We all know that your joints move and your muscles contract and stretch. But did you know that your nerve tissue also needs to move freely and unimpeded? If your neural tissue is impeded then pain or restriction of movement is a common result.

The good news is that you can quite quickly regain full neural tissue extensibility with an accurate assessment and treatment to the impeding structure, which is not usually the nerve but an interface that it should normally pass through. 

Common examples of structures that can impede a nerve's movement include: a swollen joint or disc bulge, muscle tightness or spasm squeezing a nerve, or a swollen compartment eg carpal tunnel syndrome.

Interestingly, neural mobilisation as a treatment doesn't actually involve stretching the nerve itself. Excessive nerve stretching can actually damage your nerves!  Rather than stretch your restricted nerve, your physiotherapist will assess you to discover any potential structures that are causing your nerves to be impeded. They will then treat that structure and retest your nerve mobility until your full neural mobility is restored. The good news is that not only will your nerve move freely, but your pain will also disappear!

Research Support for the Neurodynamics Concept

The concept of neurodynamics or neuro mobilisation is originally based on the research of David Butler, Physiotherapist.

Over the past 20 years, further researchers such as Dr Michel Coppieters, Michael Shacklock and Dr Alf Brief have added to the volume of scientific research supporting the hypothesis that your nerve tissue also requires full movement to remain for full pain-free function.

More Information about Neurodynamics
Friday, March 04, 2011

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