Skin Stimulation: What Is It and How Do You Use It?
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and is packed with sensory receptors that constantly send information to the brain about temperature, pressure, and touch.
A Simple, Effective Tool for Client Results
What’s one of the most underused techniques for helping clients see results?
Skin stimulation.
I wish I could shout this from the rooftops because it’s that impactful. Pain doesn’t have to be complicated, and skin stimulation proves it. This technique is simple—no fancy equipment, no elaborate protocols—and yet it delivers real results.
When in doubt, Skin Stim. I swear, it’ll teach you so much!
Why Skin Stimulation Works
By using targeted skin stimulation, we tap into this sensory system to help the brain better understand the body. The result? Reduced pain, improved movement patterns, and heightened body awareness.
Skin stimulation is a powerful way to “wake up” the nervous system, calm over-sensitivity, and prime the body for better movement. And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to use.
My take: we begin to clear up proprioceptive maps that live in the brain, which clear up movement, therefore lead to less threats coming and allowing the brain to feel safer, predict faster, and move better.
Less Threat = Less Pain = Better Movement = Better human
How to Use Skin Stimulation with Clients
You don’t need anything fancy—your hands work just fine! Here’s an example:
Take a client with a stiff knee. Gently stimulate the skin on the front, back, and sides of the knee using light strokes or tapping for about one minute. Many clients report immediate relief. DO NOT PUSH OR MASSAGE. Think of rubbing area like “ BRRR it’s cold in here!”
From there, I encourage them to repeat this simple technique 3–5 times a day for ongoing benefits. In some cases, this alone can significantly reduce pain and improve how they feel. 🎉
I know it does seem stupid silly simple. But I am telling you through my experience, this is such an underrated “tool.”
When to Use Skin Stimulation
This technique can be applied in so many scenarios:
Chronic pain: Light touch over sensitive areas can calm the nervous system and reduce discomfort.
Poor motor control: Stimulating areas like the mid-back or core helps the brain “find” those muscles, improving activation during exercises.
Warm-ups: Prime weak or “sleepy” areas to get the body moving effectively right from the start.
Simple but Powerful Results
Skin stimulation may not sound glamorous, but its simplicity is part of what makes it so effective. It’s a tool you can use anytime, anywhere, and it works wonders for clients dealing with pain or movement challenges.
As you are reading this, I am sure you thought of your own body parts or an exact client you know you’ll try it with!
Story time real quick: I once had a physician seeing me for low back pain and she was legit the head of the cardiology department at a local hospital (kind of a big deal). Was I nervous? Obviously. I took clients right in my apartment at the time, nothing fancy. I am not a medical professional and year after year medical professionals fill my schedule and I do still get nervous of course. I will never be as smart as they are in that context. But let me telllllll you. I am someone that can confidently say that I walk the talk. I do what I say and I say what I do.
Guess what worked after our consultation and thorough history taking?
Skin Stimulation and Pencil Push Ups. That’s it.
Her gait improved by lightyears and her low back pain went down to a zero. I filmed her gait before and after (which I highly suggest you do too) and filmed her eye exercises as well. She was BLOWN AWAY.
Once I explained how it all works she was floored. She was so happy. We had many sessions together until I moved out of town.
NO fancy equipment. NO fancy facility. Just my hand and a pen.
Stay curious and be weird my friend, see you next month. I uploaded a video for you so that you can FEEL it on your own body and let me know what happens!
WATCH THIS VIDEO to experience Skin Stim for yourself!
Missy B