What is the Melita Method?

What is the Melita Method?

Founded by Dan Melita, MS, the Melita Method uses a joint by joint biomechanical and functional neurology approach to assess various musculoskeletal conditions. 

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What is the Science Behind the Melita Method?

From the skeletal system, to the muscular, to the neurological, the Melita Method is the step by step approach to see exactly what the human body is doing, where movement is or is not occurring, and why. When there is dysfunction in the structure of the foot, an altered chain of forces is going to occur throughout the human body resulting in various biomechanical adaptations to allow for movement. These adaptations will oftentimes lead to postural deviations, which can result in chronic pain and/or increased risk of injury. 

In order to resolve chronic altered movement patterns, acute injuries, and other biomechanical dysfunctions, the neurological signal that creates overactive or underactive muscles must be addressed first. To do this, we can use the physiological principles of nociception.  In short, nociception is the activation of a pain receptor from outside stimuli which sends a signal from the peripheral to the central nervous system. We can test where there are heightened levels of nociception in different structures by stimulating this mechanoreceptor system of the body.  By increasing nociception via stimulation, we decrease the delta between the current level of nociception in the stimulated area and our body’s nociceptive threshold. When the threshold is passed, the body will have a physical reaction that can be tested.

A grossly overactive, or hypertonic muscle, cannot be dampened unless neurological activity to that muscle is decreased. This is where manipulations of the central nervous system are used to down regulate the signal to a given area. Certain midline structures of the human body can create peripheral dysfunction by sending an altered signal to the brain. An example of a midline structure that can create peripheral dysfunction would be the eyes. The direct connection of the eyes through the frontal lobe via the occipital nerve forms the neural basis of motor control. When the tracking of the eyes becomes altered, movement patterns will as well. Other examples of midline structures that need to be addressed consist of anything in the cranium as well as structures off the spine.  

The practice of manual therapy works by decreasing activity of different structures that may be causing pain due to over activity. Golgi tendon organelles.

Student benefits from taking the course

As a student of the Melita Method you can expect to obtain a detailed understanding of the inner workings of the human body on both a biomechanical and neurological scale. From the very start of the educational journey students are taught the foundation of biomechanics through a detailed review of the foot and how it impacts the rest of the kinetic chain, creating a host of biomechanical deviations all the way to the head and neck. It is these deviations that we must recognize and understand in order to provide a solution to one’s pain. Oftentimes pain is a byproduct of muscles or structures being out of balance thus creating excessive asymmetry around the joints of the body. Once these imbalances are determined students will learn how to use functional neurology to assess where the apex of the dysfunctions exist and how to correct them using various tools and manual therapy techniques. To further solidify the adjustments that need to be made, corrective exercises are then taught to help balance out those asymmetries, thus keeping the pain away.