Summary
In this podcast episode, the host interviews Michael Rintala, a chiropractor and sports medicine specialist based in San Diego, California, about Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS). DNS is a method of functional rehabilitation that focuses on the connection between the nervous system and muscular system to provide stability and efficient transfer of force and load throughout the trunk and pelvis area. The deep stabilizing group of musculature plays a crucial role in creating a fixed point through the trunk and pelvis, and the coordination between respiratory and postural functions is essential to maintain stability and prevent compensatory patterns.
The Prague School of Rehabilitation developed DNS based on the observation of postural patterns and movement dysfunction caused by imbalances in musculature. DNS was primarily used for rehabilitation of cerebral palsy and the general population in the early 90s, but later on, it was applied to the athletic population, both injured and uninjured. DNS focuses on the central nervous system's influence in facilitating the efficiency of transfer of load throughout the kinematic chain.
The podcast episode also discusses the principles of developmental kinesiology, which is used to explain posture and dynamic stabilization. The pioneers of this discipline emphasize the importance of quality training to facilitate ideal stabilization and synergy, providing centration throughout the kinematic chain. Eccentric and concentric loading of muscles are both important, and emphasis on eccentric control is crucial for injury prevention.
The environment plays a crucial role in healthy central nervous system maturation, and factors such as putting children in shoes or seats prematurely can compromise their development. Sitting in chairs for long periods in school can also lead to postural syndromes and inhibit the descending of the diaphragm, causing a change in respiratory patterns. The quality of stabilization is dynamic and should be managed through full extension, rotation, and flexion.
DNS is becoming more recognized for its value in performance enhancement, but cultural emphasis on numbers and strength capacity can sometimes overshadow the importance of quality of movement and stability. The speaker also talks about their personal experience with chronic pain and how they discovered DNS through Prague School. DNS is a curriculum that teaches concepts and principles for enhancing movement and stabilization, and there are different levels of certification for clinicians and trainers. The speaker emphasizes that DNS is not a cookie-cutter approach and requires practice and integration into existing techniques.
