Unlocking Your Body’s Potential: How SMR Therapy Transforms Compensation Patterns
Curl your toes when lifting heavy objects? Clench your teeth, arch your back, fixate your eyes in one direction, or tilt your head? These seemingly small habits are likely not just quirks—they are compensation patterns due to faulty sensory input or complex safety mechanisms within your nervous system.
At Vancouver SensoriMotor Repatterning Clinic, I see these patterns daily, and more importantly, I resolve them. One recent case involving a concussion client showcased just how adaptive the nervous system can be under stress.
A Case Study: The Mystery of the Ankle Flex
This client had been coming to me following a car accident. We were working on bringing their muscles back to normal function, which in turn would likely reduce the post-concussion syndrome symptoms they were having. On a particularly rainy day, they arrived at the clinic, noting that their symptoms had spiked during their 40-minute drive.
During an SMR session, I test around 100 muscles while the client lies on a treatment table, ensuring correct motor control. Once the nervous system learns to correct these muscle functions lying down, we progress to testing in a standing position. This client was ready for that next step.
When testing their leg muscles, I noticed something unusual—their ankle was flexing stiffly upward during the tests. If the foot was in this specific position, their muscles tested strong. However, in a neutral or downward position, the same muscles appeared weak.
After rechecking the leg and even upper arm muscles, the pattern remained the same. When the foot was in 'dorsiflexion' (bent toward the head), all muscles tested strong. Otherwise, they did not. This was a clue that the nervous system had entered a state called global inhibition—a safety response where the nervous system inhibits all muscles.
Why Does This Happen?
Our nervous system is constantly evaluating safety. For this client, the rainy drive was a trigger. The nervous system linked acceleration with danger, and as a protective mechanism, decided that inhibition was safer when the foot was in a position that would suggest acceleration.
Inhibition is perceived as safer for the nervous system, as during an impact, the force is transferred through the body instead of being compounded at the nearest joint.
When the foot was in a position that symbolized being off the accelerator (in dorsiflexion), the nervous system immediately returned to normal muscle function. This fascinating yet disruptive pattern could have persisted for hours, but once discovered, we could resolve it in minutes with SMR.
How SMR Therapy Helps
Using SMR therapy, I identify faulty movement patterns and target associated acupoints. With light and specific tissue manipulation over these points, the nervous system quickly recognizes and resolves dysfunction. This resolve occurs because the functional part of our brain can correct safety mechanisms if it becomes acutely aware of them. In this instance, the client's spike in symptoms began to diminish within minutes.
By the end of the session, we had found and corrected an additional 15 inhibited muscles associated with the concussion. This quick and effective transformation highlights just how adaptive our nervous systems are.
What Makes SMR Therapy Different?
Muscle inhibition is a dynamic safety response, meaning your position or environment can significantly alter muscle function. That's why I test clients lying down, seated, standing, and in complex functional positions. Whether you’re a high-level athlete or just looking to move without pain, I ensure your nervous system is resilient and ready to handle real-world stresses.
Faulty Sensory input or stress (whether physical or mental) can cause these compensation patterns to engage dynamically. Using balance and other techniques, I introduce manageable stressors to test whether your nervous system remains functional or defaults to inhibition (note that the nervous system can also cause muscle overactivity, but inhibition is more common). My ultimate goal is to make your nervous system robust, ensuring your body functions correctly even under stress.
Are You Ready to Reprogram Your Body?
If you’ve been living with unexplained muscle weakness, persistent pain, or lingering symptoms from an injury, SMR therapy could be the missing piece of your wellness puzzle. Don’t settle for short-term fixes—experience long-lasting change with a therapy designed to work with your body’s natural intelligence.
You can book an SMR assessment with me here and start your journey to a stronger, more resilient you!
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