Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master of Pain Medicine

Recursive Neuromodulation Approach to Musculoskeletal Problems

Definition

Neuromodulation is the deliberate therapeutic alteration of activity within the nervous system. This can be achieved in multiple ways. The system promoted here is a natural sensory stimulation through movement and environmental interaction. The input is variable and dependant on the motor response rather than a fixed or restrictive signal. The process is recursive because the sensory-motor system changes to a satisfactory stable configuration through sequential input. An electrical implant device or drugs affecting the nervous system are examples of more stereotypic forms of modulation.

This system of therapeutics makes use of several facts:

1.The nervous system coordinates and modulates the relationship between musculoskeletal parts.
2.Pain is generated by disordered relationship at a level which may be influenced by movement.

3.Muscles, joints and neural tissues can change their organization and relationship by recursive patterning initiated by thought and transformed by concentration.

4.Ordered patterns can lead to further ordering.

5.When sufficient order is restored pain is relieved.

The Need for Neuromodulation

The musculoskeletal system is highly connected with co-dependency. A shortcoming in one component can lead to strain of other parts.
Cure by component replacement, such as a joint, is not always possible or desirable
Most non-surgical treatments have limited efficacy, aggravating or create dependency.
Surgical interventions can have poor risk/reward ratios.
The dynamics of the skeleton is in its infancy. Interventions can have unexpected negative side effects. Further spread of disorder through the spine can make matters worse.
Most interventions are at best an educated guess.
There is little opportunity to enhance healing or induce full recovery of damaged parts.
Most injuries fail to fully recover.
Most useful treatments are harm minimisation interventions.
Pain is generated by unstable arrangements within the skeleton while interacting with the environment. A component focus will generally fail to assist if there is a systemic fault.

In Practice

A few sessions are usually needed to establish useful patterns which might lead to an ordering and reduction of pain.
Anyone with normal attentiveness can develop sufficient kinesthesia to learn the method. Very few are excluded from benefit.
Many patients with prolonged pain have been assisted by this approach when other interventions have failed. Even patients with rheumatic disorders can be assisted due to the secondary spread of disturbance through the skeletal components.
Neuromodulation is not classical exercise. There is no focus on stretch, strength, endurance or flexibility. The approach is closer to 4D puzzle solving. Each problem and solution is unique although the methodology is the same.

People who might benefit

People in pain.
People who are struggling with multiple interventions.
People with analgesic dependency.
People who need or are seeking independent control of their symptoms.
People seeking to maintain or restore spinal or peripheral joint function.
People seeking to decrease the effects of aging.

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