Marcia Franklin& AssociatesMarcia Franklin& Associates

20 Years in Business20 Years in Business

www.qualitycaresi.ca www.qualitycaresi.ca

418 - 1C Nor th Service Road East • Oakville, ON L6H 5R2 • Telephone 905-842-1707 • Fax 905-842-1028418 - 1C Nor th Service Road East • Oakville, ON L6H 5R2 • Telephone 905-842-1707 • Fax 905-842-1028418 - 1C Nor th Service Road East • Oakville, ON L6H 5R2 • Telephone 905-842-1707 • Fax 905-842-1028

May 2010

inc.personalized care and intense manual therapy for more effective results

��Your referrals are the foundation of our business…. Many Thanks

When we think of physical therapies we usually think of the

mobilization of muscles bones and joints.Current research is demonstrating how

important it is to extend our thinking andmobilization skills to the nervous system.

“Neurodynamics” is the studyof the mechanics and thephysiology of the nervous

system and how they relateto physical symptoms.

The nervous system must be able to move,glide, stretch, and sustain compressive

forces in order to function properly.� From spinal flexion to extension, thespinal canal can elongate by up to 9cm.

� Adding head flexion will elongate the brain stem by 1cm.

� Straight leg raise requires alength change of up to 12% in the

sciatic nerve and surrounding tissues.� Raising the arm above the head

requires the median nerve andsurrounding tissues to lengthen by 20%.

� We sit on our sciatic nerve all daylong causing compressive forces.

� The ulnar nerve musttolerate compressive forces on the

humerus during elbow flexion.An x-ray or MRI might demonstrate

healthy “physiology” in a joint or muscle,however if the “mechanics” of that joint or muscle are incorrect, it can still cause

pain and dysfunction.Similarly, diagnostic testing

of nerve conduction or imaging of a discmay not produce results that objectivelydemonstrate dysfunction, however if that

nerve cannot mechanically glide through itspathway efficiently, it may still produce

neurological symptoms.

Mobilization of the nervous system

start position sciatic nerve

flossing

finish position sciatic nerve flossing

start position median

nerve flossing finish

position median

nerve flossing

Treatment Considerations:

Mobilization and “active range of motion” or “flossing” exercises of the nervous systemare factors that must be incorporated into rehabilitation.All information referenced from “The Sensitive Nervous System” David S. Butler., NOI group publications.

Flossing techniques for sciatic nerve

can be altered to prefer peroneal nerve, sural

nerve or tibial nerve, and are very helpful

with sciatic nerve symptoms.

Flossing

techniques

for the

median

nerve are

very useful

for carpal

tunnel

syndrome.