How the MyoKinesthetic System Helps Relieve Chronic Pain by Resetting the Nervous System

Are you ready for a paradigm shift? If you’ve been living with chronic pain that just won’t go away — no matter how much stretching, massaging, or resting you do — the problem might not be your muscles at all. It could be your nervous system.

That’s where the MyoKinesthetic System comes in. It’s a powerful, non-invasive approach to pain relief that focuses on rebalancing the body through the nervous system, not just the muscles or joints.

What Is the MyoKinesthetic System?

The MyoKinesthetic System (often shortened to “MYK”) was developed by chiropractor Dr. Michael Uriarte. He noticed that most pain patterns are connected to postural imbalances — when certain muscles stay “on” while others stay “off.” Over time, that creates compensation, tension, and discomfort that traditional massage or stretching might help with temporarily but can’t fully correct.

The MYK approach identifies which nerve pathways are involved in that imbalance. Then, through a series of specific movements and tactile input along the muscles that are innervated by that nerve root, the nervous system is “retrained” to recognize the best possible alignment for your body.

It’s like pressing the reset button for your posture and movement patterns.

Why Most People Haven’t Heard of It (Yet)

One of the most common things new clients tell me is, “Why haven’t I heard of this before?” That’s a great question — and the answer is that the MYK System is still relatively new in the world of bodywork and physical rehabilitation.

It isn’t widely taught in massage or physical therapy programs yet, but it’s gaining recognition among practitioners who specialize in chronic pain, posture correction, and neuromuscular balance. Those who experience it often notice changes quickly — sometimes within the first few sessions — because it works at the root cause of pain, not just the surface symptoms.

Dr. Uriarte started developing the MYK System in the 1990's and has been teaching it for approximately 25 yeas. He teaches annually at the University of Idaho for the Masters and Doctorate Program of Athletic Training. MYK is used by various MLB, NBA, NHL and college sports team trainers and therapists and it is used at the Duke Integrative Medicine Center.

How It Helps Chronic Pain

When the nervous system is out of balance, certain muscles overwork while others underperform. That imbalance can lead to:

• Chronic tightness or weakness on one side of the body

• Recurrent pain in the same areas (like low back, neck, or hips)

• Postural issues, like rounded shoulders or uneven hips

• Limited range of motion or stiffness that doesn’t improve

• Numbness/tingling

MYK treatments help restore symmetry and communication throughout the body. By addressing the underlying nerve pathway responsible for those muscle imbalances, the body begins to naturally realign itself — reducing pain and improving function.

Clients often report improvements like:

“I didn’t realize how much I’d adapted to my pain until it started going away.”
“It’s amazing — I can sit through a meeting or drive without constantly shifting to get comfortable.”
“For the first time in months, I woke up without pain.”

What a Session Looks Like

An MYK session is gentle and fully clothed. You’ll perform a series of guided passive and active movements while I press into specific muscles along a targeted nerve pathway.

Depending on the nerve root level and how many muscles that nerve root level innervates, a treatment usually takes about 10-20 minutes and can be integrated into a massage session or done on its own. Some clients notice some kind of improvement in pain, mobility, or balance right away. For others, it can take a few hours or until the next day before they start to notice the changes.

Why It’s Different from Massage

Massage works on muscles — helping them relax and improve circulation — while MyoKinesthetic treatments work on the neurological communication that tells those muscles how to behave. Some people have called an MYK treatment "a moving massage" and most clients do notice that they feel more relaxed after a treatment.

The focus on the nervous system is why the results can feel different: instead of temporary relief, clients often notice longer-lasting change in how they move, stand, and feel.

Ready to Move Freely Again?

If you’ve been living with chronic pain, numbness, or tension that keeps returning, the MyoKinesthetic System could be the missing piece.

At Rebalance Massage Therapy, I combine MyoKinesthetic treatments with massage therapy to help clients retrain their bodies, restore balance, and finally get back to the activities they love — without pain holding them back. You are always welcome to contact me for more information or you can use the "BOOK NOW" button to schedule an appointment.