Neuromuscular Reeducation Rehab: Recovering Patients from Injury

Sep 22, 2021

When someone is recovering from an injury, the biggest problem isn’t necessarily the original trauma. Instead, the biggest barrier to healing is often the body’s response to that trauma. 

After an injury, our brain’s natural bias toward protection and survival restricts our movements, keeping us firmly inside our comfort zone to minimize the risk of making the injury worse. 

When this happens, excess tension inhibits the flow of blood and nutrients, which diminishes the body’s ability to rebuild. On top of that, as the brain limits movement and signals muscles to shut down in certain areas, these compensatory movement patterns can make those areas of the body even more vulnerable to injury or re-injury. 

Using electrical stimulation for neuromuscular re-education, we can effectively change the software commands our brain sends to our nervous system, allowing our body to release its grip on the muscles and open the way for movement. 

With acute or traumatic injuries, the neurological approach to rehab can significantly accelerate recovery times and decrease the risk of re-injury. 

At NeuFit, we adopt a three-step procedure with our patients who are recovering from an injury. 

Here’s how the three-step procedure works: 

Step 1 is to Identify.  We start with a body mapping process to determine exactly where the nervous system is imposing governors or limitations on the body and restrictions in movement. This mapping process includes manual muscle testing as well as a body scan with the Neubie, where we move the electricity-conducting pads along the nerve pathways searching for areas where the nervous system is limiting movement and muscle function. When we find these areas, the brain and nervous system usually try to protect against the signal, and it can feel especially intense for the patient, similar to a trigger point. 

Step 2 is to Reset. Once we identify the areas where the body is imposing limiting patterns, we go about resetting those areas to change those patterns. Using manual muscle activation techniques and targeted electrical stimulation, combined with movements and exercises, we help change these neurological patterns and restore them to more normal, optimal function. Though some self-protection is necessary, these particular governors represent an overreaction in the body. By resetting or recalibrating the nervous system, we don’t eliminate the self-protection reflex. Instead, we adjust it to the appropriate level. 

Step 3 is Breakthrough. Restoring function to muscles and tissues breaks through the obstacles that typically delay the healing process and opens up the recovery pathways for the body to heal more effectively. In the process, we also help patients access the range of motion, strength, and capacity for pain-free movement that’s present but dormant—until we undo the limiting neurological patterns. 

If you are recovering from an injury or a provider focused on helping patients recover from an injury, there’s one more step to consider. We invite you to learn more about the NeuFit Method and the benefits of electrical stimulation for neuromuscular re-education. Check out more details on our website and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. We’d love to speak with you! 

Let’s charge forward to better outcomes together!