Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) at Skare Spine & Performance

Back pain, neck pain, joint stiffness... These are all too common complaints in today's world. But what if there was a way to address these issues not just by treating the symptoms, but by rewiring your body's movement patterns at their very core?

At Skare Spine & Performance in Rochester, MN, we use the power of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) to do just that.

DNS: A Deeper Dive into the Science

DNS, developed by renowned Czech physiotherapist Pavel Kolar, is a revolutionary approach to rehabilitation and exercise and is the bedrock of our approach to functional rehabilitation at Skare Spine & Performance. It's rooted in the idea that we all possess an innate "blueprint" for movement, established during our early developmental stages as infants.

Think back to those adorable videos of babies learning to roll, crawl, and eventually stand. These seemingly simple actions are actually complex sequences of muscle activation and coordination orchestrated by the central nervous system. DNS taps into this innate system, guiding your body back to these ideal movement patterns.

Babies naturally learn to activate specific muscle groups in a coordinated sequence to achieve different positions and movements. These specific muscle groups are known as deep stabilizing muscles. These muscles play a crucial role in maintaining proper posture, balance, and coordination.

Pain and dysfunction often arise when these deep stabilizing muscles become weak or imbalanced. This can happen due to various factors, such as injuries, sedentary lifestyles, repetitive stress, or even poor posture habits.

When these core stabilizers aren't firing correctly, your body compensates by relying on other muscles, leading to inefficient movement, strain, and, eventually, pain.

DNS uses specific exercises and positions that mimic these developmental stages to re-educate your nervous system and re-establish those ideal movement patterns. By doing so, it can improve the function of the deep stabilizing muscles, enhance joint stability, reduce pain, and improve function.

How DNS Works at Skare Spine & Performance

Dr. Nate Skare has undergone specialized training in DNS. During your session, we'll conduct a thorough assessment of your movement patterns, posture, and any areas of pain or dysfunction.

Based on this evaluation, we'll create a personalized program of DNS exercises tailored to your specific needs. These exercises often involve positions and movements that mimic those early developmental stages, stimulating your nervous system to "remember" the correct way to move.

The DNS Advantage: Benefits Beyond Pain Relief

DNS isn't just about fixing what's broken - it's about optimizing your body's full potential.

Here are just a few of the benefits you can experience:

Reduced Pain: By addressing the underlying cause of dysfunction, DNS can significantly decrease pain and discomfort.
Improved Posture: Retraining your body's natural alignment leads to better posture and reduced strain on your joints and muscles.
Enhanced Performance: Athletes can experience improved movement efficiency, increased power, and reduced risk of injury.
Faster Recovery: DNS can accelerate healing from injuries by promoting proper movement patterns and reducing compensation.
Long-Term Prevention: By establishing healthy movement habits, you can prevent future pain and injuries.

What Conditions Can DNS Help With?

DNS has been shown to be effective in addressing a wide range of conditions, including:

Back pain: By restoring proper spinal stabilization and core function, DNS can help reduce chronic back pain and improve posture.
Neck pain: DNS exercises can improve neck mobility, reduce tension, and alleviate pain associated with poor posture and overuse.
Joint pain: DNS can enhance joint stability and reduce pain in areas like the shoulders, hips, and knees.
Postural dysfunction: By retraining your body's natural movement patterns, DNS can correct postural imbalances and prevent associated pain.
Sports injuries: DNS can help athletes recover from injuries and enhance their performance by optimizing movement efficiency and reducing the risk of future injuries.
Pre- and post-surgical rehabilitation: Trauma and surgery can alter our movement patterns, known as a “protective pattern,” in which DNS can help restore the proper muscle recruitment around joints to help with a faster recovery after surgery.
Scoliosis: Often, those with scoliosis have altered muscle stabilization patterns, especially in their spine. DNS can help restore strength and stability to those muscles to help provide stabilization in and around the spine.

DNS for Pediatric Care: Building Better Movement from the Start

While DNS is powerful for adults, it’s especially impactful for children—because we’re working with the very developmental patterns that shaped their earliest movements.

At Skare Spine & Performance, we use DNS to support children dealing with:

Developmental delays or motor coordination issues
Torticollis or plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome)
Growing pains, scoliosis, or posture concerns
Balance or gait abnormalities
Recurring injuries in youth sports

Rather than forcing movement or posture correction, DNS helps children tap into the natural developmental sequences they may have missed or skipped.

These patterns are key for building:

A stable core
Efficient breathing
Safe joint loading
Lifelong movement habits

Whether your child is struggling with a specific issue or you simply want to support their long-term movement health, DNS offers a gentle, evidence-informed way to promote strength, control, and resilience—right from the foundation."

A Neuroscience-Based Approach to Movement

Unlike traditional physical therapy, which often isolates muscles or focuses on strengthening individual areas, DNS is grounded in modern neuroscience and developmental kinesiology. It recognizes that the central nervous system orchestrates movement, not just muscles acting independently.

DNS works by tapping into your brain’s original “blueprint” for movement, the same one used during infant development, to reset dysfunctional patterns and restore natural motor control. Instead of simply stretching tight areas or strengthening weak ones, DNS retrains the nervous system to coordinate the body as a whole, leading to more lasting, efficient, and functional results.

DNS has been featured in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, Manual Therapy, and other rehabilitation research for its role in core stabilization, postural control, and recovery from musculoskeletal disorders.

Take the First Step Towards Pain-Free Movement

If you're ready to unlock your body's natural potential for movement, DNS at Skare Spine & Performance could be your key. We'll work with you to re-establish those ideal movement patterns, building a strong foundation for a pain-free, active life.

Don't wait for pain to hold you back. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and discover how DNS can transform your health and wellness journey.