Skin to brain connection
If you’re a movement teacher or a manual body worker there’s one thing I guarantee that you do every day, touch the skin. The skin is the largest organ and potentially the richest sensory organ we have (the eyes probably having the highest level of sensory innervation).
We all know of so many mechanisms that are thought to take place when we carry out a particular physical intervention. Releasing fascia, manipulating joints, realigning bones, shifting energetic points of tension, breaking down adhesions, the list goes on and on…
The thing is, there’s little to no evidence to support most of the proposed mechanisms that are popular. They are so popular that they are often mistaken as fact. Because evidence can be scares, it’s reasonable to expect that our theories are at least biologically plausible which unfortunately isn’t always the case.
The central nervous system is the main system in charge of governing all of our physiological and motor responses. The nervous system governs all other systems and is the most responsive to change. Collagen dense tissues such as tendons, ligaments and other forms of fascia take MUCH longer to change (minimum of a few months). This isn’t to say that these tissues aren’t important or trainable (they are and you can train them) however, when we touch the skin, is it accurate or logical to believe that these collagen dense tissues are the primary driver to creating profound change so quickly?
We’ve all had that experience where a client responds so quickly and positively to a tactile cue or if you’re a manual body worker, your clients/patients immediately free themselves of excessive tension through your touch. Regardless of your modality, the approach is ALWAYS through the skin if it’s tactile.
The skin is incredibly rich with cutaneous nerves (skin nerves) that connect directly to the spinal cord. When we touch the skin, we can modulate (change) the neuro-dynamics of the cutaneous nerves. Changing the narrative that the central nervous system is receiving. If this change in narrative continues, over time the other tissues (muscles and fascia for example) can begin to change and support the new neural organisation of the body and mind. As Diane Jacobs says in her work on dermoneuromodulation, “When we touch the skin, we are touching an extension of the brain.”
The cool thing about all of this is that the level of intensity that it takes to begin to facilitate positive change in the nerves of the skin is quite low. Harder (or more intense) isn’t always better and can actually be detrimental to the health of the individual. This runs contrary to certain physical practices that believe that the more intense you're technique, the deeper tissues you’ll influence.
Whenever we are in physical contact with the body, we are always influencing the sensory landscape of the skin, which in turn influences neurological activity at the level of the spinal cord.
Techniques that I like to use a lot are muscle energy techniques (METS). I find METS very effective in improving flexibility, body awareness and motor control. Because METS involve contraction of muscles, I used to contribute the positive results to the myofascial system and the joints (the various sensory mechanisms in these areas). Although this is the case due to the muscles actually contracting I never used to consider the skin and it’s role in how these exercises might work. It almost seems too obvious but of course the skin has a role to play, we are in direct contact with it.
3/4 of the somatorsensory cortex receives neurological input from the skin so it’s very reasonable to suggest that how you influence an individual’s sensory sense of self is strongly dependent on how you interact with their skin.
If you’re interested in this style of approach and how you can begin to practically implement this modern and logical understanding to exercise, movement and therapy into your practice, join me for my live webinar covering Franklin Method® exercises and embodiments through the perspective of the cutaneous nerves.
During the webinar we’ll be covering:
An introduction to dermoneurmodulation (DNM) the skin – brain connection.
A modern up to date narrative on how touch can positively influence the body.
Debunking certain beliefs about touch (what tissues are we directly influencing)
Franklin Method® imagery and interventions to improve the mind – body connection.
How improving one part of the body improves another part.
Understand how the skin relates to the muscles, fascia, joints and brain.
21st May 2022
Click here to book your space!
Movement is medicine
Tom