A Brain Based approach takes into account the sensory information (inputs) that preceded the movement pattern (output).
Where do we get that sensory information from you might ask?
Let’s look at Re-Flex to find out
Notice to the arrows pointing at his eyes and what looks like would be his ears. Your visual system and your inner ear (Vestibular system) are 2 of the main sources of this sensory information. We will save them for another installment.
For now, let’s look at the other arrows on Re-Flex. Notice where they are pointing? Areas in the body that have the highest number of joints are usually big contributors to the sensory information pot. Think about that for a second. If you were going to build a robot – where would you put all the movement sensors? In the bendy parts (joints) or the straight parts (bones) that don’t articulate?
I hope you said the bendy parts unless you want your robot to fall over all the time.
So we humans have a high concentration of these sensors in our:
- Spine
- Hands/Wrists
- Feet/Ankles
- Hips/Shoulder Sockets
They send all of their info up to the brain to form a Map of the Movement Territory so to speak. The better the clarity of the map, the better the quality of the movement.
That’s great…what the heck does have to do with why my ________ hurts??
If you’re having pain, anywhere, rest assured there’s a problem with the map. And if map clarity = movement quality, in order to stop having the same, pain, weakness, tension/stiffness, you’re going have to upgrade the map.
Not just the physical structures (tendons, ligaments, cartilage, disks etc) in the area. In fact, there’s only a small chance they’re the actual problem with map. The painful area is very likely to be the dysfunctional output that is the result of the poor map quality.
A Brain Based Approach recognizes this
- focuses on using the sensors in joints to change the map
- improving its clarity
- making the next output
- your movement
- higher quality and without the same pain.