What is Myotherapy?

I'm going to talk about what myotherapy is today.But probably the important bit that you want to know is that I will be able to do private health fund rebates soon.

I enrolled to study an Advanced Diploma in Myotherapy in 2026.

Maybe before reading this, revisit my previous blog post about why I am not currently offering private health fund rebates, to understand the background into my desire to study this.

I am going to be upskilling, to have a higher level of qualification than your typical Remedial Massage Therapist, and it's given me a pathway that means I will be able to offer health fund rebates for Myotherapy.

Myotherapy will come out of private health fund extras in the same category as Remedial Massage.

What is myotherapy?

What is a myotherapist?

Is myotherapy the same as remedial massage?

What is myotherapy?

The word “myotherapy” comes from:Myo- (Greek mys, meaning “muscle”)-therapy (Greek therapeia, meaning “treatment” or “healing”)

So, myotherapy literally means “muscle therapy” — treatment aimed at relieving pain or dysfunction through working with the muscles and related soft tissues.

Myotherapy is a form of manual therapy focused on assessing, treating, and managing pain and dysfunction caused by muscle or soft tissue problems.

It’s based on the idea that many kinds of pain or restriction in movement come from issues within the muscles, fascia, and related structures.

What is a myotherapist?

A myotherapist is a practitioner who uses a range of techniques including but not limited to remedial massage, myofascial release, dry needling, joint mobilisation, and corrective exercise to help relieve pain, improve movement, and support long-term recovery.

Yes; techniques I mostly have already learned through continuing professional development, and employ in my sessions, but here they will be recognised as an advanced diploma rather than a random collection of skills. 

I'll be learning some new skills too, as well as revisiting the existing ones through another lecturer/practitioners delivery.

Is Myotherapy the same as remedial massage?

No. Remedial massage is one category of soft tissue technique.

A remedial massage therapist cannot call themselves a myotherapist, but a myotherapist can perform remedial massage within the treatment session.

I want to make the distinction that when you see a remedial massage therapist and can claim a rebate on your health insurance, that does not mean they have completed the advanced diploma in myotherapy, in fact there are very few myotherapists in Australia.

The only reason I personally (and a small handful of others) are not offering rebates despite having the qualifications to do so is either personal choice or because we got caught out in the situation I've outlined in my blog post linked above.