Neural mobilization and manipulation
How this approach can help your muscles, organs, brain and fascia to function at optimal level.
Precision Is The Name Of The Game
Neural or neuro- meningeal manipulation is a type of manual therapy that specifically treat nerve tension and fixations all throughout the body , including cranial nerves and the meningae- the envelopments of the brain. The more I use Nerve Manipulations in my work, the more I become aware of the effectiveness of this precise approach for a variety of ailments. Nerves are the messengers of the nervous system and relay electrical signals to muscles, organs, and connective tissue(fascia) so these systems can perform their functions.
The state of good health perceived in the body may be a matter of pressure on the nerve that is equivalent to about 5 grams, which is why neural manipulation is performed very gently. Nerve manipulation / mobilization consists of applying gentle but precise pressure to a fixated or restricted nerve in order to glide or floss it through the nerve sheet that houses the nerve inside a tube like a structure. Performing a mobilization on the nerve fixation will free the nerve and will help restore the proper signaling to the compromised structure it innervates and therefore improve the function of this structure- muscle, organ or fascia. This is experienced as a decrease of nerve related symptoms such as pain in the arm or leg, numbness, tingling and/or burning. Compressions of the brain cause dysfunction in the cranial nerves, and intercranial pressure affects the function of the entire body. Cranial nerves Manipulation techniques bring about normal functioning through releasing skull, suture and brain fixations which are typically experienced after concussion, trauma, viral infections or even colds.
Often patients ask if massage is helpful for alleviating chronic muscle spasms and pain. They frequently report that after having a massage in the past, the effects were too short. When I hear this, I suspect that a nerve has been compressed and has not been directly treated yet. In this case, the nerve will be sending continuous abnormal signals to the muscle telling it "to contract" and therefore causes the muscle to spasm and stay tight for a long time. Trying only to massage the muscle will be a temporary solution. If the nerve is treated precisely through nerve mobilization, the nerve will start sending the normal signaling to the muscle and stop "telling it" to stay tensed. Finally, it may be nessessary to release/work on muscle, organ, fascia to restore the communication between nerve and effector-structures. Frequently, the session includes specific exercises known as Neurodynamic exercises, which are designed to reinforce the newly acquired awareness in the body and to sustain the effects of the treatment
Most common examples of nerve fixations are tension in the neck or lower back, but frequently this can happen on the long nerves innervating thighs, calves, forearms.
If there is a compressed nerve in the neck , it may cause radiating pain, numbness, tingling or burning down the arm and fingers, decreased strength to the upper back, shoulder blade, shoulder. If there is compression on the lower back , this may cause sciatic nerve tension that produces similar symptoms on the leg, buttocks, hip regions. Furthermore, this might become one of the mechanisms signaling the famous trigger points phenomenon to unfold. These symptoms would not register yet on conventional clinical tests examining soft tissue functions like EMG, MRI etc. This pre-clinical stage of dysfunction is exactly the time when neuro-meningeal manipulations can prevent further disease development and restore the state of health.
So be wise, make an appointment with experienced practitioner and take care of your health.
Comparative studies found Neural Manipulation beneficial for various disorders such as:
Lower Back Pain & Sciatica
Headaches & Migraines
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Joint Pain
Digestive Disorders
Post-operative Scar Tissue Pain
Swallowing Dysfunctions
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Whiplash Injuries
Birth Injuries
Neuralgia & Neuritis
Tendinitis
Sprains & Traumatic Lesions
Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injuries
And More
French Osteopath Alain Croibier collaborated with Jean-Pierre Barral to develop Neural Manipulation. Visit Barral Institute for more information: http://www.barralinstitute.com/therapies/nm.php
So be wise, make an appointment with experienced practitioner and take care of your health.
