The Advantages of NeuroMuscular Reprogramming

NeuroMuscular reprogramming, or NMR, is a bodywork system that works with the body’s organizational intelligence to reprogram the motor patterns governing coordinated movement. It is predicated upon specific muscle testing that reveal either a system that is functioning, or one that is not. When tested in sequences, weak muscles reveal themselves as inhibited by muscles the body is recruiting to perform the function the weak muscle is currently incapable of. A simple release of the dominant muscle, then retesting, usually resets that balance in that set of muscles. If it doesn’t, then further exploration is required.

Massage Can Be Fun!

An NMR session can be a lot of fun and a terrific learning experience for both the therapist and the client. Athletes, people who understand their body and those with a keen interest in learning how their body functions, get a lot out of NMR. Together we discover compensation patterns that are causing pain, decreased performance and/or range of motion. When the brain finds the muscle after releasing the inhibitor the client can feel the muscle fire, often for the first time in while. These moments of realization can produce profound results. At the end of the day, the body wants to function cleanly and painlessly, so it is a willing participant in the healing process created by NMR.

The Science of NMR

Jocelyn Olivier, the creator of NMR, has gathered evidence through trial and error for over 40 years. I have studied directly with her for 20+ years and I am proud to call her my friend and mentor. When she teaches, she goes into a great deal of detail on the coordination system and the body’s natural intelligence. There is a great deal of Neuroplasticity in NMR. This is the science that explores the adaptability of the brain. Many things I learned in high school science classes is simply wrong! We were taught that if we lose a section of the brain we lose whatever function was associated with it. In fact, the brain can remap itself and create new neural pathways every time it learns something new. Brain scans before and after the learning show sections of the brain that were dormant actually “light up”.

My Take on NMR

I incorporate a lot of client education into my sessions for those who want to learn. Using my 23+ years of hands-on experience, including 3 years of teaching American History at the university level, and 2.5 years of teaching Massage Therapy, I walk the client through the process and explain why things happen. I firmly believe this helps reinforce the learning by explaining the information verbally, kinesthetically and guided passive and active range of motion. Everyone has a primary learning style, and I believe we all learn in multiple ways.

I have been tinkering with this theory for decades — that our brains are wired for survival, not for optimal performance. This means our brains do not re-evaluate movement patterns after an injury has healed. Often, a sprained ankle will result in an altered gait pattern for many years, despite the pain being gone shortly after the injury. Or a shoulder injury that healed years ago prevents a person from enjoying the full and natural range of motion because of “expected pain.” This is the brain’s defense mechanism that protects us from further harm while we are injured. We shorten our stride, hunch and roll our shoulders in to protect the neck and chest and prevent motion. These patterns persist for years. I have seen people who are convinced they cannot move beyond a certain point actually cry when I introduce them to a greatly expanded range of motion. This work is extremely fulfilling for me.

Conclusion

NMR can benefit just about every body, whether the person is an athlete of any level, or lives a sedentary lifestyle. As long as they want their bodies to perform better, with less effort and less pain, they can enjoy the benefits of this amazing technique. I am currently the only NMR practitioner in all of Western North Carolina. The closest therapists I know of are friends of mine in Charlotte. If you are in the Asheville area, I invite you to schedule a session with me and explore NeuroMuscular Reprogramming.

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