Unlocking the Power of Movement: Dr. Michael Rintala on Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS)

“If you can feel it, you can reproduce it.” – Dr. Michael Rintala
 

What if the secret to pain-free movement and long-term performance lies in how a baby learns to crawl? That’s the question we explore in this episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, featuring the brilliant Dr. Michael Rintala, a top expert in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS).
 

This isn't your typical rehab talk. This is a deep, practical conversation that could transform how you breathe, move, and live—whether you’re an elite athlete, a desk jockey, or someone just trying to stay active into your later years.
 

What Is DNS and Why Should You Care?

DNS, or Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, is a cutting-edge movement therapy rooted in developmental kinesiology—the study of how infants naturally learn to move. Developed by Professor Pavel Kolar of the Prague School of Rehabilitation, DNS has revolutionized how we view movement dysfunction, chronic pain, and rehabilitation.
 

It’s all about tapping into the body’s innate, hardwired motor patterns, the same ones we developed as babies but lost due to injury, sitting too much, or poor training habits.
 

Dr. Rintala’s Journey: From Injury to Innovation

Dr. Rintala didn’t just stumble into DNS—he earned it through personal struggle. A former tennis player and lifelong athlete, he found himself falling apart in college despite doing "all the right things." Injuries, including spondylolisthesis and stress fractures in the low back, pushed him to question everything he thought he knew about training and movement.
 

His journey led him to chiropractic school, where a rehabilitation course introduced him to the work of Karel Lewit, Vladimir Janda, and eventually Pavel Kolar. That moment was the spark—and his transformation began.
 

The Core Concept: Breathe. Stabilize. Move.

DNS isn’t about simply doing baby-like exercises. It’s about understanding how the central nervous system (CNS) expresses movement through stability, breathing, and support.
 

Key components of DNS include:
 

• Diaphragm function as a stabilizer

• Integration of pelvic floor, abdominal wall, and spinal musculature

• Movement rooted in subcortical patterns formed during infancy

• Coordination, synergy, and timing as the foundation of pain-free, efficient movement
   

Want to test it? Try Dr. Rintala’s self-assessment breathing drill (explained in the podcast and seen on the YouTube Show) that shows whether your diaphragm is doing its job—or if your neck and shoulders are overcompensating.
 

Fix the Pattern, Not Just the Pain

DNS doesn’t just chase symptoms—it goes upstream to find root causes. According to Dr. Rintala, most chronic issues like low back pain, shoulder dysfunction, or even ankle sprains stem from compensatory patterns developed over time.
 

These often result from:
 

• Sitting too much

• Repetitive movements

• Past injuries

• Poor posture and breathing habits
   

Without restoring the efficiency of the nervous system, treatment is only temporary. DNS helps wake up dormant patterns and teaches your body to move like it was designed to.
 

DNS and Elite Athletes

One of the most fascinating takeaways from the episode is how top-level athletes move differently—not just stronger, but more efficiently.
 

Those who master their cortical and subcortical integration tend to:
 

• Move with fluidity and ease

• Have longer careers

• Recover faster from injuries

• Use strength as a complement—not a crutch—for performance
   

Meanwhile, others may rely on brute force, leading to quicker burnout and chronic injury.
 

From Pediatrics to Performance

DNS principles apply across the lifespan—from infants learning to crawl to 80-year-olds regaining breath control after surgery. Even with age-related degeneration or fused spinal segments, Dr. Rintala emphasizes that everyone has potential for improvement when proper patterns are retrained.
 

DNS can help with:
 

• Neck and shoulder tension

• Thoracic immobility

• Post-surgical rehab

• Chronic low back pain

• Athletic performance and recovery
   

Practical Takeaways From the Episode
 

1. Breathing is the gateway to stability. If your diaphragm isn’t functioning, everything else will compensate—and eventually fail.

2. Assess before you prescribe. Dr. Rintala always checks for joint restrictions and soft tissue limitations before jumping into rehab protocols.

3. Use intention in breathwork. Think “down into the pelvis,” not “up into the chest.”

4. Consistency is key. Like tying a shoe, retraining movement patterns takes focused repetition—until it becomes automatic.
    

Ready to Move Better, Breathe Deeper, and Live Stronger?

This is an episode you’ll want to listen to twice. It’s equal parts science, story, and solution—and it might just change how you think about movement and pain forever.
 

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