NKT

What is NKT?

NKT stands for Neurokinetic Therapy. Physical therapists use this assessment technique to find the root cause of a patient’s complaint and unravel the cause of dysfunctional movement patterns. It is an application of Motor Control Theory, neuroscience, and functional anatomy (neurobiomechanics) developed by David Weinstock. This helps determine faulty movement patterns in the brain’s motor control center.

Providers use certain protocols to determine which muscles are inhibited and which muscles are compensating for them. Using this information, they can then create a corrective exercise regimen focusing on proper movement patterns and reprogram the motor control center.
NKT addresses pain at its source: the motor control centre of the brain.

How does it work?

NKT is based on the following premise: when an injury occurs, certain muscles shut down or weaken, forcing other muscles to overwork and overcompensate, causing pain and tightness.
Our brain (Motor Control Centre - MCC) always trying to help us function properly and move pain free. For example if you hurt yourself or had an accident and it is painful to move this causes our MCC to look for other muscles/patterns to perform the same movement pain free. It might be faulty movement - compensation pattern and it might cause long term dysfunction which can lead to pain and injury years down the line.
Using NKT to identify muscle imbalances we can determine which muscles are inhibited and which muscles are compensating for them. NKT allows to assess your nervous systems and see if the muscles and joints work at the same time during movement. Thereby allowing us to utilise specific treatment and corrective exercises techniques to restore proper movement patterns and reprograms the Motor Control Centre.

What is NKT used for?

NKT can be used to assess and treat a variety of conditions. These include: 

  • postural issues
  • joint pain 
  • neck or back pain
  • gait dysfunction
  • pre or post-surgical patients
  • TMJ
  • scars

Instead of chasing symptoms, therapists can use NKT to find more direct causes of pain, tightness, or weakness. However, the patient still needs to perform their corrective exercises to allow their body to accept the changes. This will eventually override the dysfunction and create a new, functional movement pattern. Every patient is different and some will take longer to see results than others.

Some of the benefits of NKT:

  • Achieves faster, longer-lasting results than many methods
  • Eliminates enduring patterns of dysfunction from old injuries
  • Reduces the effects of repetitive stress injuries
  • Enhances athletic performance
  • Quickly improves muscle coordination
  • Increases range of motion, energy, strength and stamina throughout the body
  • Helps to prevent injury

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