"The degree of ease that we experience in performing our daily activities is largely dependent on our muscles, fascia, and nervous system working in harmony with each other. Injuries, stress, tension, and emotional traumas can upset this equilibrium, and cause physical discomfort, increased muscular fatigue, and psychological difficulties."

When we have an injury or chronic stress, we become accustomed to "moving around" the problem through compensatory patterns in our movements. If left uncorrected, these compensated movements can lead to a cascading effect within our posture that can create muscular tension, restricted movement, and, in some cases, joint degeneration and debilitating pain. Neuromuscular Reeducation helps correct these patterns of movement by decreasing soft tissue problems within muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue.

Injuries, chronic tension, and emotional conflicts can also cause a progressive thickening of the fascia (connective tissue) that surrounds our muscles and joints. This, in turn, can cause muscles and other tissues to bind to each other (adhesions), preventing them from working independently of the surrounding tissues. This restricts our movement, and often produces muscle and joint pain. Tense and rigid muscles can also impinge on nerves, cause ischemia (reduced blood flow), and produce chronic pain and muscular fatigue.

Neural Pathways Neural pathways connect one part of the nervous system with another and usually consisting of bundles of elongated, myelin insulated neurons, known collectively as white matter. Neural pathways serve to connect relatively distant areas of the brain or nervous system, compared to the local communication of grey matter.

Neuromuscular Reeducation focuses on the reflexes in areas of the body that detect and respond to irritation. Persistent irritation produces a chronic pain cycle within the body and often leads to an ingraining of the pain message in the neural pathways. (See text box at right) These neural pathways generate trigger points that may refer the pain elsewhere in the body. Trigger points are often felt as "knots" in the muscles of the back, but can be found throughout the skeletal muscles of the body.

Neuromuscular Reeducation works by improving circulation to tissues, releasing trigger points, and freeing soft tissue that may be causing nerve entrapment. It lessens the muscular tension and restriction that causes pain, and lengthens and strengthens connective tissue (fascia).

Neuromuscular Reeducation also increases our awareness of the larger problem of posture and biomechanics. By helping identify personal behaviors that play a role in perpetuating pain, we are able to change the ways we move and use our body that causes us pain and discomfort.

Neuromuscular Reeducation uses muscular stretching, myo-fascial release, deep tissue bodywork, trigger point therapy, and specialized biomechanical exercises. By creating new ways of resting, holding, and using our body, we are able to move with more efficiency and balance in our daily lives, and thus reducing physical pain and eliminating the cycle of pain.

It is beneficial for individuals with chronic pain associated with tendonitis, repetitive strain injury, and poor posture. Neuromuscular Reeducation is effective is helping us change the movement patterns that often are the source of physical pain.

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