Neuromuscular Reeducation

What is NMR?

Neuromuscular Reeducation™ (NMR) is a hands-on technique/approach to the functional treatment of soft-tissue injuries that occur via trauma, repetitive motion, or chronic postural fatigue. Chris Chesterman has personally combined many of the NMR techniques with his sports massage training to create a unique and successful way of treating muscle and joint problems.

NMR is an approach originally developed by Dr. Gary Glum and Dr. Joseph Hourigan and is currently being taught and perfected by Dr. Peter Levy. Chris had the pleasure of studying under Dr. Levy. The NMR technique works off the fact that every muscle in the body is surrounded by a smooth, fascial sheath. Each muscular fascicle and fibril is surrounded by this fascia, which can exert pressure of over 2000 lbs. per square inch.

When an area is injured, whether is it muscle, connective tissue, fascia, tendon, or some combination of these elements (as most injuries are), the body handles this inflammatory response of the tissue to trauma the only way it knows how - through a hyperplasia of the injured tissue. This is followed by fibrous healing and the laying down of a less elastic second-grade, poorly vascularized scar tissue. This is also known as an adhesion. The body does this to protect the involved area to further limit tissue damage. Adhesions form whenever damage and inflammation have occurred but they limit both strength and range of motion.

As the muscle and tendon begin to stretch and encounter an adhesion, the muscle contracts to prevent any further stretching and to protect the area involved. The result is that muscles involved are not as strong, and the range of motion of the involved joint is limited. These adhesions can affect areas that are quite small and other times there can be a number of areas
that are scattered throughout a muscle group or region of the body. Patients experience these adhesions as fibrous, knotty areas that create tension and pain.

The idea behind Neuromuscular Reeducation is that if you can locate the adhesion and scarred area, you can take the muscle through a functional range of motion while using manual deep pressure to break up the adhesion and restore full range of motion. This in turn allows the body to regain its normal movement pattern, thus decreasing pain and improving function.

Please contact me if you have any questions or want more information. I would be happy to discuss any questions and/or concerns with you.

Also see:

CHRONIC PAIN AND TENSION NMR FOR ATHLETES

Scroll to top