HOW DOES ATHEQ WORK FOR MY BODY?
Neuromuscular Resequencing (NMR) and activation techniques for muscular reactivation and inhibition to eliminate pain and improve function.
Atheq utilizes specific neuromuscular sequencing to improve the bodies posture, function, alignment, and performance. We teach how to control and reactivate specific core musculature that are essential to pain free movement, and superior athletic function. Core muscles have often become either weak, or entirely neurologically inactive depending on your unique situation; because of this weakness and inactivity, the brain looks to compensate for this lack of ability by loading different muscles and systems. These compensation patterns become set movement/firing patterns that are incredibly difficult to change without specific neuromuscular reprogramming. A good example of this is hamstring dominance when the glutes (or quads) become weaker/inactive, or hip-flexor issues when hip extension no longer is a glute dominant activation. Through improved neuro-connectivity, activation and proper movement mechanics, these issues and many more can be solved. With improved posture, the correct sequencing of muscular patterns, improved muscular strength in specific areas, and movement mechanics that highlight and support all of these changes, Atheq can help to permanently transform anyone’s physical health. Through regulation of the central nervous system, we can look to transform our mental health as well.
Understanding the role that the brain plays in movement and muscular control, is paramount in the process of healing. To illustrate how important the neuromuscular aspect is, let’s take the example of moving from a seated position to standing. Muscle memory is stored in the brain. Movement patterns are stored in the brain. When we ask ourselves to rise from a seated position and stand, our brains send signals to the central nervous system, that is akin to flipping a switch board.
If you learned how to be a glute dominant/hip dominant mover from an early age (either from watching your parents, peers, or are genetically predisposed) then you’re inclined to repeat and program that muscular firing pattern into every sit and stand that you do. Problems occur when, either due to injury, improper role modeling, or simply poor patterns over time, our brain sees fit to compensate injury/weakness by utilizing undedicated muscle groups to achieve a desired movement; thereby creating improper neuro pathways leading to labored movement; which almost always ends in pain and discomfort.
Moment to moment, our brain tells our body to get from point A to point B, but rarely are we conscious of what muscles we are using to accomplish it. Since movement and firing sequences are largely unconscious to the majority of us, we end up in many movements with far too much of this compensation. This poor compensation occurs when we lack strength in core areas (abs, quads, glutes), so our brain manages to arrive at the desired movement by primarily loading less than optimum muscles—the weaker the muscle, the greater, more labored the compensation. The compensation in this particular case of the glutes, often comes at the expense of paraspinal overloading (low back pain over time), excessive hamstring dominance, or quad dominance. Over time, these inefficient patterns create physical weaknesses. Since these become static activation patterns in the brain, they seldom ever deviate, even with exercise. Exercise only activates the patterns that the brain has access to.
The above is essential in understanding the underlying reason as to why many strength/rehab programs are limited in success. As time goes on, these patterns become more neurologically entrenched, and the systems that should be strong and active become weaker and weaker as the compensatory patterns become even more aggressive. Thus, the slow spiral downwards towards inflexibility, debilitation, and eventual immobility often continues. Resequencing can change that.
Neuromuscular Resequencing (NMR) is the cognitive process of undoing harmful activation and firing patterns by re-learning and re-focusing the brain for the better. This process is done through sensory activation techniques, beginning with eliminating all damaging compensatory activation. In learning how to isolate and activate individual muscle groups and their designated functions, we can learn how to load the proper muscle designed for the desired movement. The proper neuromuscular loading of the correct muscular system often can completely eliminate compensatory patterns, no matter how severe. What can this do for you? While NMR can be utilized in multiple ways to address improper movement patterns, NMR is most commonly used in the Atheq System by addressing areas of weakness or chronic pain/tension. This can include neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, low back, hip, knee, or ankle/foot problems. NMR can also be used to greatly improve athletic performance, endurance and over-all strength as well.
Whether you are an athlete, or someone seeking relief from chronic pain, NMR can help you reorient detrimental activation patterns with the aid of a healthier neurological map. Overtime these new learned patterns of activation translate into unhindered physical movements that can be completely pain free. In your first Atheq session, a simple test will be given to you in which you can analyze your own neuromuscular patterns.
NMR and the Atheq System can help with:
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- Neck
- Shoulders
- Hand/wrist
- Low back
- Hips
- Knees
- Feet/ankles