Unlock Movement and Ease Pain with the Painting Technique
The Painting Technique is a gentle—yet seriously powerful—tool that helps clients reconnect with their bodies, improve mobility, and boost sensory awareness. It works by dialing in better sensation input using a variety of textures, pressures, durations, and other variables that are often overlooked in traditional training or rehab.
But Why Though?
Most people don’t think twice about their numb spots… but let me tell you, the brain does care. A lot. And it doesn’t like numb. Do not ignore it.
By addressing numb areas, you slowly earn the brain’s trust again. Over time, with the right techniques, that numb spot (maybe the size of an 8x10 sheet of paper) can shrink to the size of a quarter. When that happens? Boom—pain goes down, movement improves, and people start feeling so much better. It’s seriously cool to witness.
This technique is especially effective for clients who feel “stuck” or haven’t responded well to traditional exercises or hands-on work. The skin is loaded with sensory receptors that send valuable input to the nervous system. When we improve that input, we improve the clarity, coordination, and control of movement patterns.
In short: the better the input, the less threat the brain perceives.
We want to reduce the threats we can reduce—and numbness? Yeah, that’s one of them.
How to Do the Painting Technique (click here)
(Watch the video above for a visual walkthrough!)
To get started, choose an area of the skin near where your client is experiencing numbness.
Pick an area of numbness.
Define the numb zone—imagine it, draw it, outline it with a pen. Get creative.
Have the client assess a movement that matters to them (think: squat, reach, twist).
Teach the client to “paint” normal sensation into the abnormal area.
Use light, controlled strokes with your fingers or a soft tool like a tissue, feather, or even a kitchen towel. Move in one consistent direction rather than back and forth. The goal isn’t to create pressure but to provide a soft, intentional input that activates sensory receptors and increases body awareness.
Reassess the movement from earlier!
Write down your findings!
Pro Tip: Take a photo or video before and after using the Painting Technique to track changes in movement, posture, or overall ease—it’s a great way to measure progress and build confidence with your clients. Do not skip this step!
Pairing the Painting Technique with Movement
For the best results, combine the Painting Technique with a specific movement or exercise your client struggles with. After "painting" the skin, ask them to repeat the motion you assessed earlier —whether it’s a shoulder stretch, a squat, or a walking drill. This pairing allows the nervous system to integrate the fresh sensory input with motor patterns, leading to faster, longer-lasting improvements.
Adding Variety for Different Clients
You can enhance the Painting Technique by experimenting with different textures and sensations. Start using different textures, pressures, speeds and positions.
Sharp/dull (e.g., a pinwheel or smooth object)
Hot/cold (warm cloth or cool metal)
Vibration (tuning fork or handheld massager)
Soft materials (tissue paper or feathers)
These variations can help fine-tune the nervous system’s response, offering new layers of feedback to address more global issues in the body.
Why It Works
Clients often report immediate changes after trying this method—improved range of motion, reduced tension, or even a sense of ease in their whole body. It’s a low-risk, high-impact tool that taps into the nervous system’s incredible capacity for adaptation and healing. Plus, it’s an engaging way to keep sessions fresh and provide clear metrics for progress.
The Painting Technique is simple, accessible, and versatile. Give it a try with the client you thought of while reading this—you might just be surprised by the results!
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