The following guidelines will help build understanding of the body & how to create changes

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Concepts

1. Optimal movement comes from sharing the load across multiple muscles.  For example the neck muscles takes care of the neck and skull, However, the neck muscles should not taking care of the neck and shoulders. That will overload the neck muscles and cause restrictions.

2. The vertical muscles (ie neck muscles and muscles along the spine) need to be braced by diagonal muscles (abdominal obliques, lats, trapeizius, serratus anterior/posterior). It is like the cables of a bridge supporting the pillars. Otherwise the vertical muscles become overloaded. 

3. The abdominal cavity needs pressure, which is achieved by activating the piston like movement of the diaphragm and the boa constrictor abdominal muscles. This pressurization achieves several elements (1) links the pelvis and the rib cage (2) brace the vertical spine muscles (3) helps activate the abdominal wall (4) creates a frame for the limb muscles to push off from. This pressure also allows for bowel movements and emptying the bladder. 

4. We did not have instructions on how to move our bodies during infancy. We had (1) time (2) curiosity (3) needs (4) contact with the ground (5) brain patterns to engage movement. As infants we have lower muscle tone, weigh less, had less control of our limbs and less cognitive prediction strategies. However, the positions, postures and movements we had as infants allowed us to train muscle, develop joints and develop movement patterns we later use as children. Most 3 year olds have excellent squat function and can readily roll and get off the ground. Why should we lose these abilities as adults? Perhaps we no longer stimulate brain and body patterns enough over time, or use them to overcome restrictions that develop with injury, surgery, physical and emotional stress. 

Training Myofasical (muscle/connective tissue) Concepts

1. Put tissue on length/tension/stretch & activate to create flexibility & strength of muscle/connective tissue

2. Muscle & connective tissue needs to slide in one major direction & to a lesser extent in other directions

   • while the muscle is lengthen in the major direction, there is less movement available in other directions

3. Neurological activation allows a pattern of movement & sends signal for growth, which is limited with passive therapy (IMS, massage therapy, chiropractic manipulations)

4. Tissue needs time for recovery, which takes different amounts of time between people (different connective tissue, nutrition, pain tolerances)

5. As the system gets stronger discomfort and recover time decrease

6. Tethered/shortened tissue is better activated when fixed & moved in both directions (towards either connection point)

7. Strong/accessible muscle can generate substitute movement. Focus on the movement happening from the target area (ie leading or co-activating) rather than the target area being dragged. 

8. The body appears to balance tension. If the back is tight/weak, likely there is something on the front that is tight weak. If there is something tight on one side, there is likely something tight/weak on the other side. So work on both sides, even if you are focusing more on one side. 

9. Pain can occur in the muscles and connective tissue themselves. Pain can occur from nerves that are either compressed, stretched or unable to glide. This can occur at multiple points along myofascial lines or nerve tracts. 

10. External sensation can substitute for internal muscle/tissue sensation. Using your hand in particular can help bridge the mind body connection,  until your neuromuscular system grows and reconnects. This happens on a short time scale (during the exercise) and a long term scale (day to day activities). Both short and long time scale activation improve with practice.  For areas that you cannot reach use other objects like a firm pillow, tennis ball, towel, sock, etc. Bring awareness to the area so your neuromuscular system can use the tissues. Good output needs good input. 

11.  Diaphragm activation (ie inhalation, bearing out) can enhance awareness of muscle/tissue from inside the abdominal cavity. More awareness/input, the better the activation/output. 

12. In rotation movement, keep in mind there is movement in two directions (ie as one side pushes forward the other side pulls back). Rotation occurs along the various curvatures of our body.  Curves are 3 dimensional - for instance instance in the rib cage there are curves around, on the front/back (ie thoracic kyphosis) and on the sides.