The Rules of Engagement
by Dennis Gibbons, LMT
Dennis Gibbons, LMT
Whether we are performing Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® or Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ the rules of engagement apply. What exactly are the rules of engagement and how do they apply to your therapy and/or movement? What does it mean to engage? As defined by The American Heritage dictionary: engage is to participate or to cause, to participate, involve. We are going to demonstrate how movement takes place and how these two modalities accomplish the re-patterning of the neurological pathways encouraging proper, pain-free movement.
The above diagram shows the activity of how a muscle contracts, what neurological processes are involved and why it is important to reorganize compensatory patterns that develop due to trauma of any type.
When the initial thought pattern of movement takes place, whether it be sitting, standing, or walking, the brain pictures the movement. Once this picture is in, specific nerves in the brain are engaged.
When the initial thought pattern of movement takes place, whether it be sitting, standing, or walking, the brain pictures the movement. Once this picture is in, specific nerves in the brain are engaged.
The perception of movement has many quantifying factors. Is there an object I must move around or through? Is there weight involved? Will it be a compound move where multiple movements will need to take place in order for the motion to be fulfilled? Is it something I know how to do? Once the brain is able to quantify the parts of the movement, it will send out the necessary messages to engage the proper tendons. As these tendons start the movement the muscle spindle cells will engage the appropriate number of fibers to fulfill the process.
As the tendon starts the pull on the skeletal system all systems are a go and there is no turning back. The brain’s proprioception continues monitoring the environment and will alter and fulfill movement appropriately. This fail-safe system is what protects us from trauma. Of course there are those times when the brain reacts and the body does not or is not strong enough to alter movement to keep us out of trouble. It is these times when injury takes place.
How do Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ address these rules of engagement? Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® is a theory before a technique. What is meant by this is that the process of evaluation is not only to the symptomatic region but to the structure itself. Most individuals look at and treat the external posture, but it is the internal posture that provides the impetus for movement. The theory behind Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® is that the tissues that did not fulfill its action potential need to be examined and assisted so that the brain is able to fulfill the movement requirements that were originally asked of it.
Using different forms of evaluation the practitioner will evaluate not only the muscle tissue, but all of the connective tissues involved. The evaluation comes in the form of how the tissue is able to complete a movement sequence. By engaging the affected tissue, the therapist allows the different parts of the brain to function.During this period of time when the tissue is engaged the afferent (to the brain) messages are being re-established to stimulate the intrafusal fibers so the extrafusal fibers receive the proper stimulation. In other words, the therapist facilitates the release of the disorganized tissue, and allows the brain to reorganize the affected tissue.This procedure is necessary in order for the muscles to reset itself.
As the tendon starts the pull on the skeletal system all systems are a go and there is no turning back. The brain’s proprioception continues monitoring the environment and will alter and fulfill movement appropriately. This fail-safe system is what protects us from trauma. Of course there are those times when the brain reacts and the body does not or is not strong enough to alter movement to keep us out of trouble. It is these times when injury takes place.
How do Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ address these rules of engagement? Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® is a theory before a technique. What is meant by this is that the process of evaluation is not only to the symptomatic region but to the structure itself. Most individuals look at and treat the external posture, but it is the internal posture that provides the impetus for movement. The theory behind Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® is that the tissues that did not fulfill its action potential need to be examined and assisted so that the brain is able to fulfill the movement requirements that were originally asked of it.
Using different forms of evaluation the practitioner will evaluate not only the muscle tissue, but all of the connective tissues involved. The evaluation comes in the form of how the tissue is able to complete a movement sequence. By engaging the affected tissue, the therapist allows the different parts of the brain to function.During this period of time when the tissue is engaged the afferent (to the brain) messages are being re-established to stimulate the intrafusal fibers so the extrafusal fibers receive the proper stimulation. In other words, the therapist facilitates the release of the disorganized tissue, and allows the brain to reorganize the affected tissue.This procedure is necessary in order for the muscles to reset itself.
Oftentimes when an injury is experienced, there is a compensation pattern in place that will inhibit proper muscle firing. This period of engagement during the compensation will often determine the improper movement patterns that exist. These improper movements will prevent a muscle from using all of the fibers necessary to complete the movement process. Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® will re-establish the suitable order in which these fibers need to work, and also the intensity of the force.
The purpose of Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ is to re-establish the proper movement patterning so the nerve pathways are strengthened to ensure pain-free movement. The student of Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ will be trained to engage the correct musculature subconsciously. This re-patterning of the nerve pathways will ensure that the individual accesses the proper muscle fibers when performing their usual day to day activities.
In movement, the process first is visualization. Not a prolonged process, but the actual thought and picture of what is intended to be performed. Once this visualization takes place the proprioception of the environment is analyzed and movement is determined. Oftentimes it is the lack of proprioception that encumbers movement. What is meant by this is the individual’s awareness of what movement they are truly trying to perform.
Once the mind is able to visualize the movement required it will process the information and send it to the necessary tendon to begin to generate the action. It is during this process that the necessary muscle spindle cells are activated to complete the process.
I once had an opportunity to talk with a performer from the Cirque de Soil troupe in Las Vegas. During a Pilates Mat class, they were doing various movements on a large ball. Visualize the participant lying on his back across the ball. As he began his movement his feet actually lifted up off of the floor and he moved into a plank position lying on his back with his legs straight. From that point he continued to bend at the hips until his nose actually came into contact with his knees. He was able to lower himself back to the start position and the ball never moved. After witnessing this I asked him how he was able to perform this movement and he said, “I picture puppet strings attached to the part of the body I want to move and keep the tension even as I go through the process.”
In summary, the schema of Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ is to create a freedom of movement within the body itself. This is accomplished by accessing the neural pathways that were embedded into the movement system at conception. Accessing this information and allowing the neural pathways to recreate the proper soft tissue response to generate a freedom of movement is the primary focus of these two theories. Many times compensation has overridden the proper movement patterns, and unless the original movement pattern is reinforced, the compensation patterns will constantly override the neural signals. Once the proper pathways have been opened it will help the Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® practitioner and/or the certified Fundamental Movement PilatesSM instructor read the compensatory patterns and assist the body in making the proper changes. Allowing the proper nerves to fire will also assist in strengthening the muscle fibers that are necessary to perform normal daily activities and help avoid those day to day traumas that everyone experiences.
If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact Chagrin Valley Wellness Center and talk with one of our practitioners or instructors on how Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ could help you lead a more comfortable and less painful lifestyle.
We can be reached at (216) 364-0152 or through our front desk receptionist email appointments@chagrinvalleywellness.com
Visit our website www.chagrinvalleywellness.com for staff bios, testimonials and more information.
Enjoy the summer months,
Dennis
The purpose of Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ is to re-establish the proper movement patterning so the nerve pathways are strengthened to ensure pain-free movement. The student of Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ will be trained to engage the correct musculature subconsciously. This re-patterning of the nerve pathways will ensure that the individual accesses the proper muscle fibers when performing their usual day to day activities.
In movement, the process first is visualization. Not a prolonged process, but the actual thought and picture of what is intended to be performed. Once this visualization takes place the proprioception of the environment is analyzed and movement is determined. Oftentimes it is the lack of proprioception that encumbers movement. What is meant by this is the individual’s awareness of what movement they are truly trying to perform.
Once the mind is able to visualize the movement required it will process the information and send it to the necessary tendon to begin to generate the action. It is during this process that the necessary muscle spindle cells are activated to complete the process.
I once had an opportunity to talk with a performer from the Cirque de Soil troupe in Las Vegas. During a Pilates Mat class, they were doing various movements on a large ball. Visualize the participant lying on his back across the ball. As he began his movement his feet actually lifted up off of the floor and he moved into a plank position lying on his back with his legs straight. From that point he continued to bend at the hips until his nose actually came into contact with his knees. He was able to lower himself back to the start position and the ball never moved. After witnessing this I asked him how he was able to perform this movement and he said, “I picture puppet strings attached to the part of the body I want to move and keep the tension even as I go through the process.”
In summary, the schema of Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ is to create a freedom of movement within the body itself. This is accomplished by accessing the neural pathways that were embedded into the movement system at conception. Accessing this information and allowing the neural pathways to recreate the proper soft tissue response to generate a freedom of movement is the primary focus of these two theories. Many times compensation has overridden the proper movement patterns, and unless the original movement pattern is reinforced, the compensation patterns will constantly override the neural signals. Once the proper pathways have been opened it will help the Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® practitioner and/or the certified Fundamental Movement PilatesSM instructor read the compensatory patterns and assist the body in making the proper changes. Allowing the proper nerves to fire will also assist in strengthening the muscle fibers that are necessary to perform normal daily activities and help avoid those day to day traumas that everyone experiences.
If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to contact Chagrin Valley Wellness Center and talk with one of our practitioners or instructors on how Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Pilates℠ could help you lead a more comfortable and less painful lifestyle.
We can be reached at (216) 364-0152 or through our front desk receptionist email appointments@chagrinvalleywellness.com
Visit our website www.chagrinvalleywellness.com for staff bios, testimonials and more information.
Enjoy the summer months,
Dennis
