an unfortunate situation as the qualification and training for a Musculoskeletal Therapist is at least equivalent to a Myotherapist, as indicated by IRMAs recognition of the MST program, but the recognition of their title remains an issue. It is my understanding that negotiations are taking place to resolve this issue but at the time that this blog is being written there is still this discrepancy between the two titles of Myotherapy and Musculoskeletal Therapy. This issue must be resolved to ensure equality within the profession.

Musculoskeletal Therapy: Myotherapy with a different name?

Other therapists may argue that there is indeed a difference between Myotherapy or Musculoskeletal Therapy, however as a Therapist, I would argue that there is no distinctive difference between the two titles of therapy. If one was to look at the modalities used and the training required to become either a Myotherapist or an MST, and then if one was asked which is the better profession, the outcome would have to be a draw.

In my opinion, I can find no defining factor that would give one of these courses a greater advantage over the other. In fact, I would have to argue that they are exactly the same thing.

What this means for the future of these two titles and whether one will become dominant, and potentially absorb the other, is a discussion for another day. For now, let us consider these two points;

1. Which title has been around the longest and has the greatest number of graduates?
2. Which one is easier to say? (Try it and see!)

One thing can be said for certain – a title will only take you so far as a therapist, what will make you successful is the quality of the service you provide to your clients.