The Next Wave in Bodywork
Neurostructural Oscillation or NSOŠ is a new modality that I am developing that employs gentle touch, usually only two to ten ounces (2-10 oz) depending on muscle tension and size, which has been shown to produce amazing results.
It has been used on patients of every type with great success! The only caveat to this statement is the patient must need this deep work done. If they are generally in better than average condition with no injuries, then it may not be as effective because the muscles are not holding on to excess tension.
What can you expect to feel?
Virtually nothing! (You will probably start thinking, "When is this guy going to start doing something!?") The oscillatory wave is so subtle that the patient can barely feel it. However, when patient is asked to do a muscle comparison of the treated versus non-treated sides, their reaction is most commonly, "This side feels soooo relaxed! But you didn't do anything! I mean you must have done something, but I didn't feel anything!!"
How does it work?
The non-medical explanation:
The oscillatory wave creates a reaction in some very specialized cells within the muscle that cause the muscle to greatly relax
The medical explanation: (at least in theory)
We first need to understand how muscles work from a neurological standpoint. Muscles are comprised of both extrafusal and intrafusal fibers. The extrafusals are the main contractile component of the muscle while the intrafusals, also known as spindles, monitor muscle length and tone.
The extrafusal fibers are innervated by α (alpha) motor neurons and the intrafusal fibers are innervated by γ (gamma) efferent neurons. When the muscle is quickly stretched, type II afferent neurons send a signal to the spinal cord causing an impulse to be sent back by way of the γ efferent neurons to the spindles which in turn cause a change in tone of the muscles.
"Through complex central control systems, the spindle is preset for the anticipated action of the muscle. If the muscle action and the spindle set are not congruent, abnormal muscle tone might result." [1]
The golgi tendon apparatus lies in series with the extrafusal fibers and is sensitive to muscle tension. As the muscle contracts or is put on passive stretch, tension builds up on the golgi tendon apparatus, which provides information through the IB fibers resulting in inhibition of the α motor neurons. [2]
In short, the complex control mechanisms that are programmed within the spinal cord can learn both normal and abnormal programming of the muscles. [3] "Persistent abnormal afferent stimulation from the periphery can change cord level programming and result in aberrant muscle behavior." [4]
So the operating theory behind NSOŠ is that the oscillatory wave builds tension on the golgi tendon organ causing the spindles to release the tone of the muscles. Because the human body has preset programming, it inherently knows in what position both muscle and structure should normally lie. When the body ceases to hold aberrant tension, it will return to its normal resting position.
Success Stories
Two of my best success stories thus far have occurred with four patients. Three of the patients had the same condition, a pelvic torsion (twist) and the fourth was a 53 year-old woman that had a stroke at a very young age due to a vascular anomaly in her brain.
To treat a pelvic torsion, I have created a neuromuscular maneuver that sets the body up to correct itself. It is somewhat invasive in nature but it is 100% effective. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be very painful. It is always the last stroke that I do in a session to achieve the maximum possible effect.
However, with the first of the three patients mentioned above, when I got to the point in the session where I would do the NMT maneuver, I re-checked the patient alignment and to my amazement, the pelvis had corrected itself!! What a wonderful accident I thought to myself. But it was not an accident. It repeatedly occurred, which was when I realized that I had discovered a way to positively affect structure and still maintain my scope of practice. (The rules by which I have to practice)
The fourth patient, the one that had the stroke, I had gotten as a referral from another therapist. I had seen her five times at this point and had achieved some fairly good results. The left side of her body is underdeveloped and her left arm is in full contracture. This means that her arm is bent up at the elbow and her wrist is fully flexed with her thumb tucked inside of her fingers. Plus her left big toe is always lifted toward the top of her shoe (dorsiflexed).
In previous sessions, I was able to help her gait (the way she walked) and increase the range of motion (ROM) in her arm but do virtually nothing for her hand or her big toe. But then I told her about NSOŠ and asked if she would like to try it. She consented and to make a very long story short, was able to extend her wrist to the point where it looked normal, open her hand, and extend her fingers.
By her account, this was the first time since the stroke had occurred some 35 years earlier that her hand had been in that position without extreme pain. PLEASE DO NOT LET ME MISLEAD YOU!!! Her hand and arm did not stay in this position. I was able however, to repeat the extension several times during the session.
Finally and most amazingly when I got to her big toe, I simply put my hands around her toes and the big toe relaxed into a normal position and stayed there the rest of the session!!! When she came out of the treatment room she asked if I knew what total spasticity was and I replied that I understood the concept but had no experience with it.
She said, "Well I have it but right now it is completely gone!!" She paid and walked out the door with almost no limp at all.
Keep checking back and I will keep you updated with her progress.
[1] Principles of Manual Medicine, Second edition, Philip E. Greenman, Williams & Wilkins 1996
[2] Principles of Manual Medicine, Second edition, Philip E. Greenman, Williams & Wilkins 1996
[3] Principles of Manual Medicine, Second edition, Philip E. Greenman, Williams & Wilkins 1996
[4] Principles of Manual Medicine, Second edition, Philip E. Greenman, Williams & Wilkins 1996
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