Adaptive lengthening or shortening of the nervous system is essential in order for a
part of the body to move without restriction or resistance. Up until now, most treatment
concepts have focused on normalizing muscle tone and preventing contractures in
muscles and joint, but, as Butler and Gifford have brought to the attention of therapists,
when a part of the body moves, nerves are required to move as well, so that the
integration of nervous system mobilization in treatment if equally important. As the
main function of the nervous system is impulse conduction, it is obvious therefore that
adaptive lengthening, both centrally and peripherally, is essential in order to
accommodate the enormous variety and extent of body movements and postures used in
everyday life impeding nerve conduction. In present day manual therapy, most physical
therapist mobilize the nervous system inadvertently. Probably what may make it more
difficult is that, for most physical therapist, it is a relatively new tissue to contemplate,
at least in biomechanical terms and basic knowledge of structure is generally less than
if joints and muscles. The purpose of this study was to introduce the nervous system
mobilization to a physical therapist who is primary a clinician and who has concerned in
the areas of biomechanics and pathology looking for answers to the clinical problem.
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