The Central Integrated State and Mechanoreception

The missing link in health care and the key to resolving difficult conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue

By Michael D. Jones, L.M.T.; Ross A. Carter, J.D., ed.

No doubt exists in my mind that mechanoreception and the central integrated state become even more important in resolving difficult conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

In May of 1988, I sustained a bicycle accident which resulted in a coma and a total inability to function for two weeks. Although no specific pathology was discovered, I was diagnosed with a 35-50% permanent disability.

Medical tests such as CAT scans and EEGs indicated no physical damage. In addition, I experienced all the numerous contacts in the medical field. No one suggested the possibility that my condition was a functional disorder caused by deafferentation to the brain or loss of proper mechanoreception.

My point is that we have forgotten basic neurophysiology which demonstrates the control the body has over the brain when nerve compression or nerve entrapment exists. This results in a lack of proper joint movement and accurate mechanoreception.

I made gradual improvement over a number of years by exhausting various avenues to improve health. However, it wasn't until I consulted with Curt Vreeland, D.C., that I understood the neurophysiology of my condition and started to treat the cause rather than the symptoms.

Dr. Vreeland's credentials are extensive. He is board certified in neurology and applied kinesiology and board eligible in orthopedics. He is a diplomat of the International College of Applied Kinesiology and a diplomat in The American College of Chiropractic Neurology. He has also served as the team physician for the Olympic ski team for several years. The major premise of his work as it applies to ours is that you will not get permanent results in treatment of rehabilitation of these difficult conditions until you change the central integrated state.

The central integrated state is the correct balance of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials and the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs & EPSPs). The central integrated state is changed by increasing afferent, or sensory input.

The basal ganglion, cerebellum, thalamus, and even the cortex, are receptor sensitive. The major receptors which feed back afferent information to the central nervous system are joint mechanoreceptors and one--A afferents in the muscle spindles. A neuron rests or sits at a central integrated state simply integrating the signals of excitement and inhibition.

If the person becomes tight and loses range of motion in any area, especially anterior-posterior movement of cervical vertebrae, then IPSPs override the EPSPs (see EEG #1 as an example) and pain and dysfunction occurs (see reference). A more balanced central integrated state is illustrated in EEG #2.

References
Neuromuscular Therapy Update, Vol. V/Issue 2, (1994) pp. 14-17.

Reprinted from The Chiropractic Journal, April 2001

Neurotherapy is the process of placing electrodes on the skull and stimulating areas of the brain to change brainwave paterns. This can cause improvements in the body and eliminate many uncomfortable conditions. Most of us believe the brain controls the body. What really is true is that the brain and body work together and when either is malfuntioning, the other is affected. Dr. Gardner had approximately 26 treatments of neurotherapy with minimal improvements (see EEG on the left). Since he had so much of an overload from his soft tissues most of the treatment results with neurotherapy were blocked by the abnormal current from the body. After three treatments of the J.H.I.S.T method with Michael Jones (which includes neuromuscular therapy) his pain levels were greatly reduced and EEG results were normal.(see EEG on the right). Also view the arrows that show the sensorimotor readings went from 4.39 which is abnormally high to 1.94 which is in normal range. Dr.Gardner had a dignosis of fibromyalgia.

The Central Integrated State and Mechanoreception

The missing link in health care and the key to resolving difficult conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

By Michael D. Jones, L.M.T., Posture Pro

This is part two of a two-part series which further develops the effect mechanoreception has on the central integrated state as well as free radical pathology, over-stimulation and rehabilitation of our patients.

Leonard Knell, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an orthopedic surgeon who is documenting full resolution of fibromyalgia and CFS with the patients who have completed our protocol. He explains mechanoreception in a letter addressing our protocol:

"There is constant communication between the central nervous system and the body, and between the body and the central nervous system. A sensory stimulus is perceived by the patient at the level of a peripheral sensory receptor.

"This signal travels through the afferent nerve to the spinal cord, up the cord to the thalamus, to the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex and then back down the cord to the stimulated area. If the stimulus is strong enough, it will spread through the intemuncial pool causing widespread dissemination of the signal.

"Our nervous systems work on the basic principle of excitation and inhibition, and this central integrative state of the CNS is dependent on afferent impulses.signals going to the brain. The lack of these afferent signals is called deafferentation and it is Mike Jones's hypothesis that this deafferentation is caused by nerve compression which occurs primarily at the level of the neck, and also by lack of mechanoreception. It is this deafferentation which is at the root of many musculoskeletal symptoms."

Furthermore, when restriction of a joint or muscle occurs, free radical pathology commences. In other words, when our muscles become hypertonic, a decrease in mechanoreception occurs, and we accelerate the aging and disease processes.

Most researchers agree free radical pathology is the biggest singles cause of aging and disease. We often begin rehabilitation too soon, or we begin modalities that may seem to improve conditions locally to a degree, but which interfere with the central integrated state. By interfering with the central integrated state, we create more problems in the long term.

We find approximately 50% of patients with fibromyalgia and CFS cannot even lie on the Posture Pump without increased symptoms and/or pain. However, they will often report they're fine because they've lost proprioception, have very high pain tolerances or are numb emotionally and/or physically.

After neurologically balancing their central integrated state bilaterally by using Dr. Vreeland's techniques and releasing tissues using proper neuromuscular therapy, those same patients can usually lie on the pump comfortably after one therapeutic session. By using these balancing techniques, understanding the sensitivity of tissues and rediscovering the critical importance of mechanoreception, utilization of the Posture Pump can have a major positive effect in your practice.

However, if a patient has above a 3/10 in pain and/or rises too quickly on the pump, setbacks are likely to occur. On average, our patients take about four months to attain maximum height of the pump.

One of the most important aspects of any therapy is to ensure we are not over-stimulating patients and to advise them to adjust lifestyles which are too stimulating. Over-stimulation causes free radical pathology and a disruption of the central integrative state necessary for complete recovery.

Various testing procedures are necessary to ensure the integrity of a patient's neurological system is not being compromised despite apparent short term improvement. Communications and education of the patient are critically important to accomplish this goal.

In addition, everyone has facilitated pathways that will return with over-stimulation unless you ensure your patients do neurological exercises (not physical) to enable them to keep their central integrative state balanced.

They must also be taught to recognize when a previous symptom may be aggravated before they actually feel the symptom. This can be done by various monitoring methods addressing self-administered markers, warning signs and testing.

The more difficult the condition, the more important it is that a patient has the proper tools to allow them to maintain normal tone and mechanoreception.

As set forth in previous articles, we are fully resolving fibromyalgia and CFS as documented by Dr. Knell. We also are collaborating with a Ph. D to ensure we are documenting properly to present our results to medical peer reviews. We are looking for health care practitioners to train in our protocol and to potentially relocate.

If you are using the Posture Pump on difficult patients, call Posture Pro (800) 632-5776 for directions to use with difficult patients and/or those who want to maximize their neurological potential.

Michael D. Jones, B.A., L.M.T.

Call Us: (330)491-0544