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.