I started taking dance classes years ago, after many rounds of physical therapy for an assortment injuries. I was awkward and clumsy, but I stuck with it for quite a while. I noticed that some of my nagging pains faded and my range of motion increased – even though dance lessons and classes cut into my normal PT and stretching routines. What was going on? How were these series of movements that were new to me helping? Could I simply erase pain through movement?
After some additional training, I discovered that I had inadvertently made some corrections to a faulty movement program that I had been stuck with since childhood. I also learned that almost all of us are born with the same, nearly perfect, movement program. Over time, most of us unconsciously make changes to this program. This has major implications. Fortunately, for those with two left feet, practicing a series of simple movements can help us reset this program, even more effectively than with dance.
Almost every adult has developed chronic musculoskeletal pain somewhere. It might have been an injury that should have gone away but never quite healed. Perhaps it was a nagging pain that has snuck up on you from poor posture at work. Maybe be an annoying restriction in your range of movement that interferes with your favorite sport or fitness activity.
Faulty Programs
In many cases, we fail to recover because we are using some faulty movement programs. This means that we are no longer moving in a way that is natural and optimal. We have developed a series of compensations and customizations to the movement program we were born with – the same program we were ALL humans are born with.
Normal Developmental Programs
When we see a foal getting up and taking its first steps, it is obvious that it has a program for this. Humans also all have a set movement program, but it is more complex and takes much longer to develop. If you are fortunate enough to have young children in your life you may have several examples of normal movement and development in progress.
Movement Milestones
We closely watch for milestones like the ability to roll over. This actually takes quite a lot of coordination of deep muscles that allow the baby to stabilize its core when it rolls. Occasionally a child experiences a developmental delay or disorder. However, in most cases ALL infants and toddlers move in same basic ways. They have a menu of basic movements that expands as they get older until they can crawl, sit, walk, run, climb and throw.
One of many remarkable things about babies is that they all move in the same way. That is because we all start with the same neuromuscular movement program. Yet, if you look at the general population in any moderately crowded place you will see a virtually unlimited number of variations on the same movements. No two adults move alike. Sometimes we can even recognize someone in the distance or the dark by the movement of their silhouette.
We might call this an aspect of personality. Let’s say it is their Personal Movement Style (PMS). While an interesting personality is often an asset, an “interesting” PMS seldom is. We want our PMS to look much like it did when we were about 3 years old. It should be natural, boring and look pretty much just like everyone else’s.
When our program is disrupted by training, injury or habit, we develop a unique PMS that reflects the series of compensations we have made over time. When someone in pain is not moving in a natural way, it can be hard to know what came first. Is there movement pattern a response to some prior experience of pain or is their current pain a result of the unnatural movement pattern? By the time the problem develops, both are often true, so it makes sense to treat from both angles. Resetting this program will allow you to erase pain through movement.
Physical and massage therapy are common ways of treating painful muscles and connective tissue that contribute to incorrect movement patterns. Treating taut bands, trigger points and other types of myofascial dysfunction is an important and necessary part of any treatment plan.
However, many trigger point and physical therapists forget that proper movement is its own therapy. Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization is a system that is key to restoring proper movement programs. This type of therapy is based on landmark work done at the Prague School of Rehabilitation. In conjunction with myofascial trigger point therapy it is possible to completely erase pain through movement in many cases of chronic pain.
It is a simple method and it works. We continue to use and improve this approach to treating upper back, neck and shoulder pain with great success. Everyone is different and many of us have additional challenges and complications. We tailor our treatment plans to the individual, but there are common foundations to this work with everyone.
Before you know it, you’ll feel like dancing!
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Janet was great. FANTASTIC person who knew how to treat and deal with my conditions. Very informative. Finally, someone who knew what I was talking about.
Really Good
It was interesting, and helpful for my IT band and hip
My experience was wonderful. Janet was very kind and attentive. I felt great after my session and would recommend to try it out.
The lady that assisted me was awesome! I suffer from fibromyalgia and when I left I felt like a brand new person! I plan to return when I get time!
Janet was great - knowledgeable and she found all my "hot spots."
Seriously, if you are looking for massage therapy that actually does your body good--that changes its function for the better and actually makes pain go away--then this is the place you need to come. Not Massage Envy. Not a chiropractor. You need trigger point from knowledgeable experts in the craft.
If your have pain in any part of your body this is the place to go. It focus on the muscles where the pain is. you will feel like a new person. Awesome will be returning. Thanks nice friendly and attentive
amazing!!!
I felt so much better after my appointment. Thank you and thanks for the self care tips!
Experienced therapist. Feel great after appointment...
Highly recommended!
What a great experience. The provider was able to recommend things I can do to improve my pain. Address issues I didn't even share with her that she was able to tell just by her exam and treating me for what i went for. Will be back. Feeling grateful
I spent so much money on chiropractors. This is much better. Everybody should try it out.
Beautiful, relaxing setting. Therapist was knowledgable and professional. I'll be going back. Thank you.
Janet is very informative. I loved that she explained which muscles/groups she was working on. I learned a lot about my posture and why some of my muscles are not activating. She also provided me with a list of considerations and excercises to improve my posture. I will be back!
Janet has a unique gift and talent in trigger point therapy. I’m definitely seeing her again!
I loved my experience. Janet is extremely knowledgeable in a vary wide variety of conditions. She is thorough and attentive. Makes you feel right at home!
It's like an hour of physical therapy (the good parts of P.T. where they massage you and stretch you). She also takes time to explain some ways to help your specific issues. Highly recommend!
Janet is very knowledgeable and informative. She thoroughly explains where you have weakness and what muscles are over compensating. She gives exercises, stretches, or everyday changes you can make to help you are progress on your own. I highly recommend a visit!
Janet was very knowledgeable and never in a hurry. She took her time explaining every little detail, great service
Felt much better after the trigger point massage, highly recommend.
Excellent
What About My Pain?
Clearly, everyone is different. Many of us have additional challenges and complications. Naturally, we tailor our treatment plans to the individual. However, there are common foundations in this work with everyone.
Fortunately, if you are having similar issues, you may find that a just few treatment sessions helps! We will identify and treat root causes of your individual case.
Clearly, everyone is different. Many of us have additional challenges and complications. Naturally, we tailor our treatment plans to the individual. However, there are common foundations in this work with everyone.
We are licensed professionals. In addition, we all have additional training and certifications in advanced techniques. For instance, this includes trigger point therapy, fascial stretching, neuromuscular and movement therapy. Also we offer kinesio taping, myofascial release, cupping, acoustic compression, self-care classes and more. In fact, we often combine several of these techniques into a single session..
Of course, no one wants chronic pain! Fortunately, can work together with you to help sort out the issues.
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