What happens during the first Neurosoma session?
- Discussion of your health history
- Comparative range of motion assessment
- Scan the body for muscle spasms (hypertonic muscles).
- Stimulate the feedback nerves to reduce muscle tone.
- Possible “homework” exercises
What should I wear to the session?
Cotton clothing is best. No slippery clothing please.
What IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS TECHNIQUE?
NeuroSoma® is a very delicate, yet remarkably powerful fingertip technique that relaxes hard, overly-contracted muscle tissue by stimulating small feedback nerves located within the muscle spindle sensory receptors. Unlike massage therapy, NeuroSoma® specifically addresses hypertonic muscle spasm.
WHAT IS MUSCLE TONE?
It is the residual contraction in a resting muscle which maintains joint integrity and posture in gravity. We are not consciously aware of this constant (static) contraction because the cerebellum controls muscle tone automatically, utilizing information sent to it via gamma nerve feedback from muscle spindle sensory receptors.
Muscles spindles are small structures scattered throughout skeletal muscle that measure the amount of stress or force endured by each muscle when at rest. They report this information directly to the cerebellum via their feedback nerves. Depending on the strength of the feedback signal, the brain either relaxes or contracts more fibers.
When these specialized nerve feedback loops are operating properly, the cerebellum perfectly adjusts the tone of your muscles to its pre-set requirements; but when they are not operating properly, overly-contracted muscle, or “muscle spasm” develops.
WHAT IS MUSCLE SPASM?
We tend to think of spasm as cramps, which are usually temporary. However, the spasm caused by malfunctioning feedback nerves is more serious, and is permanent unless corrected. Technically called hypertonus, meaning “too much muscle tone”, it is very common and often contributes to other disorders not generally associated with muscles.
HOW DOES HYPERTONIC SPASM DEVELOP?
The muscles constantly produce a metabolic waste known as lactic acid which can become toxic if the lactic acid accumulates to a higher than expected concentration. The bloodstream is designed to transport it out of skeletal muscle to the liver, where it is converted to and stored as glycogen, which becomes glucose when needed for energy.
Blood flow is locally constricted in muscles during contraction and stretch, and in those muscles damaged by stress or injury. When local circulation is impaired, lactic acid begins to pool in the tissue and become trapped in the spindles. As it collects there, it sickens the feedback nerves and weakens their signal to the brain, which incorrectly interprets this weakened signal as too little muscle tone and so the brain orders more contraction.
Contracting an already tight muscle further decreases circulation and increases lactic acid output in the muscle. A vicious cycle is born as more lactic acid is trapped, the nerve signals become weaker and hypertonus continues to build. In short, whether due to injury, lack of use, or improper use of the muscle, hypertonic muscle spasm is caused by a decrease in circulation, a resultant accumulation of lactic acid, and a nerve feedback system run amok.
WHY DON’T I FEEL THIS HAPPENING?
Many times the body will “wall off” an affected area with endorphin (Latin for “internal morphine”). Insidious, (quietly creeping) hypertonus is a permanent condition that continues to build, robbing the body of youth, strength, elasticity, and vigor. Awareness of the condition arises only when healthy muscles, nerves or organs are encroached upon, and remains aware only until endorphins are able to numb those areas or until something drastic occurs that can’t be numbed out. Then the surgeon is enlisted.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SKELETAL MUSCLE IS UNDERESTIMATED, even though it comprises 50% of your body mass and directly affects circulatory, skeletal, nervous, lymph, digestive, and endocrine (body chemistry) systems. Sick muscle can mean a sick body.
HOW DOES THIS TECHNIQUE WORK?
The practitioner stimulates the feedback nerves with precise control and pressure. As the loop system returns to normal operation, the brain decreases contraction to the muscle, which gradually restores circulation and allows lactic acid to escape, and the body heals itself. The process is cumulative and once the core spasms have been eliminated, maintenance becomes the objective. The BioPulser® precision percussor is usually utilized during treatment.
WHAT DOES THE TREATMENT FEEL LIKE?
Because endorphin is eliminated and sensation reinstated, you begin to experience the true condition of your muscles during treatment; what you feel depends completely on the condition of your muscles. The less spasm, the less discomfort.
Although the pressure used is light enough not to activate the stretch reflex response (an automatic, powerful contraction of muscle), you may be sore for 3 days as your brain continues to process the information. Bruising can occur after initial session due to increased circulation in weak-walled capillary beds; capillary walls soon heal and are stronger, as the surrounding tissue is no longer compacted.
NeuroSoma activates the body’s own healing power, including long-term changes in musculature, circulation, nerve function, and overall well-being. The speed of change depends on the extent and age of the disturbance, and the responsiveness and speed of your nervous system, which differs in everyone.
It is important to understand that although the first few sessions almost always produce soreness. This is part of the process, which your body eventually welcomes. As the outer muscles become healthier, each succeeding session will leave less soreness, and gradually, deeper muscle layers can be reached. It usually takes 3 sessions to establish a baseline, and is advisable to commit to a series of at least 8 sessions.
Remember: a hard, painful muscle doesn’t want to be pummeled, stretched, or “strengthened” through exercise. It wants to be able to relax.
TO AID IN YOUR RECOVERY you are encouraged to walk at least fifteen minutes a day, drink water, and get adequate rest and nutrition. If possible, avoid prolonged sitting, standing, and overuse/abuse of muscle, as this constricts circulation. And please ~ no icing, hot baths, or ibuprofen; nothing to reduce post-session inflammation, which is part of the body‟s natural healing process.
NeuroSoma is the work of Dr. Thomas Griner, author of, “WHAT‟S REALLY WRONG WITH YOU? A Revolutionary Look At How Muscles Affect Your Health”, and inventor of the BioPulser (biopulser.com ). For additional information, please visit ( neurosoma.com) for more information on the science of muscle function and malfunction.