“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity and I’m not sure about the former.” – Albert Einstein
Throughout history, great discoveries have been met with resistance long before they were ever accepted. Today we accept that the world is round without the slightest doubt. Yet, if you asked anyone in the fifteenth century they would have told you that it was undoubtedly flat.
In an age where sports performance and medical professionals have come to rely heavily on high-tech equipment to decipher what is wrong with their athletes, we must understand that there is a big difference between knowing and understanding. While not designed to replace these screening and assessment procedures, one must recognize that you must first understand what is occurring within the body to produce the said ‘asymmetries’ before you can ever accurately treat an athlete. Even then, one should never assume that the obvious is true because the brain is constantly recalibrating 24/7 due to things like gravity and time.
Additionally, if a dysfunction is improperly assessed for long enough, the dysfunction becomes worse and can result in significant injury to an athlete. It’s because the human neuromuscular system contains the brain, spinal cord, and all related structures that any restriction or imbalances in the system may directly affect any or all aspects of the nervous system performance.
Why should it surprise us that we can rely on the body’s own inner guidance to facilitate a positive response through the manual use of our hands? In my mind, this is healthcare in its most uncomplicated form. A collaborative effort between two people simply allowing the body to do what it was meant to do best. Sometimes we are so caught up in the world of high tech ‘data’ that we forget what a highly skilled therapist can possess. They have an ability to assess in ways that are just not possible with conventional medical screening equipment and these results are an adjuvant to any high tech assessment data.
“First they will laugh… after that they will either deny or follow you.”
― Kushiro Shoko
Whether working with patients who have undergone many surgeries and treatments that have physically changed their body or working with elite athletes, we are all human beings. Although not everyone has a 100 million dollar contract, everyone’s human nervous system DOES work the same way. No exceptions.
Last time I checked, the brain is an incomparable guide if you understand and will take the time to listen. And therein lies the rub…
Cheers, DRock
Want to learn more about improving your functional movement and sports performance? Then follow Dianne on her blog https://dtasmblog.wordpress.com
Dianne Rockefeller is a Athletic Performance Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Muscle Activation Specialist, MAT Certified Jumpstart Trainer, National Academy of Sports Medicine – Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, Certified Myoskeletal Therapist, Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner, and Certified Cupping Therapist. She treats athletes of all levels, from youth to professional, ALL sports. She brings a very unique perspective to manual therapy utilizing her experiences with motion analysis and sport. Her blend of advanced integrated skills along with practical and rehabilitation experience deliver exceptional results. Dianne is a self-proclaimed scholar of “Applied Sports Performance Therapies”. Contact Dianne at drock@dtasm.com or 210-973-4848.
