Neuromuscular re-education is a
technique used by physical therapists to restore normal body movement patterns.
Your nerves and muscles work together
to produce movement. Nerves send signals between your muscles and your brain
about where, when and how fast to move. Over time,
muscle movement patterns are learned and stored in your memory.
When nerves or muscles experience
damage or injury resulting from trauma and various medical and neurological
conditions, muscle movement patterns can be negatively affected. Neuromuscular
re-education is one method used by Tucson physical therapists to facilitate the
return of normal movement in patients with neuromuscular impairments.
·
Manual techniques
(i.e., PNF-proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation)
·
Activities for
balance and core control
·
Therapeutic
exercises that are designed to re-develop normal controlled movement patterns.
To eliminate many of the symptoms that
a patient presents with during their treatment time, it is critical to
re-establish normal kinesthetic sense and proprioception of the Cervical,
Thoracic, Lumbar spine, and Appendicular skeleton. When these neurological
characteristics are not functioning properly, a patient cannot maintain proper
posture and many of the muscles of the involved area do not function properly.
Pain, inflammation, and swelling due to surgery or injury can lead to loss of
neuromuscular control and abnormal movement.
Many of our patients have general
tenderness and decreased motion of a joint(s). A joint needs
to have full motion to be fully functional. If the joint does have full range
of motion, weakness and functional limitations will develop over time. This time period is different for every patient, normally several
weeks to months when the symptoms are not treated properly. Any loss of motion
and strength needs to be addressed to eliminate the patient’s symptoms
and correct the underlying problem. However, re-education of the nervous system
must occur prior to developing enough strength and motion to regain full
function. Without the neuromuscular re-education process, “normal”
movement patterns are unlikely to be re-established.
Neuromuscular re-education plays a
major role in the rehabilitation of our patients. Using the proper techniques,
activities and exercises on an injured body part will prevent acute injury from
developing into a chronic problem.
Call
our Kingwood office (304) 329-3739 or out Masontown office (304) 864-0111 with
any questions or to set up an appointment.