International Institute of Kinesiology Australia

27/12/2025

23/12/2025

To all my Facebook followers, friends, colleagues, and clients: I wish you & your families a wonderful Solstice, Yule, Christmas, festive season & Happy New Year 2026.

Remember that people tend to feel more at ease around those who have peace in their eyes☆ growth in their plans☆ kindness in their speech☆ compassion in their perception☆and emotional maturity in their decisions☆

21/12/2025

Interesting revision of biology and how our amazing nervous system, organ systems & anatomical structures are created.

Tensions and imbalances in the jaw can affect the membranes connecting the dura to the skull and affect where it is tethered below in the sacrum.

How could these two very different ends of the body be connected?

The connection begins during embryologic development at around day fifteen. In this stage, called gastrulation, two depressions form on the dorsal side of the embryo, which becomes the oropharyngeal membrane (goes on to form the mouth) and the cloacal membrane (goes on to form the openings of the urinary, reproductive and digestive tracts).

The spine grows between them, and the two remain connected from their early beginnings as one being in the embryo.

The head and the tails are the cranium and the sacrum.

The sacrum, located at the end of the spine in the pelvis, is important to the proper function of our spine and our ability to know where our body is in space, called proprioception.

Uneven pressures and pulling in the sacral area can, in turn, affect the cranial attachments and lead to pain, dysfunction, and other symptoms on either end of the craniosacral system.

This uneven distribution can cause many symptoms across all body systems – from your cardiovascular to your neurologic, musculoskeletal, gut, and on.

And that is why we created the 5- Minute Posture Fix, a simple method you can use anywhere to reset alignment and unlock effortless breathing in just minutes (link in bio) ☝️

21/12/2025

21/12/2025

“Aberrant proprioception from dental crowns as a cause of unexplained Functional Muscle Weakness: A Case Series.”

ICAK Diplomate Simon King's paper observes a significant connection between functional weakness and dental crowns, which is a first in the published literature.

https://www.apcj.net/papers-issue-6-3/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOwCvVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFsRFV4aDdrQ2FlUHZESDJqc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjPEjWc8UAxPwqq9pfTkg4hhSTSvy15Mx38MCr8R9t1b0bQ2KGhCZPi2-iK3_aem_wfD9Tqv-crtZLEmqYH8ulg

18/12/2025

There’s a peculiar kind of silence that falls over women the moment they speak up in certain spaces. Mary Beard, the formidable classicist and public intellectual, has spent much of her career unraveling this silence and the forces that enforce it. Her work, especially in ‘Women & Power: A Manifesto’, isn’t just an academic exercise; it’s a powerful reckoning with how society has long tried to mute women’s voices, regardless of what they actually say.

Mary Beard’s insight goes beyond the obvious. It’s not about the arguments women make or the opinions they hold. The backlash they face often comes simply because they dared to speak in arenas traditionally reserved for men. This isn’t a new phenomenon. Beard traces it back to the ancient world, drawing on stories from Greece and Rome where women who stepped outside their prescribed roles were met with suspicion, fear, or outright hostility. The metaphor of Medusa, for example, isn’t just a myth but a symbol of how powerful women have been demonized throughout history. Beard’s brilliance lies in connecting these ancient templates to today’s world, showing how misogyny isn’t some relic but a living, breathing force.

Her own life has been a testament to this struggle. As a woman in the male-dominated field of classical studies, Beard has faced her share of online abuse and public criticism. Yet, she’s never backed down. Instead, she uses those experiences to fuel her work, turning personal frustration into a broader cultural critique. She’s won numerous awards, including the prestigious Wolfson History Prize, and has become a familiar voice on television and radio, making classics accessible and relevant. But with visibility comes vulnerability, and Beard has been no stranger to controversy. Her bluntness and refusal to soften her message have sometimes ruffled feathers, particularly among those uncomfortable with her challenge to entrenched power structures.

What makes Mary Beard’s manifesto so compelling is how it resonates with the current cultural moment. Think about the backlash women politicians face, from Hillary Clinton to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Their ideas and policies are debated, sure, but the vitriol often stems from the simple fact that they are women in power. Social media platforms amplify this, creating echo chambers where abuse can flourish unchecked. Beard’s work helps us understand that this isn’t just about individual personalities but about a systemic effort to police who gets to speak and be heard.

In a way, Mary Beard invites us to look at power itself and ask uncomfortable questions. Why does society feel threatened when women claim authority? Why is the act of speaking out seen as transgressive rather than normal? These questions are crucial because they expose the fragility of power structures that rely on exclusion and silence. Beard’s manifesto is a call to recognize and dismantle these invisible barriers, to create spaces where women’s voices aren’t met with suspicion but with respect.

Her story and her work remind us that the fight against misogyny is ongoing and that every woman who speaks up is part of a long tradition of resistance. It’s about more than just words; it’s about reclaiming space and rewriting the rules of what power looks like. And in today’s world, where voices can be amplified or drowned out with a click, Mary Beard’s message feels more urgent than ever. The challenge isn’t just to listen but to change the culture that still finds it so hard to hear women speaking their truth.

18/12/2025

In countries like the U.S. and U.K., children often start school at age 5 or even earlier. Finland takes a different approach, starting formal education at age 7.

This later start doesn’t hold children back. Finnish research shows that children who begin school closer to age 7 earn higher grades and are more likely to pursue advanced secondary education. Early academic pressure is replaced with play and exploration, giving kids time to develop emotionally and socially.

Nordic studies show that children who avoid rushed early academics perform better on reading and problem-solving assessments by age 15. Delaying formal schooling strengthens learning outcomes without sacrificing knowledge.

Finland emphasizes play-based learning, minimal testing, and a focus on emotional well-being before age 7. These practices support curiosity, independence, and resilience, allowing children to approach formal learning with confidence and readiness.

The takeaway is clear: starting school later does not mean falling behind. Children who are emotionally and socially prepared thrive academically, showing that nurturing well-being and readiness is as important as early instruction. Finland proves that the foundation of learning begins long before a classroom desk.

14/12/2025

"As a woman in science I especially want to acknowledge those role models who gave me the courage and incentive to persevere; my hope is that I in turn can be that role model for my own daughters, who are just now launching out into the world, as well as for other young women who are excited about science." — Mary Brunkow *91

Congratulations to Princeton University Graduate School alumna Dr. Mary Brunkow, who received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine!

14/12/2025

13/12/2025

🧠 The Hidden Brain Circuits Behind Post-Concussion Syndrome —

New Research Explains What We See Every Day at The Functional Neurology Center

Post-concussion symptoms can linger, evolve, or suddenly flare months — even years — after the initial injury. Many patients who come to The Functional Neurology Center (FNC) say the same thing:

“I look normal, the scans are normal…
but I don’t feel normal.”

A major 2023 Frontiers in Neurology review helps explain exactly why this happens and supports what we evaluate and rehabilitate every day:

➡️ Concussions disrupt specific brain circuits and networks — NOT just isolated symptoms.
➡️ Different regions of the brain produce different symptom patterns.
➡️ Persistent symptoms reflect incomplete reintegration of neural networks.

This article breaks down the science and shows how it matches the comprehensive, multi-system approach we use at theFNC.

⸻

🔍 THE RESEARCH: POST-CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS FOLLOW A BRAIN-REGION MAP

The review systematically connects neuroanatomy with the hallmark symptoms of post-concussion syndrome.
It identifies disruptions across six major neural systems:
1. Cortical motor & sensory regions
2. Subcortical limbic & cognitive centers
3. Visual & vestibular circuitry
4. Cerebellar networks
5. White matter communication pathways
6. Autonomic / brainstem regulation loops

When one (or several) of these circuits are impacted, predictable patterns of dysfunction emerge.
The more circuits involved, the more complex the presentation.

⸻

1️⃣ CORTICAL NETWORKS — WHY BALANCE, COORDINATION & “BODY AWARENESS” CHANGE

The cerebral cortex controls movement, sensation, planning, attention, and sensory integration.

Concussion stressors include:
• Rotational acceleration
• Axonal stretching
• Cortical shearing
• Diffuse microinflammation

When affected, patients often develop:

✔ Altered somatosensory processing

Feeling “off,” disconnected, or lacking awareness of where the body is in space.

✔ Balance and gait instability

Cortical-motor disruption alters descending motor planning AND integration with cerebellar loops.

✔ Impaired dual-tasking

Walking while thinking, turning while talking, or navigating visually complex spaces becomes overwhelming.

✔ Motor sequencing issues

Difficulty performing coordinated movements, sport-specific tasks, or activities requiring timing.

This cortical disruption sets the stage for the “multi-layered” dysfunction that follows.

⸻

2️⃣ LIMBIC & SUBCORTICAL SYSTEMS — WHY MOOD, MEMORY & EMOTIONS SHIFT

The review highlights the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and basal forebrain — regions deeply involved in:
• Emotion regulation
• Stress response
• Sleep cycles
• Memory encoding
• Motivation
• Attention control

Concussion can destabilize these networks, producing:

✔ Emotional volatility

Irritability, sadness, fear, or “I cry for no reason.”

✔ Anxiety & hypervigilance

Limbic circuits misinterpret sensory overload as threat.

✔ Brain fog

Thalamic relay inefficiency and hippocampal stress slow normal thinking.

✔ Poor memory & recall

Especially under cognitive load or stress.

✔ Sleep disruption

Dysregulated circadian control impacts healing and autonomics.

This is neurological — not psychological.

⸻

3️⃣ VISUAL + VESTIBULAR SYSTEMS — WHY THE WORLD FEELS “UNSTABLE”

The visual and vestibular systems share direct, high-speed pathways with one another and with the cerebellum and cervical spine.

Even mild dysfunction here creates dramatic symptoms:

✔ Light and motion sensitivity

Screens, stores, driving, scrolling.

✔ Visual motion overwhelm

The brain struggles to filter moving information (optic flow).

✔ Difficulty focusing, reading, or tracking

Saccadic and pursuit deficits create blurred or unstable vision.

✔ Dizziness & imbalance

If eye–ear–neck signals don’t match, the brain loses its stability map.

✔ Feeling detached or “floating”

A mismatch between vestibular input and visual grounding.

Concussions often create sensory mismatch, where eyes, inner ears, and neck proprioceptors are no longer synchronized.

This is a hallmark finding at theFNC.

⸻

4️⃣ CEREBELLAR NETWORKS — THE “CONDUCTOR” OF MOTOR & COGNITIVE FUNCTION

The cerebellum coordinates:
• Balance
• Eye movements
• Proprioception
• Gait
• Reflexes
• Timing and rhythm
• Error correction
• Cognitive processing

Damage or inhibition here leads to:

✔ Instability in complex or busy environments

(Malls, airports, stores)

✔ Difficulty with head turns or rapid direction changes

✔ Fatigue during standing or walking

The brain must work harder to stabilize the body.

✔ Visual blurring with movement (oscillopsia)

✔ Slowed thinking, multitasking difficulty

The cerebellum helps coordinate not only movement — but thought.

Cerebellar dysfunction is one of the top contributors to chronic post-concussion symptoms.

⸻

5️⃣ WHITE MATTER & NETWORK CONNECTIVITY — THE “WIRING” THAT MAKES EVERYTHING WORK

White matter tracts connect all brain regions.
They ensure efficient communication.

Concussions can cause:
• Axonal stretching
• Slowed conduction speed
• Microstructural disruption
• Neuroinflammatory changes

This produces:

✔ Slowed processing speed

✔ Cognitive burnout

✔ Difficulty keeping up in conversation

✔ Mental fatigue after small tasks

✔ Difficulty switching tasks

✔ Sensory overload when multitasking

✔ Crashing after a day of stimulation

This is why so many patients say:

“I can do the thing — but I can’t do the thing AND think.”

That is classic white-matter load intolerance.

⸻

6️⃣ BRAINSTEM + AUTONOMIC CIRCUITS — THE HIDDEN DRIVER OF MANY PERSISTENT SYMPTOMS

The brainstem houses:
• Cranial nerve nuclei
• Vestibular nuclei
• Autonomic control centers
• Gaze stabilization pathways
• Postural reflex loops

Injury here contributes to:

✔ Heart rate variability issues

✔ Blood pressure swings

✔ Temperature dysregulation

✔ GI sensitivity

✔ Panic-like episodes

✔ Chronic fatigue

✔ Difficulty tolerating exertion

Many PCS patients have under-recognized cervical-vestibular-autonomic integration issues — a signature focus at theFNC.

⸻

**⚠️ WHY SYMPTOMS PERSIST:

MULTIPLE NETWORKS FAIL TO “REINTEGRATE”**

This review’s most important conclusion:

Concussions disrupt complex networks — not just one structure.

Healing requires reintegrating those networks, not simply waiting for symptoms to fade.

This explains why:
• Time alone does not heal everyone
• Symptoms can flare without re-injury
• Patients improve when circuits are targeted
• Many feel “stuck between systems”
• Rest, medication, and “standard PT” often aren’t enough

Persistent symptoms = persistent network dysfunction.

⸻

🏥 HOW THE FUNCTIONAL NEUROLOGY CENTER REBUILDS THESE NETWORKS

We identify exactly which circuits were affected — then rehabilitate those circuits in a precise, layered, and progressively integrated way.

Our exam includes:

🔹 Neuro-visual & oculomotor testing

Saccades, pursuits, VOR, convergence, OKN, fixation stability.

🔹 Vestibular & otolith evaluation

Utricle, saccule, VOR pathways, gravitational orientation, head motion tolerance.

🔹 Cervical proprioceptive & stability assessment

Suboccipitals, JPE testing, neck–eye coordination, cervical reflexes.

🔹 Cerebellar activation & midline testing

Gait, posture, rhythm, timing, coordination.

🔹 Autonomic load testing

HRV, dysautonomia patterns, exertional tolerance.

🔹 White matter + network integrity screening

Processing speed, dual-tasking, divided attention, sensory load mapping.

This map becomes the blueprint for individualized care.

⸻

🛠 OUR REHABILITATION MODEL: CIRCUIT-BASED NEURO-REINTEGRATION

We combine:

✔ Visual-Vestibular Integration

Optokinetics, gaze stabilization, head–eye–body retraining.

✔ Cervical Spine Neuromodulation

Joint receptor activation, proprioceptive reorientation, trigeminal (Vagus 2.0) stimulation.

✔ Cerebellar Activation

Balance training, rhythm timing tasks, ocular-cerebellar recalibration.

✔ Sensorimotor Integration

Dynamic surfaces, head motion challenges, multi-sensory loading.

✔ Cognitive & autonomic rehabilitation

Dual-task circuits, pacing strategies, graded exposure to stimulation.

✔ ARPwave Neuromodulation

Activation of cranial and spinal pathways, proprioceptive uptraining, limbic-vestibular modulation.

✔ Customized home programs

Reinforcing neural pathways daily for long-term reintegration.

Every therapy session is targeted.
Every drill has intention.
Every circuit is chosen based on your exam.

⸻

🌟 WHAT WE WANT EVERY PATIENT TO KNOW

Your symptoms make sense.

They match specific brain regions and circuits identified in the research.

You are not broken.
You are not “making it up.”
You are not out of options.
And you are absolutely not alone.

**Your brain can be rehabilitated.

Your networks can reorganize.
Your function can return.
There is HOPE.**

⸻

📩 READY TO START YOUR RECOVERY?

Our team specializes in helping complex concussion cases finally understand why they feel the way they do — and how to get better.

📧 info@theFNC.com
📞 612-223-8590
🌐 theFNC.com

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2023.1136367/full

13/12/2025