When clients have muscles that have been weakened due to stress, trauma, or overuse, the resultant inflammation alters the communication between the nervous system and the muscular system. This results in a neuromuscular weakness that cannot be corrected by general massage or deep tissue work. In order to help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation to allow the body to heal, one must first activate the individual muscular imbalances which in turn improves the necessary communication for these muscles to function optimally. Once activated, then one can get the full benefits from a relaxing massage but if individual muscles are left unactivated, one could have temporary relief in pain or tightness but likely it will come back.