Propioceptive-Deep Tendon Reflex

Many people have not heard of this technique but I believe that it will be the future in treating pain and some diseases. This technique focuses on the Central Nervous System and how it interacts with pain and movement. I heard about this technique from a friend in San Francisco. After hearing a brief description of what it was, I HAD to look it up on the internet and YouTube to see what it was all about. Instantly knew that I wanted to pursue this certification after watching some videos.

P-DTR in simple terms is a neurologic approach to pain and performance. When you have pain, there is a signal from that particular area to the brain, that communicates that there is a problem. When you rub or compress that area, it may feel better. This is a neurologic response that may decrease that signal, relieving pain. But this is only temporary, that is where treatment comes in to have a long lasting change in pain and the way you move.

What to expect from an initial assessment:

1. Thorough personal history

2. Gait analysis/movement assessment

3. Muscle Testing

4. Treatment

5. Reassess

6. Integrate with Exercise

To many people looking from the outside in to the treatment, will think it looks very odd. There is a weirdness factor in this type of treatment but know that there is a method to the madness. Very often as a practitioner, we need to elicit a Deep Tendon Reflex. Many people know this as the knee reflex you get from your general practitioner. But there are many more, on the arm, Achilles’ tendon, and the blink reflex. The blink reflex is where the weirdness factor comes in, a lot of times it is easier for us to make you blink to see a reflex than to bang on your knee.

The body is an amazing thing that has many moving parts to it. So in order for us to heal properly, we need to look at the body as a whole and its various systems. This approach in the long run will help people live happier and healthier lives.