Listen or Read Dr. John Vilkelis’ Podcast Interview!
Topic – Neuromuscular Re-education
Below you will find an easy to read transcript of Dr. John Vilkelis’ monthly podcast interview. You can click the video to listen to the podcast or simply read the easy to follow transcript below. Enjoy!
Podcast Interview:
Podcast Interview:
RC: Hello everyone. This is Liz Harvey coming to you from our studios in New York City where we are dedicated to bringing you top quality advice from many of the leading expert professionals across the US. In today’s episode, we are speaking with chiropractor Dr. John Vilkelis of Vilkelis Chiropractic, located on West 57th Street in New York City. Dr. Vilkelis has been in chiropractic practice for over 20 years since graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic. He has been affiliated with the New York Theater Ballet as well as local and regional rugby all-star teams. He has been awarded for his work treating many emergency care workers and support staff in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center in 2001. Dr. Vilkelis is widely considered to be one of the top chiropractors in the US and is also a contributing member of our national network of industry professionals.
RC: Today we’re going to talk about a very important topic: Neuromuscular Re-education.
Hi, Dr. Vilkelis, how are you today?
Hi, Dr. Vilkelis, how are you today?
Dr. John Vilkelis: I’m very good, how are you, Liz?
RC: I’m doing great, thanks so much for being here.
RC: How do you explain what neuromuscular re-education is?
Dr. John Vilkelis: Well, the first thing we have to explain so you understand that is what a subluxation is. A subluxation is the thing that I’m looking for and correcting in my office. What it means is, the bone has moved out of place in your spine, and it is putting pressure on the nerves so that the nerves aren’t functioning the way they’re supposed to. That means that the communication between your brain and your body is being altered in both directions.
What that means is, when you have a subluxation and you have an injury process going on, then you brain thinks that everything is functioning normal. The musculature out in your body is not functioning correctly. It’s not firing the way it’s supposed to be.
When we do the neuromuscular re-education what we’re doing is we’re forcing the musculature to fire correctly, so that by doing it over and over, over a period of time, that that becomes a dominant nerve pathway, and now the muscles fire correctly going down the road.
RC: What is involved in a typical neuromuscular re-education treatment?
Dr. John Vilkelis: Generally, what we’re doing there is we’re having the patient perform certain exercises. The exercises are really designed to force all the core muscles, and all paraspinal muscles to fire correctly.
Now, as we do these exercises, people will often kind of master the level that we’re doing and so as they master the level, we move them to the next level and the exercises evolve so that we keep stimulating that nerve pathway, so that it’s going to become the strongest. Once we’re done really repairing everything, the muscles will fire correctly and it won’t be a problem down the road.
Now, as we do these exercises, people will often kind of master the level that we’re doing and so as they master the level, we move them to the next level and the exercises evolve so that we keep stimulating that nerve pathway, so that it’s going to become the strongest. Once we’re done really repairing everything, the muscles will fire correctly and it won’t be a problem down the road.
RC: What are most common conditions treated with neuromuscular re-education?
Dr. John Vilkelis: Well, most common things are where people have done injuries to their lower back, okay, and then to their cervical and thoracic spine, which means their neck through their torso. What we do is, when we do the neuromuscular re-education, we’re making it so that these areas of your spine are going to become more stable, and stay that way.
RC: How is neuromuscular re-education similar to core and stability training?
Dr. John Vilkelis: In some ways, it’s very similar, but we’re not going to do any of these exercises laying down. Everything is designed to be done standing up while you’re under weight bearing. This way, when we do the training, it’s not necessarily working like if you’re doing stability training, lot of times it’s to work stability of the ankle, or the knee.
What these exercises are really doing, they’re forcing all those core muscles to fire the way they’re meant to when you’re under stress and under weight and being challenged physically.
What these exercises are really doing, they’re forcing all those core muscles to fire the way they’re meant to when you’re under stress and under weight and being challenged physically.
RC: Are there other exercises and treatments that go hand-in-hand with neuromuscular re-education?
Dr. John Vilkelis: There definitely are. When we’re doing these, what happens is, we kind of also go back and add in some different core and other stability exercises depending on what kind of problem the person has.
If they have a lower back problem, for instance, we’re going to have them doing things where maybe they’re doing leg lifts, and maybe I’m going to have them doing things like where they’re tossing a medicine ball in the air and catching it in a squat.
By doing that, we’re also forcing the musculature to fire correctly, under a challenge, in a way that’s very safe and very controlled, where the person is not getting hurt.
If they have a lower back problem, for instance, we’re going to have them doing things where maybe they’re doing leg lifts, and maybe I’m going to have them doing things like where they’re tossing a medicine ball in the air and catching it in a squat.
By doing that, we’re also forcing the musculature to fire correctly, under a challenge, in a way that’s very safe and very controlled, where the person is not getting hurt.
RC: Well, thank you so much Dr. Vilkelis. We know you’re extremely busy so I just want to thank you for your time and help.
Dr. John Vilkelis: You’re welcome. I was very happy to be here. I’m glad to be helpful.
RC: For our listeners across the country, if you are interested in speaking with Dr. John Vilkelis, visit www.vilkelischiropractic.com or call 212-582-9704 to schedule an appointment. On behalf of our entire team, we want to thank you for listening and we look forward to bringing you more top quality content from our country’s leading industry experts.
