Muscle Activation - What is it?

Muscle activation technique - what is it and how can it help me?

• Over time stress, trauma, or overuse, and the resultant inflammation on the body results in a less efficient muscular system and diminished neuromuscular function. The communication between the nervous system and the muscular system can break down over time causing altered communication patterns. This leads to altered mechanics, trigger symptoms relating to muscle tightness, and pain along with other physical complaints that we associate with aging. The end result of a physical trauma that happened once, or a lifetime of microtraumas can alter the communication as well.  

• Due to this altered communication this affects the contractile ability of the associated muscles making them less efficient. This can lead to progressive weakness, increased susceptibility to pain, injury, and long term degenerative changes. 

• Muscle Activation is designed to re-establish the communication pathways between the nervous system and the muscular system in order to restore muscle contractile capabilities.

• The main indicator of muscles losing their contractile efficiency is limitation in ROM. The exam consists of a muscle specific joint ROM assessment. This allows the Dr. to determine which muscles have altered communication from the nervous system. Then a form of manual muscle testing is done to determine which muscles are actually weak. Once identified the process to improve the contractile capabilities is done by the Doctor. 

• The process involves a form of activation on the muscle while palpating to stimulate the sensory receptors within the muscle in order to improve the input from the periphery back to the central nervous system. This can take anywhere from 10-30 minutes.

• As the CNS reestablishes its communication with the muscle, the muscle itself will experience fewer protective measures. therefore providing the body with a greater sense of stability, which in turn provides the body with more mobility, therefore reducing any associated aches or pains and preventing them from happening again.