Why soft tissue dysfunction is the real “pain” in the neck
Kia ora everyone! Today I want to talk to you about a treatment system that addresses tension patterns and tightness in your body’s tissue. This can be felt by the patient, and we call it “soft tissue dysfunction”. We also consider tenderness in the tissue when deciding on the best course of treatment.
Now, I know that there are many soft tissue methods out there, but I wanted to avoid falling into conceptual traps and pitfalls. That’s why I chose the term “dermoneuromodulation” for my approach. This term reflects the fact that all manual therapies are neuromodulatory and involve the skin, since no one takes the skin off a patient prior to treatment.
But how does this approach work? Well, it has been clinically observed that reducing peripheral pain can improve clinical outcomes such as range of motion. Patients have reported reduced pain, greater ease of movement, better strength, and improved perception of themselves within their own physicality. We are currently conducting a study to verify these outcomes objectively.
Our approach takes into account cutaneous nerves, which convey neural structures to the most superficial outer layer of the arm. We use this knowledge to provide the nervous system with novel stimuli to help it function more easily and economically. We also take into account neurodynamic theory and pain theory to inform our treatment rationale.
Some techniques we use are borrowed from existing methods, but many are completely original. We see all techniques as suggestions only. Once you learn how to engage the nervous system and “feel” it self-correct, you will undoubtedly learn your own easiest ways to go about treating your patients with simple hands-on methods. It’s like training wheels for manual therapy!
Finally, I want to share some interesting facts about skin and its innervation. Did you know that skin weighs as much as the skeleton? Or that it contains 10 times the amount of blood flow necessary for its own maintenance? The cutis/subcutis layer can be up to a half inch thick in the upper arm and has six definitive layers of circulation. Cutaneous nerves are mixed sensory and motor, but their motor fibers are all autonomic.
Thats why with a tool such as dermoneuromodulation is a unique approach to manual therapy that i take into account the nervous system’s interconnectedness and the importance of movement. It provides patients with a non-invasive, hands-on treatment option that can improve pain and mobility. Thank you for reading!