What is Neurokinetic Therapy and why would I need it?
Neurokinetic Therapy® (also known as NKT) is a natural body work therapy that focuses on reprogramming dysfunctional movement patterns and faulty muscle function on a motor control level. When the body has an injury, overuse, fatigue, or imbalance it will create a compensation pattern to support the loss of function that occurs. Over time this compensatory pattern becomes the new norm and is stored in the Motor Control Center (MCC) of the brain, which coordinates all movement in the body. This new pattern is not the optimal motor control pattern for proper function and instead creates tightness, weakness or discomfort in the body. Pain and possibly loss of range of motion results from muscles overworking for other muscles that are under working. Simply stretching and releasing the tight muscles will not change this neurologically programmed movement pattern.
Have you gone for a massage, felt better for a few days, only to have the same pain or dysfunction recur? Does this sound familiar? This very situation is exactly why I became interested in Neurokinetic Therapy®. The human body is an amazing compensator! Our survival instincts combined with our ability to ignore the signals our body gives us (tightness, pain, stiffness, discomforts) allows it to compensate in every way imaginable to keep us working, playing, exercising past our functional capabilities at times. We create compensation purposefully to keep moving and minimize our pain and fatigue, but this is also exactly how we create dysfunction with compensation upon compensation. Quite a circular issue!!
Using NKT protocol I can assess muscle function through specific muscle testing, evaluate the motor control patterns, and identify dysfunction to see which muscles are over active and which are under active. Through specific release and activation these dysfunctional patterns can be reprogrammed to have a lasting effect on the body’s function. Client participation and corrective movement is a key piece of creating a NEW functional movement pattern and to integrate it in the MCC.
Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) FAQ
What is Neurokinetic Therapy and how does it work?
NeuroKinetic Therapy is a hands-on assessment and treatment approach that looks at how your brain and muscles communicate. When you get injured, overuse a muscle, or move in compensating patterns over time, your body "learns" faulty movement habits — even after the original injury heals. These faulty patterns are stored in your motor control center (a part of the brain), and they're often the real reason pain or tightness keeps coming back no matter how much you stretch, foam roll, or get massages.
Why do I keep getting the same pain back after a massage?
If pain returns days after a massage, it's often because the muscle tightness is a symptom of a deeper compensation pattern, not the root cause. NKT addresses the neurological pattern driving the tension, so the correction lasts rather than the body simply recreating the same tightness.
Can Neurokinetic Therapy help with old injuries or scar tissue?
Yes. Scar tissue from surgery, C-sections, or injuries can inhibit or overactivate nearby muscles for years after healing. NKT assesses and releases these scar-related compensation patterns, which can immediately reduce pain and restore strength in the affected area.
Does NKT help with back or knee pain?
Yes, Because the source of back or knee pain is often not where it is felt. NKT evaluates the full kinetic chain (gait, hips, core, neck) to find the actual dysfunction causing the joint above or below to overcompensate.
Can NKT help after a car accident or whiplash?
Yes. Whiplash from car accidents, falls, or concussions strains the neck, shoulder, and head muscles, which often compensate in ways that trigger chronic headaches and tension. NKT resets the muscle firing pattern to relieve these compensations at the source.
Is Neurokinetic Therapy good for postpartum or C-section recovery?
Yes, NKT is especially effective for C-section recovery because scar tissue commonly becomes a hidden compensator for the back, abdominal muscles, and core. Releasing that scar connection can quickly reduce back/hip pain and restore core strength.
How is NKT different from regular massage or chiropractic care?
NKT targets the neurological pattern behind pain (which muscles the brain has learned to over- or under-use), while traditional massage or chiropractic care primarily addresses the muscle tissue or joint alignment directly. Many clients use NKT alongside massage or chiropractic for longer-lasting results.