Neuroplasticity is defined as the brain’s ability to change and reorganize itself and its function after repeated practice or training.
That’s right our brains can change!!! And that’s where changing movement and pain begins.
Our brains are made up of billions of neurons. Neurons connect to one another, forming pathways that relay information. We learn things (including all our movement patterns) by forming neural connections in response to associations in our everyday experiences. Every time we learn something, we form a new neural pathway and the more we rehearse and practice the new learned skill the more ingrained or automatic the pathway become. There is a saying in neuroscience, “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” The more we practice something, the more we strengthen the pathway, and the easier the skill becomes. The inverse happens too, if those pathways aren’t regularly and correctly utilized, the space will be used by other pathways needing room to grow. In addition to experience through repetition, research also demonstrates the importance of focused attention in neuroplasticity. Focused attention means you are mentally focusing on what you are learning, paying complete attention to what you are doing in the present moment. When you are distracted, your brain cannot map the information and memory is not stored.
We encourage our clients to reMIND themselves to apply focused attention whilst practicing any of their daily exercises such as breathing, specific muscle activation, Monkey Feet, Sumo, Bear, Dead Cockroach, etc.
