Advanced Neural Mobility & Load Integration – Level 2
Theoretical Content (1 Hour)
K-Theorem Pillar: Performance Pyramid, Movement Matrix, Mind
👉 This course currently includes theoretical content only.
📅 Registration for face-to-face practical classes will be available soon. Stay tuned!
1. Course Overview
This course builds on foundational neural tension testing by integrating it into functional, loaded, and real-world environments.
You’ll learn to:
- Assess the nervous system under dynamic conditions
- Apply neurodynamics with movement
- Reduce sensitivity, restore adaptability, and enhance performance
💡 This isn’t about stretching nerves—it’s about understanding how the nervous system behaves under load, pressure, and movement.
2. Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Interpret neural tension behaviour using R1/R2 under load
- Distinguish between mechanical restriction and system sensitivity
- Integrate neural mobility into dynamic movement and strength retraining
- Apply neurodynamics in fatigue, stress, sport, and injury contexts
- Use Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability (DNS) principles to reinforce gains
3. Core Theoretical Concepts
A. R1 and R2 in Advanced Practice
- R1 = initial restriction (often neural or protective tone)
- R2 = full available range
Patterns:
- Somatic R1 ≠ Somatic R2 → muscular restriction
- Neural R1 ≠ Somatic R2 → neural restriction or irritability
- Neural R1 = Somatic R2 → optimal system readiness
B. Sensitivity vs Restriction
| Sensitivity | Restriction |
|---|---|
| Early stiff R1, fluctuating R2 | Consistent resistance with defined end-feel |
| High irritability, variable day-to-day | Predictable, replicable findings |
| Linked to stress, poor recovery, overload | Linked to trauma, surgery, mechanical scarring |
| Often systemic (multiple areas reactive) | Usually localised and specific |
👉 Goal: reduce sensitivity before addressing restriction.
4. Neural Testing Under Load
| Test | Functional Context |
|---|---|
| ULNT1 | Add shoulder press, resistance, scapular movement |
| Knee extension (side-lying) | Integrate into squat or hinge |
| Slump test | Pair with step-downs, hip flexor bias, active reach |
💡 Movement reveals neural behaviour more accurately than static tests.
5. Treatment Strategies
- Low irritability: Neural sliders + movement drills; end-range active mobility
- Moderate irritability: Sliders only; breathing, thoracic mobility, load modification
- High irritability: Breathwork, calm environments; progressive loading later
6. Clinical Reasoning Approach
Shift from: “How tight is the nerve?”
To: “How safe does the system feel under load, breath, and movement?”
Neural testing is a clinical marker for:
- Healing readiness
- Fatigue state
- Load tolerance
- Movement efficiency
7. Client Communication
“We’re checking how your nervous system responds to stress and motion. If it protects too early, we help it calm down so you can move better, recover faster, and perform longer.”
Analogy: “Think of it like a volume knob — we want it turned down enough to allow healthy motion.”
8. Integration With Movement and Load
Once sensitivity is reduced, build robustness with:
- Dynamic mobility
- Control drills under load
- Sport-specific movement (e.g., sprint starts, overhead throws)
- Return-to-function assessments using neural markers
9. Clinical Scenarios and K-Theorem Connection
| Scenario | Application | K-Theorem Pillar |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinter with hamstring overload | SLR + slider → into hip hinge or hamstring ISO hold | Performance Pyramid |
| Overhead athlete with shoulder pain | ULNT1 + scapular retraction drills → into press or throw | Performance Pyramid |
| ACLR patient with fatigue + poor quad drive | Slump test + neural reset + activation circuit | Performance Pyramid |
| Desk worker with neuro-fatigue | Standing slump + thoracic mobility + walking drills | Movement Matrix + Mind |
10. Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability (DNS) Integration
A. What is DNS?
DNS = reflexive, breath-driven neuromuscular control of posture and movement.
It links the nervous system to functional tasks through proprioception, pressure regulation, and subconscious activation.
💡 Not just how far you move — but how well you control it.
B. Core DNS Concepts
| Concept | Clinical Impact |
|---|---|
| Intra-abdominal pressure | Supports spinal control, rib-cage alignment |
| Zone of apposition (ZOA) | Ensures diaphragm-rib synergy → crucial for trunk control |
| Reflex stability | Predictive & reactive motor control under task demand |
| Proximal before distal | Core-centred movement reduces overload |
C. Application Flow
- Breath + pressure training: Supine 90/90, breath holds, resisted exhales
- Segmental control: Wall roll-down, quadruped rock-backs, controlled shoulder flexion
- Load integration: Split stance lunge, dead bug, kettlebell RDLs with breath cueing
D. Cueing Examples
- “Hold the centre — let the limbs move.”
- “Breathe low and quiet — ribs stay soft.”
- “Feel the ground, not your neck or low back.”
11. Case Reflection Prompt
- “Did neural tension resolve, or shift into control issues?”
- “What movement improved when the nervous system was calm?”
✅ You’ve completed the theoretical section.
📌 Practical face-to-face class registration is coming soon. Check back for updates!
📞 If you have any questions, please get in touch with Elite Akademy at (03) 8344 4948, 0498 100 558, or admin@eliteakademy.com
🌏 International format (for overseas clients):
Landline: +61 3 8344 4948
Mobile: +61 498 100 558
