P-DTR
Proprioceptive-Deep Tendon Reflex
(P-DTR), a form of functional neurology, developed by Dr. Jose Palomar who is an orthopedic
surgeon and neurologist from Mexico. P-DTR is the practical application of theoretical
neurology that is based on new research in Neuroscience when working with and
understanding pain.
P-DTR works with different levels of neurological organization of the Central Nervous System
(CNS). P-DTR takes a deep understanding of how the nervous system works and how sensory
receptors pick up information about our environment and communicate to the brain.
For the brain to understand the world in which we live, it has to have information. This
information is gathered by our external senses, what we see, smell, hear, touch and taste, and
our internal senses; our sensory receptors.
Our sensory receptors react to a physical stimulus in the environment. It is the sensory nerve
ending that receives information and conducts a process of generating nerve impulses to be
transmitted to the brain for interpretation and perception. These signals are sent from organs,
glands, muscles, ligaments, joints and more. A healthy and well organized nervous system will
receive and analyze the incoming information to produce an appropriate motor and/or gland
response such as stimulation, facilitation and/or inhibition.
This is important because
sometimes the receptors can become sensitized, become over-stimulated or subject to some
kind of trauma due to injury.
A “dysfunctional” receptor has an altered perception of the signal and may be extremely
energy inefficient causing stress on the body. This alteration to normal function must be
compensated for regardless of the consequence on the body and can lead to several
dysfunctions such as illness, instability, limited range of motion, lack of energy, emotional
issues, etc
Let’s say, for example, you sprained your ankle. Even when the ankle is structurally healed the
receptors can still be sensitive or vulnerable because they are trying to protect from future
problems. Therefore an abnormal signal may still be sent from the brain to the ankle which can
result in the ankle not functioning as it is supposed to. Compensation in other body parts can
also occur, creating a wide range of secondary problems.
To understand why this is important we need to understand that the brain works on an input
process, output model. Our input comes from our senses and receptors. Information is also
What is P-DTR?
filtered through our past memories, emotions, and experience. If the input from the receptors is
higher due to sensitivity, our perception of the environment is therefore changed. This means
that the brain is more likely to perceive that information as threatening and therefore needs to
create a change in output to try to keep it safe. This output leads to changes in muscle function
and tone, movement patterns, hormonal changes, pain, and many other issues.
With P-DTR we can trace the primary signal of dysfunction and identify secondary or tertiary
areas where compensation may have occurred. Using P-DTR we locate and desensitize these
overly sensitive receptors in the body, to stop the need for these changes in output occurring in
the first place. We use manual muscle testing to find areas of weakness and sensitivity, then
use neurological stimuli such as swipes, taps, and pressure to detect which receptors have
become sensitized then reset these receptors back to a normal resting tone so that the brain
receives accurate information..
