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By Duke Autret, Myotherapist Musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction are often linked to biomechanical factors such as joint alignment, muscular imbalances, or overuse injuries. However, in some cases, pain arises without a clear mechanical, viral, or injury-based cause. By broadening the lens to include non-mechanical origins such as visceral, vascular, neural, fascial, and psycho-emotional factors, physical therapists can uncover hidden contributors to pain and provide a more comprehensive treatment approach.  Non-Mechanical Contributors to Pain Visceral Origins The internal organs (viscera) can play a surprising role in musculoskeletal pain:
Vascular Origins
Neural Origins
Fascial Restrictions
Stress and Psycho-emotional Factors
Common Examples that can be Non-Mechanical Pain
A Holistic Approach to Treatment When mechanical explanations fall short, physical therapy can offer a more integrative assessment:
Restoring Balance Through Physical Therapy In our next Beyond the Mechanics blog, we’ll explore examples of how physical therapy can make a significant impact, even when the primary concerns aren’t purely biomechanical or musculoskeletal. Many issues, such as systemic inflammation, nervous system dysregulation, or metabolic imbalances, and psychological/emotional issues can manifest in ways that affect physical function and well-being. And we’ll see how and why hands-on physical therapists like Osteopaths and Myotherapists are well placed to address these challenges by combining their expertise in movement and anatomy with a holistic understanding of how the body’s systems interact. Through targeted interventions like hands-on therapy, guided exercises, and patient education (but with a different emphasis) they can help restore balance, improve function, and support the body’s natural healing processes. We’ll discuss why physical therapy is a valuable resource for addressing these interconnected challenges and how therapists are uniquely equipped to guide patients toward better health and resilience. By Dr Sarah Varmalis, Senior Osteopath At Simple Wellness in Rowville, one of the most common questions we hear is: "Should I see a myotherapist or the osteopath?" With seven skilled myotherapists and one osteopath working side by side in the clinic, it’s no surprise people want to understand how each approach works, and which one might suit them best. The truth is, both therapies offer real value, just with different tools and treatment styles depending on what your body needs.  What Does a Myotherapist Do? Myotherapy is focused on relieving pain, tension, and dysfunction in the muscles and connective tissues of the body. It’s an evidence-based, hands-on therapy that supports everything from muscle tightness and sports injuries to postural imbalances and everyday aches. At Simple Wellness, our myotherapists draw from a wide range of techniques, such as:
What Does the Osteopath Do? While myotherapy often focuses directly on muscles and soft tissue, osteopathy takes a broader view of the body, looking at how the musculoskeletal system interacts with the nervous, circulatory, lymphatic, and even organ systems. At Simple Wellness, our osteopath uses a unique approach called Fascial Counterstrain. This gentle, highly specific technique works by identifying and releasing tension held in the fascia, the connective tissue surrounding everything from muscles and joints to nerves, blood vessels, and organs. Each session begins with a cranial scan, a subtle but powerful assessment method that helps locate areas of restriction throughout the body. Treatment then involves positioning the body into a place of ease, allowing the nervous system to let go of protective patterns and promote healing. It’s a calm, non-invasive approach that’s suitable for sensitive, complex, or long-standing issues. So, Which One Should You Choose? Both myotherapy and osteopathy can be incredibly effective—the best choice really depends on what your body needs and how it responds to treatment. And sometimes, a combination of both is ideal. Here’s a general guide to help:  The Power of Working Together One of the best parts of the Simple Wellness approach is the way our team works together. It’s not uncommon for someone to see a myotherapist for muscular tension, then the osteopath for deeper system-wide regulation—or vice versa. We believe in personalised care, not one-size-fits-all solutions. That means listening to your goals, understanding your body’s needs, and making sure you’re booked in with the right person at the right time. By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy is quite common due to the changes your body goes through. As your body adjusts to support your growing baby, shifts in posture, weight, and hormones can place added strain on muscles, joints, and ligaments. Here is a breakdown of typical musculoskeletal pains experienced during pregnancy, why they happen, how you can manage them effectively, and how myotherapy can help support your comfort and mobility.  Lower Back Pain: This is perhaps the most common musculoskeletal complaint during pregnancy. It's often due to the increased curvature of your spine as your centre of gravity shifts forward, putting more strain on your lower back muscles. Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP): Formerly known as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD), PGP causes pain around the pelvic area, especially at the front where the pubic bones meet. It can make activities like walking, climbing stairs, or even turning in bed uncomfortable. Round Ligament Pain: As your uterus expands, the ligaments supporting it (round ligaments) stretch, causing sharp or stabbing pains on the sides of your abdomen. These pains are usually brief but can be quite intense. Sciatica: Pressure on the sciatic nerve, often due to the expanding uterus or changes in posture, can cause shooting pain, numbness, or tingling down one or both legs. Rib Pain: As your baby grows, your rib cage may expand to accommodate the increased space needed for your lungs. This expansion can cause discomfort or pain in the rib area. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Some women experience tingling, numbness, or pain in the wrists and hands, especially during the later stages of pregnancy. This is due to swelling and compression of nerves in the wrist. Leg Pain:
Managing musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy involves a combination of strategies: Maintain good posture: Try to stand and sit straight to reduce strain on your back and pelvis. Use proper body mechanics: When lifting objects, bend at your knees and hips rather than your back. Stay active: Gentle exercises like walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga can help strengthen muscles and improve flexibility. Use supportive footwear: Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes can reduce strain on your feet and lower back. Apply heat or cold packs: Using a heating pad or cold pack on sore areas can provide relief. Practice relaxation techniques: Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or prenatal massage can help alleviate stress and tension in muscles. Treatment: Myotherapy can be quite helpful for managing the pain and helping loosen some tight muscles, but also they will be mindful to not loosen too much so that mum still has the support for her and her baby. If you're experiencing discomfort during pregnancy, don't wait it out— book an appointment to keep you feeling great throughout your pregnancy. If the pain is severe or persistent, it's essential to consult your healthcare provider. They can evaluate your condition, provide guidance on pain management techniques, and recommend suitable exercises or treatments tailored to your needs. By Rachael Bird, Myotherapist Cupping therapy and dry needling are two distinct therapeutic techniques used in complementary and alternative medicine, each with its own benefits and applications.  Cupping Therapy Method: Cupping therapy involves placing cups, typically made of glass, silicone, or plastic, on the skin, creating a vacuum or suction effect. This can be achieved through methods such as heat (fire cupping), suction pumps, or manual suction. We, however, do not use the glass/fire cupping method. Purpose: The suction created by cupping is believed to increase blood flow to the area, promote healing, and reduce muscle tension. It is often used to relieve pain, improve circulation, and address conditions such as muscle knots, tightness, and inflammation. Techniques: There are different techniques of cupping, including stationary cupping (cups are left in place for a specific duration), moving cupping (cups are moved across the skin), and wet cupping (which involves slight incisions on the skin before cupping). Conditions Treated: Cupping therapy is commonly used for musculoskeletal issues such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sports injuries. Dry Needling Method: Dry needling involves inserting thin needles (similar to acupuncture needles) directly into specific trigger points, tight bands of muscle (known as myofascial trigger points), or areas of pain and dysfunction. Purpose: The goal of dry needling is to stimulate these trigger points or areas of muscle tension, causing a local twitch response. This response can help release muscle knots, improve blood flow, reduce pain, and restore normal muscle function. Techniques: Dry needling techniques can vary, including superficial dry needling (targeting trigger points near the skin's surface) and deep dry needling (reaching deeper muscle layers). The depth and placement of needles depend on the individual's condition and the therapist's assessment. Conditions Treated: Dry needling is often used for musculoskeletal conditions such as muscle strains, tendonitis, sciatica, headaches (including tension headaches), and chronic pain syndromes. It is frequently integrated into physical therapy and rehabilitation programs. Key Differences Mechanism of Action: Cupping therapy primarily works through the creation of suction to increase blood flow and release muscle tension, while dry needling targets specific trigger points or tight muscles with needle stimulation. Tools Used: Cupping therapy uses cups to create suction, while dry needling utilizes thin needles for direct insertion into tissues. Application: Cupping therapy involves placing cups on the skin for a period of time, whereas dry needling involves the insertion and manipulation of needles into targeted areas. Both cupping therapy and dry needling can be effective in addressing musculoskeletal issues and promoting pain relief and healing. However, the choice between them may depend on factors such as the individual's condition and preferences of treatment. Ready to find the right treatment for your pain or muscle tension? Whether you're curious about cupping therapy or dry needling, our qualified myotherapists can help you choose the most effective option for your needs. Book your consultation today to take the first step toward better movement, less pain, and faster recovery. By Megan Cornish, Myotherapist Now that we know the different types of PCOS let's talk about how this relates to your musculoskeletal system and the effect PCOS can have on your muscle, joints and bones. In this blog we will explore the biomechanical implications that can occur as a result of hormonal imbalances associated with this condition.  Individuals with insulin resistance PCOS can experience musculoskeletal symptoms such as muscle and joint pain, low levels of energy, muscle weakness and fatigue due to the decreased absorption rate of glucose into your body's cells and tissues. Glucose and insulin are vital for a healthy musculoskeletal system and when their supply to tissues and cells are disrupted muscle strength and stamina as well as bone mass and density are affected. Those with this type of PCOS may also experience neuropathy (pins and needles) particularly in the hands and arms. Adrenal PCOS is associated with increased stress hormone release from the adrenal glands. When the body is experiencing chronic stress, all systems are affected including your musculoskeletal system. The release of hormones involved in Adrenal PCOS can cause muscle tightness, cramping, spasms, sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) bone fragility and overall increased sensitization. Muscle bone and joint health can also be influenced by chronic inflammation and this is typically seen in those with Inflammatory PCOS. With this condition muscle mass and strength are significantly affected as well as symptoms of muscle and joint pain in response to elevated inflammatory markers. As you can see all of the above types of PCOS can have an affect on your musculoskeletal health due to the underlying chemical processes occurring in the body as a result of this condition. When you receive treatment for muscle or joint pain it is important for your treating practitioner to understand the effect your PCOS type is having on the tissues and bones in your musculoskeletal system in order to treat you effectively. Megan is our treating myotherapist who specialises in all things women's health! She is dedicated to creating a safe space where she can support you through your recovery. Book your first consultation with her today!
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