Pain and/or loss of performance due to irritated nerves – a neuromuscular problem
The peripheral nerve lines that run through our extremities from the spinal cord supply the skin with sensation (kinesthetic perception, i.e. the sensation of touch) and the muscle fibers with motor signals for contraction (tension).
Nerve-induced pain often manifests itself in stabbing or tingling sensations, sometimes with visible muscular instability or reduced sensitivity to touch.
Performance restrictions due to the constriction or irritation of nerves are usually noticeable through a reduced range of movement or an unsteady feeling in the affected region.
The familiar feeling of “tightness” or “tiredness” in the front hips experienced by many long-term sitters can also be a preliminary form of nerve compression (squeezing). The result is often that you want to “stretch away” the tension you feel in order to get relief.
In most cases, however, the following scenario applies: the muscles and connective tissue surrounding the nerve are hardened due to a lack of neuromuscular control and prevented from gliding smoothly over one another.
Myofascia (i.e. the connective tissue sheaths surrounding the muscles), which our brain does not control optimally, have the ability to form an abrasive (shear) surface, which then irritates the nerves enclosed in it.
Stretching the structures that feel “tight” only makes the situation worse, because it is an instability problem that cannot be solved by stretching! The muscles need to be reactivated because they are either inhibited by past injuries or trauma, or by monotonous everyday positions that restrict the smooth sliding of all layers of connective tissue and the activation of entire muscle chains.
A classic example is the so-called “piriformis syndrome”, in which the hip-rotating muscles are stretched wildly without checking WHERE the tension is coming from. In 9 out of 10 cases, the muscles are neuronally inhibited, which is why an overly rapid stretch does nothing at first, apart from providing brief relief.
Also affected by this issue: stabbing pain, tightness, tenderness or cramps in the back of the leg (back of the thigh or in the calves). This is often due to neuronal inhibition and stretching is not primarily responsible for the problem.
In the picture you can see some of the most important anterior hip muscles, especially the long psoas major muscle (the pork loin-like structure that runs from the lumbar spine to the thigh) is of great importance.
A client had asked me to check on her sharp pain in her front hip, she had always tried to stretch backwards (stretching), but this only made it worse, in a bent position (cycling) it got better.
The neuromuscular tests using NKT showed that the psoas major muscle was neuronally inhibited – thus pressing on the underlying femoral nerve. After further testing, we found that the hip extensor muscles (glutes) overcompensated for their psoas major muscle. A good loosening of the posterior hip capsule and activation of the psoas muscle later, the woman was able to go home without any form of restriction.
The interesting thing about nerve irritation is that, as in this example, the irritation is immediately reduced as soon as the brain has “access” to the inhibited structure again. The gliding within the connective tissue is immediately improved and the associated symptoms also disappear significantly or completely. With homework to memorize the new movement patterns, this can also be permanent.
