This rehabilitative technique can benefit women suffering from lower back pain and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Understanding Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization
Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a rehabilitative technique designed to restore and optimize locomotor function. This concept was created by the Prague School of Rehabilitation and centers on developmental kinesiology, which refers to the motor control that is developed in the first years of life, and the role it plays in establishing and restoring proper movement patterns. DNS can address musculoskeletal conditions and improve movement quality through exercises that focus on stabilization and coordination between muscle groups.
What to Expect
Early movements are a foundational part of these rehabilitative exercises. During therapy, patients may mimic developmental positions that occur in the first year of life, such as crawling, squatting, and various other stabilizing positions performed while sitting or lying down. Therapists may also incorporate breathing exercises to engage targeted muscles. DNS exercises emphasize the activation of core muscles, such as the diaphragm and pelvic floor, to help reprogram the body to optimize movement.
Benefits to Patients
Among other uses, DNS can be integrated into rehabilitative treatment plans to benefit individuals experiencing lower back pain or pelvic floor dysfunction – both common conditions that affect women more prevalently, with 1 in 3 women experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their lifetime. DNS exercises and breathing techniques can help stabilize weak lower back and pelvic floor muscles, leading to relief from pain and symptoms of dysfunction and improved overall movement.
An Expert Weighs In:
“Change your life by focusing on proper breathing technique. Breathing through your nose into your belly rather than your chest can help release a lot of tension throughout your body.”
Callie Lance, DC, MS, CCSP, ART
Owner/Chiropractic Physician, Chattanooga Sports Chiropractic Institute, PLLC
Meet the Author
Rachel Studebaker, BA, English, Summa Cum Laude
Rachel Studebaker is a graduate of Lee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in advertising with the distinction of summa cum laude and served as editor-in-chief of the university’s biannual magazine, The Vindagua. After graduation, Rachel joined CMC Media & Marketing Group as an editor. Today, she serves as managing editor and is responsible for leading the editorial team in the development and completion of content for 17 publications involving health & wellness, business, sports, and lifestyle published in print and online for HealthScope® and CityScope® magazines as well as Choose Chattanooga® and Choose Huntsville™ – premier publications serving Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and North Alabama. In addition to writing, editing, and coordinating copy, Rachel oversees networking and reputation management for the company’s publications. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.
