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INJURY RECALL TECHNIQUE
Writeup by Janet Calhoon
HISTORY AND DISCUSSION
The nervous system records and maintains memory of the
events that happen in one’s lifetime. Often the nervous system will
adapt to a major injury and maintain this adaptation even after the
injured tissue has healed. Injury Recall Technique (IRT) is an
examination and treatment system to locate and eliminate the
memory association and adaptation. 1 IRT is a simple procedure
which involves the stimulation or activation of the area(s) of previous
injury or trauma while the doctor performs first a diagnostic
procedure, then a therapeutic one. 2
Almost every injury of significance in a patient’s history is
reflected in the foot (or feet) of the patient, usually ipsilateral to the
injury. The neurological memories of these injuries create a potential
source of interference with normal neuromuscular activity. Schmitt
became aware of this concept by Gordon Bronston D.P.M. who had
learned it from Robert P. Crotty D.P.M. 2
The neurological response to injuries involves a muscular
reaction (flexor reflex afferent pattern) to which the body adapts until
the injury is healed. This adaptation appears to follow neurological
patterns of cerebellar-cortico-cerebellar loops affecting muscle
spindle control mechanisms. These are likely the same adaptive
pathways that are involved with the change in muscle spindle stretch
sensitivity when a person stands on a boat for a period and then
returns to dry land, yet still feels as if standing on the boat.3
The correction of this injury memory/adaptation involves, in
part, a gentle talus manipulation in the direction of opening the mortis
joint. The talus manipulative treatment likely represents a
normalization of the postural adaptation to the injury in the ankle joint.
The talus manipulation is performed by contacting the dorsal surface
of the talus and gently pulling it inferiorly. This is not a thrusting
adjustment. It may be performed as simply as pulling down with the
finger while gaining leverage by lifting the metatarsals with the thumb.
The technique rests on the concept that every significant injury is
associated, at least in part, with a drawing up of the talus into the
mortis joint and that this reaction often remains long after the original
injury heals locally.2
Injuries to the head and neck may be treated using the talus
correction. However, investigation by Schmitt revealed a unique
relationship of injuries to the head and neck. It appears the body’s
flexor reflex afferent (withdrawal) response for the head and neck
have their own unique patterns which supercede those of the talus
reaction for the rest of the body. The injury recall activity for the head
and neck appears to be associated with a neck extension reflex
pattern.2
Diagnosing the need for IRT to the head and neck is simple.
The primary method is to have the patient TL the area(s) of previous
injury with the neck in extension. The cervical spine in general may
be put into extension, but it appears that it is the atlanto-occipital joint
which is the critical area in this technique. 2 Similar to concept of the
talus being involved as part of a postural adaptation to an injury, the
treatment to the atlanto-occipital area likely represents a
normalization of a postural adaptation to an injury.
Correction is also simple, more or less the opposite of the
diagnostic approach. While the patient maintains TL to the area, the
doctor gently flexes the atlanto-occipital area to near its limit of
movement. From this position, the doctor gives two to three gentle,
but firm flexions to the limit of atlanto-occipital flexion. 2
One of the most clinically effective uses of IRT is in TMJ
problems, especially those which recur. When a TMJ muscular
problem is secondary to the memory of head and neck injury, the AK
indicators of the TMJ problem will disappear when the neck (atlantooccipital area) is put into flexion. For example, if a patient weakens on
TL to the TMJ on teeth clenching, have the patient maintain the TL
with teeth clenched, but put the neck into flexion and retest. If the
indicator muscle no longer weakens, it means that the TMJ problem
is more related to the problem of neck extension than it is to the TMJ.
2
IRT may be the single most commonly useful technique in our
repertoire other than spinal manipulation. Nearly every patient has
had a history of injury or trauma somewhere in the body. Most of
these injuries are remembered by the body; most patients show IRT
response to most of their injuries. The correction appears to be long
lasting. 2
PROCEDURE
IRT – Injury Recall Technique
Does “Autogenic Facilitation” Strengthen Weak Muscle(s)?
1. If Autogenic Facilitation (Stretching of Muscle Spindle Cell)
Strengthens: No IRT Needed
2. If Autogenic Facilitation Does Not Strengthen: Identify Areas
Needing IRT by Doctor Rubbing (or Patient TL) Over Areas
of Injury (Past or Present)
3. Perform IRT to Areas Identified
4. Retest for Response to Autogenic Facilitation
a. If Autogenic Facilitation Strengthens: Go to NSB/Set
Point Technique (If Needed)
b. If Autogenic Facilitation Does Not Strengthen: Repeats
Steps 2 through 4
5. Continue Until Autogenic Facilitation Strengthens Weak
Muscles(s)
NOTE: MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE – Perform Range of
Motion and/or Measure Pain (Visual Analog Pain Scale: 0-10) Before
and After Performing IRT.
IRT DIAGNOSIS for HEAD & NECK PROBLEMS:
TL to Area of Previous Trauma on the Head or Neck is
Negative.
TL to Same Area with Head & Neck in Extension Weakens
Strong Muscle.
IRT TREATMENT for HEAD & NECK PROBLEMS:
Firmly, but gently FLEX THE ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL AREA, to
the limit of motion, three or four times:
A. While Patient Touches Area of Previous Injury (or)
B. After Doctor Pinches Area of Previous Injury (or)
C. After Doctor Uses Origin-Insertion Technique in Area of
Previous Injury
IRT DIAGNOSIS for the REST OF THE BODY:
Gently COMPRESS THE MORTIS JOINT (Push Talus
Headward)
A. While Patient Touches Area of Previous Injury (or)
B. After Doctor Pinches Area of Previous Injury
Observe for Strong Muscle Weakness
IRT TREATMENT for the REST OF THE BODY:
Perform a DISTRACTION (Micromanipulation) OF THE TALUS
(Opening Mortis Joint)
A. While Patient Touches Area of Previous Injury (or)
B. After Doctor Pinches Area of Previous Injury (or)
C. After Doctor Uses Origin-Insertion Technique in Area
of Previous Injury
IRT for the SPINE:
Cervical Spine and Coccyx – ATLANTO-OCCIPITAL FLEXION
A. While Patient Touches Cervical Segment or Coccyx
(or)
B. After Doctor Pinches Skin over Cervical Segment or
Coccyx
Sacrum, Sacroiliacs, and the Rest of the Spine –
DISTRACTION OF THE TALUS
A. While Patient Touches Sacrum, Sacroiliac or Spinal
Segment (or)
B. After Doctor Pinches Skin over Sacrum, Sacroiliac or
Spinal Segment
Perform IRT Bilaterally or Ipsilaterally (e.g. Sacroiliac) as
Appropriate 4
1
Walther, David S. Applied Kinesiology, Synopsis, Second Edition, 1998-2000, p.184
Schmitt, Walter H. “Injury Recall Technique: Dealing with the History of Injury and Trauma” Collected
Papers, vol. 1, Summer, 1990-91, pp.208-218
2
Schmitt, Walter H., Jr. “A Neurological Rational for Injury Recall Technique” Proceedings of the
I.C.A.K. – U.S.A. Volume 1, 1999-2000. p. 137-139
3
4
McCord, Kerry M. and Schmitt, Walter H., Quintessential Application A(K) Clinical Protocol, 2005, p.4a