Neuromuscular Re-education

Each muscle can produce movement in only one plane. A complex movement, requiring transposition in several planes or rotation is supported by several muscles. Muscle contractions are initiated by nerve impulses fired in a specific sequence or in parallel, ensuring that contractions of all muscles propagate the overall movement. This fine tuned sequence of impulses causes muscles to work together or “in assembly.” Muscle assembly work is a characteristic to normal condition of not traumatized muscles, tendons and nerves.

When an individual experience trauma in a joint, including spinal segment, and/ or muscle, the nerves that service the injured region can also be traumatized. Not only joints loose stability in the traumatized region and muscles loose bulk, but also some associated nerves don’t fire properly timed and sufficient impulses. As a result, some muscles that ought to carry some portion of the movement don’t carry it. Work of such muscles has to be delegated to the remaining muscles, leading to their overwork and, in general, to inability of the region to produce the movement to the extent that healthy region could. In such cases we refer to such muscles as not working in assembly or nor aligned.

Neuromuscular re-education is a sequence of techniques and exercises that reinstates the proper work of the muscles in the injured region; re-aligning proper work of nerves and teaching muscles to work in assembly once again.

Neuromuscular assembly work training, that includes isokinetic exercises, causes neuromuscular re-education and, at the same time, it contributes to gross muscle mass increase.

Another important component of neuromuscular re-education is referred to as “Post isometric relaxation techniques.” These techniques implement isometric exercises that are necessary in order to eliminate muscular disease.  Both isokinetic and isometric exercises are explained in details the  video below

The warm up routine that Boris proposes in vertical and horizontal positions on self video #7 also facilitates the neuromuscular re-education i.e. teaches muscles to work in assembly. This routine also proportionally activates muscle groups, balances muscular tone, and fills up microscopic blood vessels (capillary reservoirs) with arterial (oxygenated) blood.

All of these methods are “must do’s” because they are equally important in order to prevent sports injuries and re-injuries, as well as to prevent acceleration of osteo-arthritis development.

For better results repeat each isokinetic exercise at least 8 movements of each proposed direction, twice a day, four times a week, for a period of 7 weeks.