P-DTR (Proprioceptive-Deep Tendon Reflex) is the number one tool Level Up offers to assess the nervous system and how your body processes dysfunctional information. In this blog we will go over how dysfunctional information is created, how it is used, some examples, when you should consider this treatment, and comparing Massage Therapy and P-DTR
How Dysfunction is created:
Dysfunction in your body can be created at any point during your life till the day you die. This means that even physical, chemical and emotional trauma from your childhood can affect your body and manifest as pain, weakness, or a decrease in range of motion or more.
An easy example of dysfunction being created could an ankle sprain. The moment you sprain your ankle your body creates compensation patterns (Plan B) so you can still move and survive. The entire structure doesn't just give up. This means stretch receptors and much more are altered to fit this new pattern. Eventually your soft tissue like the ligaments, muscles, and tendons will heal but your body will still prefer Plan B as opposed to Plan A which was the original function of those joints and muscle groups and most optimized.
How dysfunctional information manifests in your body
You have receptors throughout the body that can sense temperature, pressure, stretch and much more. This information travels through your nervous system, along the spinal cord and into the brain. From there it produces a motor response that comes in the form of muscle movement and more. If you have some old trauma that has caused dysfunction of those receptors that take in information though it 'll send corrupted data to the brain and produce a dysfunctional response. This dysfunctional response often manifests as pain, weakness, reduce range of motion, organ issues, and much more.
How P-DTR can help?
P-DTR is a technique that allows us to assess where the dysfunctional receptors are and reset them. So we basically can take you back from plan B to plan A. This is done by using a series of tests and protocols to read how the body interprets information.
When to use P-DTR?
P-DTR can help to identify and correct the issues that is the highest priority to you and your nervous system. This means it is not only helpful at removing the current issue you are dealing with but it is also amazing at preventing those issues from elevating to the level that causes acute pain in the first place. Often times small patterns of dysfunction are created and they don't cause too many issues. However, when small patterns are left untreated they cant sometimes become larger and require more compensations to be recruited, leading to larger and chronic issues in the future. Sometimes Plan A can be be initially injured and become plan B. Then further injury leads to another backup which is Plan C. If this pattern is used for too long it can affect the structural components of the body making it possible to never return to plan A. It is always much better to prevent injury than to recover from it.
Massage Therapy Vs P-DTR
Massage Therapy and P-DTR are both very different but both have benefits. Many of my clients are scheduling 90min sessions and spend the first 45-60mins doing functional neurology and then switch to massage therapy for the last 45-30mins to help relax and for nurturing touch on the area of focus.
When to use Massage Therapy:
Break apart scar tissue and adhesions
Boost Circulation
Stimulate Lymphatic Drainage
Increasing parasympathetic activity (Reduce Stress)
Manual work on tight muscles
When to Use P-DTR:
Find the source of why muscles are tight
Digestive issues
Decrease Pain, Reduced ROM, or muscle weakness
Organ and Meridian Issues
Increase muscle output
Spinal Issues not related to bone or nerve damage
...much much more.
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