The term “core stability” is a hot topic and is widely used today. With that popularity, there are many different theories and techniques that clinicians, therapists, and trainers apply in order to improve a client’s or patient’s stability.

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), however, is not a theory but is centered on the scientific principles of developmental kinesiology. This concept is a based on the maturing locomotor system, in other words the postures and movements, of a healthy developing infant between the ages of 3-18 months.

No one teaches infants how to move or stabilize, yet they do so in an optimal way by maintaining proper joint movement and position as well as core stability with no cuing. They also progress through a series of movements and postures in the first few years of life, for example lying on their back, rolling, crawling, and squatting, that are programmed in the human nervous system.

Unfortunately, as we grow older we lose these ideal movement and stability patterns, due to many factors including stress, sitting for most of the day, injuries, etc.

The DNS model compares a patient’s posture and movement patterns to that of a healthy developing infant. Any differences in the patient’s strategy are then corrected through therapy and exercises to resemble the ideal strategy. DNS is great for patients in pain as well as athletes and anyone who wants to move better.