The need for analysis in the chiropractic profession is very important. Too many chiropractors these days don’t analyze a patient before an adjustment or after an adjustment. They rely on palpation alone, looking for high spots to hit.
This technique routinely leads to the “Flying Seven,” a term for a “manipulation” (I can’t call it an adjustment) where the chiropractor hits each side of the neck, three spots down the mid-back, and once on each side for the lower back.
I don’t know about you, but to me, that is not chiropractic.
That is a manual band-aid that falls off about 30 minutes after being applied.
This type of manipulation can lead to hypermobility of joints in the spine. This means that a vertebra moves too much. In turn, the vertebra above and/or below moves too little. This hypermobility can lead to instability and, over time, will eventually lead to advanced degeneration aka osteoarthritis
We owe it to our patients to correctly identify where a true subluxation exists. Relying on our fingertips or our instincts or the aura surrounding a person is just not good enough.
When the atlas is misaligned, it is imperative to put it back into place… correctly. A specific adjustment, with the correct line of drive, is critical to restoring a global balance in the entire spine.
The atlas and axis, C1 and C2, are the only two vertebrae without a disc between them. Because of this, the majority of movement in the neck takes place in this area.
There is a price to pay for this added movement. The atlas and axis can misalign much easier than their 22 other counterparts due to the lack of an intervertebral disc at this level. This makes the Upper Cervical spine extremely vulnerable to injury.
Knowing exactly how the atlas or axis misaligns is the key in knowing how to adjust it correctly. That knowledge comes from several different objective findings.
X-rays
All the measurements and angles required for an Upper Cervical adjustment come from shooting films. Knowing exactly how the atlas or axis moved when the trauma occurred is the foundation of what Upper Cervical Chiropractic is all about.
It also gives the Upper Cervical Chiropractor an idea as to what the anatomy of a person’s spine looks like. No two people are alike, and neither are their spines. Assymetry is an important factor, one that can alter how the proper adjustment is done.
Knowing how a person’s spine looks after the adjustment is important, too. Post x-rays give the patient proof that the adjustment corrected the problem.
Computer scan
Various methods of scans prove useful in confirming whether or not a patient needs to be adjusted.
There is the Insight Subluxation Station, which utilizes sEMG technology to detect abnormal muscle activity caused by a subluxation.
There is the TyTron Thermoglide instrument which detects any change in skin temperature due to nerve interference via subluxation.
All of these instruments are valuable in determining whether someone needs to be adjusted or not. They are also valuable in showing the patient the difference in their scan before the adjustment and after the adjustment. Seeing their scan show up in a straight line after the adjustment really gives the patient confidence in the process of Upper Cervical Chiropractic.
Anatometer
The anatometer is pretty unique to the NUCCA organization. The patient steps onto the anatometer and it gives measurements on pelvic tilt, pelvis rotation, and upper body lean. It also takes right-sided and left-sided body weight. Overall a pretty solid tool in assessing spinal posture before and after the Upper Cervical adjustment.
Leg Checks
Not all Upper Cervical techniques utilize leg checks, but those that do, use them to confirm the scan and/or the segment involved.
Sometimes the patient might be feeling awful, but the leg check indicates that their atlas is clear. Which then leads to a check of C2. If the C2 ends up being clear as well, the patient might just need to rest.
Palpation
I said we shouldn’t rely on our fingertips alone, but using palpation to confirm history, exam findings, x-rays, scans, and leg checks can also be a great tool. As I said, it is not good enough to rely solely on our fingertips, but palpation can give us some valuable information to add to our other objective findings.
The old chiropractic adage of “Find it, fix it, and leave it alone” is important for the health of the patient. Putting people on care plans where they get Flying Sevens three times a week for a year is not responsible, and it could be very damaging to the patient.
It is our duty to look out for the best interest of the patient, and if the x-rays, scans, and leg checks say clear, then the patient is good to go.
