Roswell Chiropractor Talks DNS

What is DNS? 

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a unique rehabilitation strategy based on the principles of developmental kinesiology and the neurophysiological and biomechanical aspects of the maturing postural–locomotor system.  This is a fancy way of saying: observing how healthy babies move as they mature and applying these movement patterns to train proper stabilization in patients of all ages. Humans are born immature and in the first few years of life posture and function mature.  If there are complications in function due to neurological issues in the brain (this occurs in about 30% of babies), the coordination and structure are compromised.  The sooner these imbalances are addressed and treated, the better the baby and the child/adult will develop and function properly.  DNS teaches experienced doctors and therapists how to assess and correct developmental faults and retrain the brain and body to function properly.  When treating babies, the parents are taught ways to stimulate the developing baby at home to overcome functional obstacles in their brain and body.  This is a wonderful bonding experience for parents and their babies and saves a lot of time and money by avoiding the need for frequent care in our clinic.

How is a treatment plan determined? 

Humans are born with “primitive reflexes”.  By 3 – 4 months of age, many of the primitive reflexes should have been abolished as the nervous system develops. By observing both these reflexes and movement patterns which change as the baby’s nervous system matures, we can determine the developmental age of the baby.  If the developmental age is 3 months and the chronological age is 6 months, there is a developmental lag which can be improved with DNS treatment and exercises done at home with the baby. These functional imbalances can persist throughout a person’s life if not corrected. 

What are the origins of DNS and who benefits from it? 

DNS was initially used to treat babies with cerebral palsy, and it evolved to treat older patients with neurological and orthopedic conditions.  Now, it is widely used to help improve professional and amateur athletes’ performance throughout the world.  We have all heard of “core strength”, but most approaches attempt to strengthen the core from the outside in.  DNS teaches how to strengthen the core from the inside out, based on proper breathing techniques.  Diaphragmatic breathing and pelvic floor training are essential to understanding proper core activation.  Dr. Fowler, a chiropractor in Roswell, treats strong athletes with spinal injuries due to improper training of core stabilization. We take 10,000,000 breaths every year; needless to say, the way we breathe becomes learned very strongly right or wrong. The common term used is “muscle memory”; the clinical term is engram programming.  If you’ve learned the wrong way to breathe, you are going to have painful conditions develop in your spine over time.  The back is protected by increasing intraabdominal pressure.  This is created by proper muscle activation and proper breathing; this can be taught in our clinic in Roswell.

I see facets (joints in the spine) develop pain and arthritis commonly due to inactivation of the gluteal muscles leading to faulty hip extension.  Instead of the fulcrum occurring at the hip joint, it occurs in the lumbar spine facets, and they become damaged.  By retraining the movement and treating the joint dysfunction, this problem is often resolved.

-Ray Fowler

Does DNS complement DNFT? 

In our clinics, located in Roswell and Buckhead,  Directional Non-Force Technique (DNFT) is used to evaluate and treat cranial, spine, pelvis, and extremity problems.  As the name implies, there is no “twisting or cracking” with this technique.  I am not denigrating traditional chiropractic techniques, just pointing out that there are other approaches available should there be a preference or contraindication to the traditional more forceful manual therapy techniques.   In DNFT a very precise neurological evaluation identifies the 3-dimensional listing or position of bones and muscles needing to be treated.  DNS is a wonderful complement to chiropractic as it provides an assessment to identify functional movement patterns.  When movement is faulty, damage occurs in joints and muscles.  Left untreated, these faulty movements can lead to severe pain.

Can you retrain movement patterns at home? 

There are wonderful exercise rehabilitation strategies in DNS as well.  These are not the usual strength training typically taught in gyms, rather they are based on stabilization and movement strategies.  Stu McGill, PhD one of the most respected spinal engineers teaches us that while strength and fitness is needed for athletic performance, they don’t protect us from injury. Stabilization and endurance protect us and help us recover from injury.

Can DNS help athletes? 

We fix a lot of patients and get them back to exercise after injuries that failed previous treatment approaches.  Often the other treatments were not incorrect, but incomplete.  DNFT and DNS, along with the conservative orthopedic management approach taken at Fowler Chiropractic and Rehabilitation clinics is much more comprehensive than the singular approach taken in most chiropractic and physical therapy clinics.  

How long has Dr. Fowler been practicing DNFT and DNS? 

 Dr. Fowler has been studying and practicing DNFT since 1979, and DNS since 2003. He has practiced six different styles of Karate and Kung-Fu over the past 50 years and has learned firsthand how injuries occur and how to treat and prevent them.  He was the first DNS practitioner to become certified in pediatric developmental neurology.  He treats infants, children, adults, and geriatrics.  The techniques used in our clinic treat the cranium, spine, pelvis, and extremities.  We treat athletes and non-athletes alike, with the same compassion and skill from decades of training and experience.

Through treatment, advice, and referral when indicated we will find solutions to help you live a happy and healthy life. -  Ray Fowler 

Are you curious if DNS could benefit you or your family? 

We invite you to call if you have questions about how your concerns would be evaluated and treated in our clinic in Roswell.  We encourage you to schedule a phone consultation with Dr. Fowler at no cost or obligation. 

 Call us at 770-641-8283.