Restore Better Movement With DNS at Skare Spine & Performance

Your body is designed to move, stabilize, and adapt. But injuries, repetitive activities, poor movement habits, pain, and even the demands of everyday life can interfere with those natural patterns. When that happens, it’s important to learn why.

At Skare Spine & Performance, we use Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) as part of our functional rehabilitation approach to help patients improve how their bodies move and stabilize.

Because DNS is a neurodevelopmental approach based on how healthy infants naturally learn to move, breathe, and stabilize their joints, it doesn’t rely on heavy loads or aggressive movements. Our team uses intentional positions and thoughtful intensity, from low-level breathing drills to high-performance athletic training, to match patient needs.

rehab

The therapy is noninvasive and safe, and we use it on all types of patients, including:

  • Children and teens
  • Pregnant and postpartum patients
  • Student athletes 
  • Weekend warriors, active adults, and competitive athletes
  • Seniors 
  • Sedentary individuals

Whether you want to get through your day without pain, return to an activity you love, or improve your athletic performance, we strive to help you move better and feel more confident in your body.

Dr. Skare is the only chiropractor in the state certified in DNS, and he’s confident he can help you thrive. Let’s connect!

What is Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Therapy?

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, commonly called DNS, is a rehabilitation approach based on developmental kinesiology and the way the human nervous system naturally develops movement and stability.

As babies develop, they gradually learn how to control their head, core, arms, and legs. They learn to roll, crawl, sit, stand, walk, and eventually run. These developmental stages help establish the foundation for efficient movement, breathing, balance, and stability.

DNS uses these natural developmental movement patterns as a framework for rehabilitation. The goal of this therapy is to strengthen an individual muscle by improving how the brain, nervous system, muscles, joints, and breathing system work together.

Research describing DNS emphasizes the importance of coordination between stabilizing muscles and the nervous system rather than relying on muscle strength alone.

functional rehab

How Does DNS Work?

One key principle of DNS is joint centration, which means creating appropriate muscular support and coordination around a joint so it can move efficiently and remain stable.

For example, if your core doesn’t provide adequate support during movement, your body may compensate by overusing other muscles. This can contribute to stiffness, altered movement patterns, or recurring pain. Similarly, poor shoulder stabilization can affect how you throw, lift, or reach.

DNS exercises help your nervous system recognize and reproduce more efficient patterns of stabilization and movement.

The Skare Spine & Performance DNS Process

  1. A comprehensive evaluation: We look at your posture, breathing, mobility, stability, coordination, movement patterns, and areas of pain or dysfunction
  2. Identifying movement limitations: We determine where your body may be compensating or struggling to stabilize properly
  3. Teaching better movement: We use specific DNS positions and exercises to help you develop more efficient movement and stabilization
  4. Progressing the exercises: As your control improves, we gradually make the movements more challenging and relevant to your everyday activities, exercise, or sport
  5. Building lasting results: DNS may be combined with chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue work, dry needling, McKenzie-based treatment, and functional strength training when appropriate

This approach helps us understand why your body is having difficulty so we can achieve meaningful results.

What Conditions Can DNS Help?

DNS can be incorporated into care for many different musculoskeletal problems. Our Rochester sports chiropractic clinic finds that it’s especially helpful when poor stability, coordination, breathing mechanics, or movement patterns contribute to pain or reduced function.

Common problems we may address with DNS include:

Like all of our wellness strategies, DNS is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Your program will depend on your symptoms, movement assessment, goals, activity level, and overall health.

back pain
sports pain

The Benefits of DNS for Athletes & Sports Injuries

Athletes ask more of their bodies than the average person. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it does put more strain on the musculoskeletal system. 

Whether you run, lift weights, play baseball, compete in gymnastics, participate in team sports, or simply enjoy staying active, your body needs to produce force while maintaining stability and control. DNS is incredibly valuable for this.

DNS for sports injuries focuses on restoring the foundation of movement so you can progress from pain relief to normal activity and, eventually, higher-level performance. Instead of only strengthening the muscles around an injured area, we look at how your entire body coordinates movement.

We’ve seen DNS help athletes improve:

  • Core stability
  • Balance and coordination
  • Breathing mechanics
  • Joint stability
  • Body awareness
  • Movement efficiency
  • Control during athletic movements
  • Ability to safely produce and transfer force

Our Rochester chiropractors often incorporate DNS into a broader sports rehabilitation approach. Dr. Skare has specialized training in DNS along with chiropractic manipulation, McKenzie Methods, soft-tissue techniques, dry needling, and strength and conditioning. 

These comprehensive solutions provide a high level of care and rehab, helping our patients return to their activities safer and faster.

DNS Isn’t Just for Athletes

Not an athlete? No problem. You don’t need to be highly active to benefit from better movement.

Maybe your goal is to pick up your child without back pain. Maybe you want to garden, hike, golf, walk, work at your desk, or just get through your daily activities without pain.

DNS can be adapted to different ages, abilities, and activity levels. Our team works with everyone from prenatal patients and children to older adults, tailoring treatment to each individual.

We’re here to help you develop better control of your body so you can do more of what you enjoy.

DNS & Chiropractic Care: A Complete Approach

One of the biggest advantages of DNS at Skare Spine & Performance is that it doesn’t have to stand alone.

Chiropractic adjustments can improve joint mobility, while DNS addresses the way your nervous system and muscles control movement and stability. Soft-tissue techniques can address muscular restrictions, while functional rehabilitation helps you build strength and control.

When you partner with us, you get a complete care plan.

The chiropractic solutions we use to complement DNS therapy include:

Depending on your needs, your care may combine several of these approaches to ensure your time with us is efficient and effective.

The DNS FAQs

Is DNS the same as physical therapy?

DNS is a rehabilitation approach that can be incorporated into different types of clinical care. At Skare Spine & Performance, we integrate DNS into our functional rehabilitation and chiropractic approach rather than using it as an isolated treatment.

Does DNS hurt?

DNS exercises are generally designed to be controlled and appropriate for your current abilities. Our local sports chiropractor will select and modify exercises based on your condition and goals. You’re never expected to force painful movements.

How long does it take for DNS to work?

Unfortunately, there’s no universal timeline for a body to heal. Your progress may depend on many factors, such as your condition, how long you’ve had the problem, your movement patterns, activity level, and how consistently you do your recommended exercises. Your program will progress as your movement control improves.

After your initial exam with us, we’ll have a better idea of how long healing will take. 

Can athletes use DNS even if they aren’t injured?

Yes. DNS can support injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance training. Improving stability, coordination, breathing, and movement control can help athletes develop a stronger foundation for their sport.

Do I need to be athletic to try DNS?

Not at all. DNS can be adapted for people of all ages and activity levels. Whether you’re returning to a sport or want to move through everyday life with less pain and greater confidence, DNS may be right for you.

Improve the Way You Move, Not Just the Way You Feel

Pain is often the reason people seek chiropractic care, but getting out of pain is only part of the process. If you never address the underlying movement problem, the same issue can keep coming back, turning chronic and necessitating more aggressive treatments, medication, and injections. 

At our Rochester DNS clinic, we take a comprehensive approach to care. We combine chiropractic treatment, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, functional rehabilitation, soft-tissue techniques, and other therapies based on what your body needs.

With these services, we help you understand your body better, improve how you move, and build the strength and stability you need to stay active.

If pain, an old injury, or limitations in your movement are keeping you from reaching your goals, schedule an evaluation at Skare Spine & Performance. Our chiropractic team can help you develop a personalized plan to move better, feel better, and get back to the activities that really matter.

Let’s get to it!