Impact, Approximation, and the Nervous System – Lessons From Physical Therapy
- Brainz Magazine
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 3
Dr. Udim Isang, DPT, EdD, Mbia Idiong, is an award-winning educator, physical therapist, and activist specializing in indigenous healing practices, implicit bias in healthcare, and integrative wellness through movement and mindfulness.
In rehabilitation, especially working with patients recovering from neurological injuries, one of our most effective tools is approximation, also referred to as joint compression or light compressive input through a joint. This involves applying gentle force through joints in ways that stimulate proprioceptive receptors, engage reflex arcs, and send meaningful information to the nervous system.
Below, I explore how approximation works, why rhythm and controlled impact matter, and what emerging research suggests about its effects
What is approximation or joint compression in PT
Definition: Approximation involves compressive force applied through a joint (e.g., shoulder, wrist, hip, knee), either passively or with weight bearing, to provide proprioceptive input. This stimulates joint receptors, Golgi tendon organs, perhaps muscle spindles, and encourages co-contraction of muscles around the joint, helping with stability and awareness of limb or joint position.
Historical and clinical roots: The Rood approach (Margaret Rood) describes joint approximation as light joint compression as a method for facilitating or inhibiting muscle tone depending on need. In hypertonic muscles, it can serve, under certain conditions, to suppress tone by providing proprioceptive input.[1]
What neuroscience or research shows: Mechanisms and evidence
H-reflex studies: There are studies that compare the effects of joint traction vs. approximation on the H-reflex in normal subjects. The H-reflex is a measure of spinal reflex excitability. These studies show that approximation has measurable effects on such reflex pathways, not just feelings, but also the modulation of reflex circuits.[2]
Sensorimotor function in chronic neurological injury: A 2022 study assessed passive somatosensory stimulation in the form of compressive therapy applied to the more affected upper extremity in chronic neurological injury. They found improved sensorimotor function following the intervention. This gives direct support to the idea that compression or approximation is not just ancillary. It can improve motor control when sensory pathways are involved.[3]
Rhythm, repetition, and context: Why they matter
Repetition is a core principle in many neurorehabilitation approaches. Whether with approximation, weight bearing, or active movement, repeated sensory input helps the nervous system re-map itself, strengthen pathways, and refine control. In the Rood approach, it is explicitly stated that practice and repetition are essential for motor learning and tone normalization.[1]
Speed or duration effects: The nature of the compressive input (fast, brief pulses vs. slow, prolonged pressure) can produce different effects (facilitation vs. inhibition) depending on muscle tone, spasticity, or hypotonicity. While more research is needed, clinical observation supports this. For example, Rood’s methods of facilitating vs. inhibitory stimuli depending on speed and repetition.[1]
Implications for controlled impact or sensory-informed embodied practices
Drawing from physical therapy, here are some takeaways for how controlled impact, or sensory stimulation via impact, might operate in practices outside strictly medical rehab:
Sensory feedback is key: Controlled impact delivers input not unlike joint compression, mechanical deformation, vibration, and pressure, which the nervous system interprets. This can help with proprioception, interoception, or reestablishing the mapping of where the body is.
Safety and context are non-negotiable: The nervous system must interpret input as non-threatening. Safe setting, consent, expectation, and trust all modulate whether the input is processed as soothing, arousing, or threatening.
Rhythm and predictability help modulate response: Just as in PT, we use rhythmic, repeated approximations, having consistent rhythm and pacing in sensory-input practices helps the nervous system adapt rather than being startled or overloaded.
Individual differences matter: The same stimuli can produce very different outcomes depending on where someone is in recovery, their sensory tolerance, and their nervous system’s baseline. What is facilitative for one may be overwhelming for another.
Conclusion
Bridging these worlds, therapy, sensory regulation, and embodied or somatic practice point toward a shared truth, the body and nervous system are responsive to input. Controlled impact, when done with intention, knowledge, and safety, is not simply pleasure or pain. It is a way of communicating with the nervous system, of helping it re-orient, re-integrate, and heal.
Read more from Dr. Udim Isang
Dr. Udim Isang, The (Em)Body Doctor & Nigerian Healer
Dr. Udim Isang, DPT, EdD, Mbia Idiong, is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Executive Leadership Educator passionate about indigenous healing, mindfulness, and movement therapy. As a queer, trans, immigrant, and neuro-distinct individual, they/they/it/we advocate for bridging healthcare equity and inclusive wellness practices. Learn more about their transformative work integrating mind, body, and spirit at the intersections of identity and healing.
References:
[1] Rood MS. Neurophysiological Reactions as a Basis for Physical Therapy; and related work on the Rood Approach. (via Physiopedia) Physiopedia
[2] Effect of Joint Traction and Approximation on H-Reflex in Normal Subjects. ResearchGate
[3] Alwhaibi RM, et al. Effect of compressive therapy on sensorimotor function of the more affected upper extremity in chronic neurological injury (2022). [PMC article] PMC
