RAPID NeuroFascial Reset…a new way of treating pain
Short version: RAPID NeuroFascial Reset (commonly called RAPID N.F.R., or just RAPID) is a specialized soft tissue technique that reduces pain and restores function by focusing on the body’s connective tissue (fascia) and nociceptors (pain receptors) rather than muscle tension. It is not your typical massage technique because it does not use oil, and the client remains clothed. The treatment is pressure and movement-based, requiring the client to perform active motion while the therapist holds tension in the “sticky” areas. By talking to the nervous system through stimulating different parts of the fascia instead of the muscles, RAPID allows the body to reprogram sensory information processed by the brain and reset the pain response to more normal and appropriate levels.
Long version: Throughout your entire body there is connective tissue called fascia that wraps around and supports every structure in your body. Within the fascia lies sensors and nerve endings that detect mechanical pressure or movement (mechanoreceptors) and pain (nociceptors). Mechanoreceptors and nociceptors can work synergistically or independently. Most often they work independently; otherwise every touch you felt or step you took would result in pain sensations. If movement does involves pain, it is likely the result of injury or inflammation (acute or chronic). Other times it can be caused by dysregulations of the central nervous system (such as people who have fibromyalgia) where the signals are no longer firing properly. Ironically, mechanoreception (the ability to sense touch or movement) often overrides the nociception (pain) signals in the brain. People know this instinctively. If you have ever stubbed your toe or banged your elbow on something, you probably grabbed the area and rubbed it, or shook it out, reducing the pain you felt. This is also why massage feels so good on sore, achy muscles.
While there are several types of mechanoreceptors, there is really only one that we’re most concerned with during a RAPID session. There are Golgi Tendon Organs that respond to fast stimulation, such as vibration (like a massage gun) or a rapid stretch, Pacinian Corpuscles that respond to high-velocity changes in a joint space (like a Chiropractic adjustment), and the main receptor we’re targeting during RAPID are the Ruffini Corpuscles. They respond to slow, deep, consistent loading forces.
Along with the mechanoreceptors are nociceptors (pain sensors), and they are considered free nerve endings. Nociceptors can be found in every layer of tissue in the body and are activated when there is an injury or noxious stimuli. This is typically why pain can be hard to pinpoint to a specific spot, like lower back pain. People generally describe it over a wide area of their back, rather than that one spot they can point to and say it hurts right here. Nociceptors are also stimulated when there are inflammatory responses happening in the connective tissue. This is most evident in conditions like tennis elbow or plantar fasciitis where there hasn’t been a sudden injury to explain the pain. Those conditions are as a result of inflammation in the fascia, which stimulates the nociceptors to make your brain aware there is something wrong in that area.
Understanding that certain types of fascia are more densely populated with certain nerve sensors and respond to different stimuli can aid in the overall understanding of the body’s sensory perception, including pain sensation. This also helps us understand that if nociceptors start firing inappropriately following an injury, even years later, it can alter the neuromuscular signal to the brain. When these signals become dysfunctional the brain may start to detect touch, movement, or vibrational stimuli as nociception (pain), rather than movement or touch. This is where RAPID shines. Knowing how and where to address the different sensory nerves to stimulate a specific response is key in helping the therapist choose the most adequate manual technique (e.g., deep pressure, light stroke, stretch, tension, or vibration). By allowing the body to begin to re-interpret the signals created by touch, pressure, and movement, we allow the brain to reset the sensory regulation and neuromuscular signaling.
RAPID is an excellent choice for anyone who has been experiencing unexplained or chronic pain with little to no relief with other treatment methods. It can also be used to treat acute injuries like a sprained ankle to reduce healing time. Below is just a short list of the conditions RAPID can help with:
Tendonitis (acute and chronic)
Sciatica
Bursitis
Plantar Fasciitis
Whiplash
Frozen Shoulder
TMJ/TMD
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Shin Splints
Tennis Elbow
Golfer’s Elbow
Arthritis
Because RAPID is very specific work to the area(s) that need addressed, it is not scheduled in combination with a traditional massage. Sessions are typically 20-40 minutes in length (except your first appointment which is scheduled to be 60 minutes long), and may be done in a series of treatments depending on the client’s history. This is the ONLY technique that has a separate schedule when booking an appointment. Click here and scroll down to RAPID NFR to schedule a session specifically for RAPID.
