Resistance Stretching: The PT that Fixed my Screwed Up Neck

Hi, I’m Lauryn & I’m an addict…at least when it comes to cracking my neck. No BS, I am literally addicted to adjusting my back/neck. Like, forty times a day. Hey— it relieves pain.

When I was younger I was involved in a car accident. Welp, six years later & lateral whiplash is still a problem on the right side of my neck. It’s so painful that sometimes it puts me in a bad mood. No fun.

So. I have tried everything. Acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractors, massages, deep tissue massages, active release therapy, shoe orthotics, blah, blah, blah. A few months ago a friend introduced me to Nic Bartolotta. He’s completely changed my pain levels, mobility, & even my life. This type of PT  [ which I’ll let him explain below ] breaks up the scar tissue, so it’s not a Band-Aid, it’s a solution. Ahhhh, finally!

Oh & it’s fun to get a natural ‘high’ too ; )…

Let me introduce you to the best thing ever: resistance stretching…Enjoy!

+ Describe what you do.

Nic Barolotta: I do a combination method of physical therapy and body work called Dynamic Contraction Technique – or DCT. We incorporate elements of resistance stretching, where we use a muscle’s own strength to balance tension in the body, with Eastern massage techniques like barefoot Shiatsu. DCT strengthens the weak areas and releases excess tension from the tight areas, helping to bring the body back into homeostasis, where things are perfectly balanced.

Along with offering private sessions I teach DCT in “TuneUp” classes, workshops and practitioner certifications through Harmonix Health. The “TuneUp” classes and workshops are great for people new to DCT, and the practitioner certifications are designed for health and fitness professionals who want to use DCT with their clients. “TuneUp” classes are taught weekly and are a great way to release physical tension and stress, and to improve strength and range of motion which helps to prevent muscle strains.

+ Take us through a private session.

NB: A typical DCT session is an hour long & combines a potent form of barefoot shiatsu, where we literally walk on your muscles, with our unique resistance exercises. DCT Practitioners are trained to perform assisted exercises with you, and they also will teach you how to perform the personal DCT exercises, which we teach in our “Tune Up” classes, that can be done on your own at home.

+ What does it mean when a patient says they get a ‘high’ from DCT?

NB: A lot of times when people first begin their DCT programs they report feeling extremely sedated &/or euphoric following their sessions. This experience is not universal, but it is very pervasive; it’s almost always a surety in people who are extremely “tight”. DCT produces tremendous results & releases tension very effectively, giving people a huge sense of relief – even after just one session. This release of tension – which improves circulation – and a flood of endorphins and neuropeptides is most likely the reason why some DCT patients report feeling “high” after their sessions.

+ Does this work for every part of the body?

NB: Yes, DCT can be performed on any muscle group or fascial line of the body. In fact, during each session your DCT Practitioner will help you seek out all the areas in your body that need attention. DCT Practitioners generally focus on areas of pain or postural dysfunction, but the sessions are also a whole body workout that produce gains in both strength and flexibility.

+ What made you choose this profession?

NB: I chose this profession after using resistance stretching to heal from my own sports-related injury. I was a springboard diver in college and by my sophomore year I had completely worn out the cartilage in my left knee – bone on bone and it was very painful. And the only option I got from the best surgeons in town was to deal with the pain and have knee replacement surgery in fifteen or twenty years. But deep down I just knew that there had to be a better solution, and I began the process of seeking out alternative healthcare options. After trying everything I could find, I was finally introduced to resistance stretching and my life changed after the first session. And within my first two months of practice, my knee pain was completely gone and I was able to return to my collegiate athletic career, going on to rank in the top fifty in the nation in diving.

After experiencing the potency of resistance stretching, I decided that this information needed to be shared with the masses. As I continued using resistance stretching each day, I began to experiment with new postures and positions, & a new, more effective and efficient form of therapy evolved – DCT. My commitment to share DCT also inspired me to concurrently pursue my Physical Therapist License while continuing to refine Dynamic Contraction Technique. I was able to legitimize DCT with my graduate research & formalize the protocols that you’ll experience in a DCT session today. I continue to work in this profession because I love the look in peoples’ eyes when they realize that they don’t have to feel pain or discomfort in their bodies anymore!

+ Benefits of DCT?

NB: The most basic benefits of DCT are alleviating pain & maximizing muscle function. We do this by achieving properly balanced muscle and fascial tension, which restores muscles back to their optimal length and balances tension across joints and corrects posture. My knee injury is a perfect example; I was able to get rid of the pain caused by excess tension, despite having extensive cartilage damage, by correcting the alignment between my femur [ upper leg ] & tibia/fibula [ lower leg ]. I’m sure that all the cartilage on the lateral side of my patella is gone, but because my knee tracks straight instead of crooked like it used to, nothing grinds or rubs & I have absolutely no pain!

Some other benefits include improved circulation, increased strength without bulking up- we’ve worked with ballet companies that love it- & improved range of motion and body awareness.

+ Most amazing thing you have seen happen from a couple DCT sessions?

NB: I was able to help a client of mine resolve their crippling sciatica, which is leg pain caused by pressure on sciatic nerve. He was experiencing so much pain that he had difficulty sitting and standing for more than a few minutes at a time, & his doctor told him that when the pain became unbearable, he should undergo spinal fusion surgery. He was unable to work, surf, & run. Essentially, he couldn’t move without experiencing incredible pain.

But even with a very modest DCT program, we were able to pull the excess tension out of his leg and hips, remove the pain & restore function. The results were so profound that my client still to this day tells people that I used some sort of voodoo magic during our sessions. The truth is that when the proper tool is used with care/attention, amazing things can happen!

+ One word to describe DCT.

NB: Essential.

+ Nic works in Los Angeles & San Diego. To book an appointment with him, e-mail: Nic@HarmonixHealth.com. Mention TSC for $50 dollars off your first session.