NeuroKinetic Therapy

NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) was developed 25 years ago by David Weinstock. David, a seasoned bodyworker, became increasingly frustrated with the temporary results his clients were experiencing. Although his clients were happy with his work and were getting relief, some were coming back the same with little or no improvement. Why? David realized he was treating the symptom and not the cause. David then began integrating muscle testing into his work and started to learn about muscle compensation. He learned that muscles become chronically tight to brace for weaker or inhibited muscles. He then learned about the hierarchy or motor control based on the book The Neural Basis of Motor Control by Vernon Brooks. After putting all of this together, David was then able to help his clients achieve permanency with relief.

In 1996, I became one of David's clients who achieved permanent relief from knee pain. After injuring my knee from playing ultimate frisbee, I met with San Francisco's most reputable orthopedic knee specialist. His examination along with an x-ray and MRI found nothing. He then prescribed anti-inflammatories and physical therapy 3 times a week for six weeks. Unfortunately, neither one of them helped at all and after two months, I was beginning to feel discouraged and hopeless. I then tried chiropractic care with no success.

A colleague then referred me to David, and at that point, I remember feeling so desperate, that I would have called my accountant if I knew he could help my knee. That one session with David changed my life. David identified the cause of the pain, treated me with NKT and gave me some stretches and exercises to do on my own. I was playing ultimate frisbee two weeks later. The pain was gone and never returned. It was that easy! I then found myself wanting to help people the way David helped me.

This experience with David opened my eyes to a truly innovative approach to rehabilitation. David then became my teacher, mentor and friend. Since 1998, I have been helping people achieve the same permanent results that I once did.

What is NeuroKinetic Therapy and how does it work?

NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) is a sophisticated bodywork modality that is used both as an assessment technique and a rehabilitative technique. NKT is founded on Motor Control Theory (The Neural Basis of Motor Control by Vernon Brooks). The Motor Control Center (MCC) located in the cerebellum receives information from the limbic system ("fill my needs") and then the cerebral cortex ("take this route") before passing the information to the spine ("do it") and the musculoskeletal system ("doing it")

The NKT protocol employing a system of precise muscle tests has the ability to change the programming of the Motor Control Center (MCC) in the cerebellum. The MCC coordinates all movement patterns in the body. It learns through failure.

A good example is a baby learning to stand. Through many attempts and failures the baby finally achieves success. But how? The MCC chooses the most successful attempts until standing happens without "thinking" about it. Conversely, after an injury, the MCC adapts to a compensation pattern and holds that in its memory forever unless it is convinced to change. A good example is a whiplash accident in which the posterior neck muscles brace for the anterior neck muscles. The posterior neck muscles can become extremely tight and painful. Massage, stretching, general strengthening exercises, etc., may have little or no effect. Until the pattern is cleared using the NKT protocol (or something similar), the problem can endure forever and the neck extensors will remain locked.

When an NKT practitioner tests the weak anterior neck muscles, they fail thus opening the MCC to new learning. After the balance is restored, the MCC is "reprogrammed" and recognizes the anterior neck muscles. To complete the reprogramming, specific rehab exercises are assigned to "burn in" the new functional pattern.

Who can benefit from NKT?

NKT has helped hundreds of people achieve lasting relief from an assortment of problems:

• Back Pain
• Neck & Shoulder Pain
• Repetitive Strain
• Carpal Tunnel
• Sciatica
• Knee Injuries
• Elbow Injuries (Tennis Elbow, Golfer's Elbow)
• Auto Accidents
• Frozen Shoulder
• TMJ
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Recovery from Accidents, Injuries

Can NKT improve athletic performance and help prevent injuries?

Absolutely! Every sport or physical activity has its syndrome. Meaning there are select muscles that are responsible for a majority of performance. It is common for the the premier muscles to be either overworked and tight, or weak. An overworked and tight scenario is no different than a repetitive strain scenario. Let's look at two popular sports and their syndromes, tennis and running. In tennis, often the elbow tendon (usually the extensor carpi radialis brevis) is overworked and compensating for grip weakness, thus detrimentally affecting power and accuracy of the backhand and forehand. NKT can quickly identify the dysfunctional pattern and replace it with a functional one.

In running, a key muscle involved is the psoas. In fact, it is nicknamed the "runners muscle" because of its importance in performaing a powerful stride. Many runners have a weak psoas muscle, usually due to overworked adductors or overworked deep gluteal muscles. NKT quickly detects if psoas strength is compromised and normalizes function of the muscle. Many runners experience shortened run times when normalized muscle function is restored.

For all athletes who focus on one particular sport, cross training helps to create balanced muscle tone and is an excellent way to prevent injury.

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Key Points About NKT

• NKT identifies and treats the cause of the problem.
• Homework is given that empowers the client to achieve complete healing.
• If you are in physical pain, and you've tried other approaches with little or no success, NKT is likely for you.