ANIMAL NORMALIZATION THERAPY

When an injury occurs to the body, there will be a three-dimensional impact to the surrounding
tissues, especially the impact to neurological, lymphatic and vascular supply of the intra and extra-
articular tissues of that area. Protection of these structures in the high priority of the protection
hierarchy, and these systems are the most altered in an injury.

Because of these alterations, you will see joint or soft tissue restrictions in that area because of loss
of glide/slide mechanics in the damaged tissues. This disturbance of tissues and rhythms arise from
the epicenter of impact of the injury. The effect of the impact will steadily diminsh in the surrounding
tissues in three dimensions, like the waves caused by a rock thrown in the water.

As a result, there wil be a three-dimensional vascular and/or lymphatic stagnation or hemostasis
that develops in the affected arteries, capillaries, veins and/or lymph vessels. The fluid, or pressure
dynamics in that area will be altered, and tension on the surrounding tissues will build up. The
rhythms of the involved tissues will be altered as well, and the body will start to compensate for the
altered pressures and restricted flow of fluids. The alterations can appear in the cerebral spinal,
lymphatic, vascular, and other interstitial fluids of the body.

The greatest vascular stagnation will be in the venous flow. (There are two times more veins than
arterial vesssels in the body.) If there is stagnation of venous flow, there will also be an indirect
reduction of the arterial flow in that area. As a consequence, tissue healing and regeneration will
be impeded.

BLOOD VESSEL PHYSIOLOGY
The heart is a very important mechanical motor, but it is not built to be the master regulator of blood
vessels. The sympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the neuro-physiological
input to the blood vessels. These reflexes might be related to the vascular mechanics of the walking
cycle (gait cycle) in the body.

In our bodies, we see a dynamic interplay of fluid pressures that are regulated by the Central and
Autotomic Nervous Systems (CNS and ANS). There are cerebral spinal, interstitial, lymphatic, vascular
and intra/extra articular fluids regulated by the ANS. If there is a stagnation of venous blood flow below
the diaphragm (e.g, more blood volume below the diaphragm), blood pressure can build up and restrict
the venous blood flow from the arms and neck/head region (fluid dynamics).

The arterial and venous walls have an inner, middle, and outer elastic membrane (tunica). One of the
functions of the elastic tissue is to absorb and store the vascular energy created by the moving blood.
Proprioception and protection against stretching forces are other major functions of the elastic membranes.
Arteries and veins are innervated by the sympathics of the ANS and receive both motor and sensory
innervations.

TRAUMA
Blood vessels are especially sensitive to quick stretching, shearing or compresson forces, and can
respond to a vaso-constrictive mode of the elastic membranes of the inner and outer tunicas. These
hyperactive reflex responses of the tunicas can create stagnation in the blood flow of the surrounding
tissue (i.e., hemostasis).

When there is a strain or sprain of a joint capsule, a "mechanical" joint restriction develops with reduced
glide/slide mechanisms. This restriction might be based on restriction of the vascular flow, but the
lymphatic flow and/or myofascial dysruption of the capsules and ligaments can not be ignored. Vascular,
lymphatics, and the unifying fascia are the three highest levels of protection hierarchy of the body.

VASCULAR Normalization Techniques (VaNT)
When we began to recognize these fascial and mechanical restrictions were the result of neurovascular
dysfunctions in the joint capsular tissues and fascial planes, instead of true mechanical dysfunctions,
we needed different techniques to restore function. For example, restoring the normal mechanical
function of a joint means restoring the normal vascular flow and resting level of the nervous system
activity to the blood vessels of the affected joint. These specific manipulation techniques of the
vascular and nervous system are called Vascular Normalization Techniques (VaNT). VaNT techniques
rely on specific reflexes that we have empiricaly identified. These reflexes are located in certain bones
in the tarsal joint (influencing vascular congestion/dysfunction below the diaphragm, including the
abdomen, pelvis, and hind limbs); the carpal joint (influencing vascular congestion/dysfunction above
the diaphragm, in the chest, forelimb, and neck); and the hyoid apparatus (influencing vascular congestion/dysfunction in the head and neck). We have found in our clinical practice that using
these reflexes help to restore the normal movements of the tissues, normalize blood flow, and in
general, encourage restoration of normal physiological function, allowing healing to occur!