What is Neuromuscular re-education?

If you or someone you know finds it difficult to move their body due to reasons such as a fall, motor vehicle accident or injury, or age, neuromuscular re-education with a physical therapist may be the perfect treatment option. Neuromuscular re-education has the ability to restore normal body movement patterns to get the body back to maximum range of motion.

In order for movement to occur, our bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves work together to produce movement. The speed at which nerve signals trigger muscles determines the rate at which movement occurs. In addition, as repetitive movement becomes more frequent, muscle movement patterns are learned and stored in one’s memory. A couple of examples of muscle movement are, tying shoe laces, riding a bike, driving a car, typing on a keyboard, or even playing an instrument.

Traumatic injuries, which damage nerves and muscles, can cause various medical and neurological conditions and negatively impact muscle movement of various parts of the body. Neuromuscular re-education is a method used by the physical therapist team at Denville Medical to help return patients to their normal movement patterns.

What does Neuromuscular re-education consist of?

The three top methods used during neuromuscular re-education are:

• Manual techniques
• Activities which promote balance and core control
• Therapeutic exercise

One of the reasons why people may experience pain after developing a neuromuscular injury or condition is because the body is not in its normal form. This is why re-establishing normal kinesthetics and posture of the spine is crucial to help eliminate pain symptoms which may occur during treatment. If normal kinesthetics and posture are not attained, the body will not function properly. The goal is to reduce and eliminate the pain, inflammation and swelling associated with loss of neuromuscular control and abnormal movement.

When someone presents themselves with poor body movement, it typically has to do with issues of the muscles and joints. In order for a joint to be fully functional it needs to have full range of motion. If the joint does not have full range of motion, a decrease in strength and functionality will develop over time. Seeking treatment from a medical professional and physical therapist at the early stages of pain or when having difficulty moving can help identify the root cause of the pain sooner as well as prove to produce a more successful treatment outcome. Loss of motion and strength must be addressed in order to properly reduce and eliminate symptoms and correct the underlying problem. However, neuromuscular re-education of the nervous system must occur prior to regaining muscle strength and full range of motion. Without correcting the neuromuscular re-education process first, “normal” movement patterns are unlikely to be established.

Every patient who seeks physical therapy treatment at Denville Medical and Sports Rehabilitation Center will experience neuro-musclar re-education throughout the entirety of their care. Proper techniques, activities, and exercises will not only aid in the healing process of an injury, but also help reduce the risk of injury to the problem area in the future .

At Denville Medical and Sports Rehabilitation Center, the patient’s physical, neurological and mental challenges are addressed. Denville Medical believes in a full body and holistic approach to care. This goal is to not only get patients better, but also avoid surgery and the risk of future injuries. Denville Medical takes pride in their physical therapist team’s ability to help patients achieve their maximum rehabilitation potential and get patients back to performing the functions and activities they love doing the most. Contact the Denville Medical team by calling (973)627-7888 or filling out the easy online request form.