Influencing the nervous system
Neurotransmitters are the chemicals
that brain cells use to communicate
with each other, and recent research
has shown that many of these are
produced in the gut.
communicate with each other, and recent research has shown
that many of these are produced in the gut. So a poor digestive
system (gut issue) can affect brain function and pain sensitivity.
Hence, the client whose pain is not reducing with treatment as
expected may have a digestive system issue affecting their nervous
system response.
These examples illustrate how the body’s systems can interact
powerfully and affect the outcome of training or therapy protocols.
Appreciating this may help you understand why certain clients do or
do not respond to the training you conduct with them.
Which system is King?
Understanding which of the body’s systems is the most influential
gives you a better chance of changing the outcome of your client’s
response to your training or treatment intervention, as that system is
the most ‘powerful’ entry point.
My strong opinion is that the nervous system is most influential
in the body’s responses. Remembering that the nervous system
has three elements: the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord
and nerves), autonomic nervous system (parts of the brain and
nervous system that control automatic functions of the body) and
enteric nervous system (gut), it stands to reason that if you can
get the nervous system to respond appropriately, it takes the rest
of the body’s systems along for the ride. The body’s physiology is
effectively a ‘slave’ to the nervous system: the brain drives motor
function (hence physical performance); the level of anxiety or arousal
an athlete has at a given time determines their performance; and
gut microbiome function determines how you absorb nutrients and
influences brain chemistry.
There are many examples of how the nervous system controls
physiology: motion sickness is the vestibular system causing the
gut to react – you throw up because of a signal from your brain
to your gut related to movement of your head. People can faint,
collapse or perform amazing feats of strength as a result of an
emotional or traumatic circumstance – the body is responding to
a threat (ANS response, otherwise known as ‘fight or flight’). You
can elicit a physical/hormonal response from an abstract thought
(CNS response – think about the best sex you’ve ever had for a few
moments and something generally happens…) Chasing optimal
physical performance usually involves getting into ‘the zone’ or
‘flow state’ – a headspace that allows the body’s training to be most
effectively expressed.
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There are plenty of places to learn more
about nervous system function and ways
to influence it. I read a book written in
the 1970’s (and since updated) by Tudor
Bompa called Theory and Methodology of
Training which profoundly influenced my
thought processes on how different training
methods affect the body. The well-known
strength and conditioning coach Charles
Poloquin uses many different nervous
system methods to improve performance,
as does Dr Eric Cobb with his ‘Z-Health’
program. Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
has researched and written extensively on
flow state and mindfulness training. The
crazy Dutchman Wim Hoff, also known as
The Iceman, has some breathing techniques
that positively influence the ANS.
From a sports performance and training
perspective, there are some great apps
and nervous system training methods
available: Grant Hayes is a trailblazer in
neuro performance training (SSWITCH
and BeFirst); Wilson Meloncelli has some
interesting movement-based flow state
training methods. Nam Baldwin is an
Australian trainer who runs B.E.T. (breathing
enhanced training) education sessions that
teach athletes how to breathe and control
their CNS responses. Joey Hayes integrates
nervous system training techniques into his
day-to-day training and recovery process.
From a clinical perspective, using
breathing techniques and methods such
as meditation, yoga and foundation training
can all help modulate pain and improve
treatment outcomes. I am involved with
an organisation providing an education
platform and network for professionals
called NETT (Neural Engagement Therapy
and Training) that aims to provide ‘audited’
research and nervous system-based
intervention education.
I believe it is important that, as a
personal trainer, you appreciate that the
nervous system is the King of the human
body’s various systems. From there, you
can develop your understanding of how
to positively influence the function of the
nervous system, which will lead to better
training outcomes with your clients.
Victor Popov is one of Australia’s leading sports
physiotherapists. He has been involved extensively in
elite sport in Australia and internationally, with many
of his clients being World and Olympic champions.
He is co-founder of NETT Global, an education and
training organisation. nettglobal.com