Why I Love to Treat My Clients With DNS
DNS stands for Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization. I know, it’s a mouth full, but it’s so useful when it comes to treating my patients’ chronic pain. So, first things first, what is dynamic neuromuscular stabilization? How can it help you? Let’s break it down.
What is DNS?
DNS is a treatment technique used to stimulate movement control centers in the brain to restore our original muscle and motor function.
When we’re born, we’re wired to learn how to move our muscles and joints in a certain way. As we grow, we reach milestones and learn how to move our bodies the way we were meant to. However, as we become adults, we tend to compensate, or teach our brains to move our muscles improperly. This is due to many factors including injury, societal norms, everyday routines and movements, and the slow development of pain. No matter what the cause, these compensations eventually lead to muscular dysfunction.
For example, have you ever noticed how babies and young children have bubble bellies? That’s because they’re breathing correctly! We were made to breathe deeply into our bellies, but over time, we’re subconsciously taught to suck it in. Think about it. At this moment, whether you’re sitting at a desk or on your couch, are you unconsciously drawing your belly button towards your spine? Odds are the answer is yes. Good belly breathing helps to stabilize all of the core muscles we use to breathe. Incorrect or shallow breathing can lead to all kinds of aches and pains. DNS is a technique used to retrain our brain to move our muscles properly. Now, take a deep belly breath.
How I treat my patients with DNS
If you suffer from a specific pain that has led to, or is caused by, a compensation pattern, DNS can help to relieve your pain by restoring proper movement. Using DNS, I can stimulate the movement control centers in your brain to reteach your body how it was meant to move- pain free. I do this by walking you through very specific exercises that will remind your brain how to properly move your muscles. Over time, repeating these exercises will restore proper movement and muscular balance.
Keep in mind that your pain or discomfort might be caused by improper use of the surrounding muscles, not necessarily by the muscle that’s in pain. That’s why DNS focuses on the proper mechanics of the “core” muscles, which include the diaphragm, pelvic floor, and abdominal muscles. A lot of our muscle dysfunction develops from the improper use of these core muscles.
Remember, there are a lot of factors that go into your treatment plan. Every body is different and requires different modalities to heal. DNS is only one of them, but it's effective!
Do you suffer from chronic pain? Help me help you. Schedule an assessment today so I can develop a custom treatment plan that will help you get back to pain-free movement.
