Comments on: 8 Individuals Reveal How They Got Into Upper Cervical Chiropractic

By: Dr. Joey Miles

Dr. Joey Miles — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:12:16 +0000

Steve,
You are exactly right. “Phil” showed negative for all Thompson cervical syndrome test and Activator isolation test for over 3 months of consistent checking. While checking “Phil” while he was holding, he also “cleared” several other chiropractic testing procedures such SOT and AK(I am not trained in these testing procedures so I am not sure how these test were done. This was what Phil shared with me during this time). This was what intrigued me to look into the Upper Cervical system of care that he was receiving. It changed my life by asking questions and receiving the answers.
And in a chiropractic college setting, which we were, it is RARE. In a practice setting where,hopefully your patients aren’t summiting themselves to a lot of over adjusting(as students typically do), then you are correct…it probably does happen around 20%. That is what I was taught from my Thompson mentors and Activator mentors.
I would have never made such assumptions after one test, such as the legs appearing equal. In fact, I used every means possible to find signs of Subluxation in Phil. Couldn’t do it. He was clear…for over 3 months. Something I am proud to say happens regularly in my family and practice.
Upper Cervical care has truly changed my life. Living without nerve interference is AWESOME!

By: Steve Agocs, D.C.

Steve Agocs, D.C. — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:17:57 +0000

Brandon, another interesting blogpost. Way to go! I did have commentary on the following statement, though:
____
“He laid down and I preformed a prone Deerfield-Thompson leg check. Phil’s legs were balanced.

I had never checked anyone when their legs were balanced to start. I had heard you might find it but it was rare, so when I saw this, initially I thought to myself, “Phil must have just been adjusted.””
____

When properly using Thompson-Derifield (correct spelling of the name) leg checks, a patient presenting with even legs in extension is NOT rare. It’s not as common as a patient presenting with uneven legs, but it occurs approximately 20% of the time or so. Even legs in this position COULD mean any of the following: presence of Bilateral Cervical Syndrome (occiput problem, actually), X-Derifield (which could be a Cervical Syndrome, Negative Derifield or Positive Derifield), or it could mean that the patient doesn’t need to be adjusted at all. Further testing is required to figure out what the patient needs (or doesn’t need).

Simply having balanced legs on an initial leg check is completely meaningless in and of itself.

By: Travis Robertson

Travis Robertson — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:05:24 +0000

That’s okay Joey you are not alone in that category. lol.

By: Dr. Joey Miles

Dr. Joey Miles — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:16:14 +0000

I am a little long winded, aren’t I?
You should sit through my orientation classes…lol.
Great stuff!