Manual Ligament Therapy (MLT) is a new and original technique created by Arik Gohl. Arik discovered a way to manipulate ligaments that allows our muscles to relax and almost completely “let go” of the tension held within.
Research has revealed that ligaments feed the brain with more proprioceptive information about joints than muscles and tendons. Ligaments are a significant source of pain, especially in cases of chronic pain. Muscles will remain in a tense and guarded state until injured ligaments are healed.
The cells in our ligaments responsible for sending the information are called mechanoreceptors. The job of the mechanoreceptors is to give feed back on joint stability. When they sense instability in the joint, they send a signal to the surrounding muscles to tighten. By gently stimulating these cells with MLT, we are able to decrease their sensory output to the muscles, tendons and fascia. The end result is a dramatic reduction in tension of those tissues. Tight muscles soften and range of motion increases.
MLT not only sends a message to the muscles to relax, it also promotes the initial healing process in the ligament. Utilizing MLT techniques creates a healthier environment that allows the muscles to relax and circulation to improve.
Tight and restricted tissues no longer place undue pressure on the circulatory system, which allows for better venous and lymphatic flow throughout the body. Massage, stretching, strengthening, and whatever work you are already doing for your body will be enhanced after an MLT session. Areas in the body that were painful of tight before often open up miraculously.
MLT is very gentle it can be used even in the most acute cases. You should experience no pain with this technique. Most people will notice less tenderness in muscles that felt sore before.