Neuro-structural care

Because most chiropractors in the area are of the traditional variety, we think a great place to start is to define what is considered “traditional” chiropractic. Traditional chiropractic has the following goals:

1. Reduce Pain
2. Decrease Muscle Spasm
3. Increase Range of Motion

Again, this is what MOST chiropractors offer in the way of care and we believe that many of them do a great job at traditional chiropractic care.

At our office, our primary focus is an area of chiropractic known as Neuro-Structural Correction.

This means that we focus on correcting the underlying structural dysfunction in your spine as well as normalizing your nervous system function.

During your initial visit, Dr. Sarah will determine if your issue is primarily a nervous system issue, a mechanical/structural issue, or a combination of the two. Next, she will provide a specific plan to get you out of pain and move you forward in your healing journey.

Our office is different because we don't rely solely on symptoms to determine your progress or your level of dysfunction. You can be "symptom free" and still very unhealthy. Dr. Sarah will perform specific neurological scans and x-rays, if needed, to figure out exactly where the root cause of your health issues are.

Usually, the next question that we’re asked is “What is a Neuro-structural Shift?” To best understand this condition, it’s important to understand what is normal. While no one has a perfect structure, there is a normal range.

We know what a fever is because we know what normal body temperature should register. We know what high blood pressure is because we know the normal range for blood pressure. Nearly everywhere you turn, you see and know what certain established norms are, including fire alarms and dashboard lights that tell you when things are abnormal

Normal structure for the spine is vertical (looking at it from the posterior (behind)) with no lateral deviations (curves or tilts from side to side). When observing the spine from the sagittal plane (from either side), there should be 3 distinct curves present – a forward curve of the neck, a backward curve of the mid-spine, and another forward curve of the lower spine.

Again, no one has a perfect structure. If an individual has segments that have shifted more than 5mm away from normal it would constitute a structural shift that would affect their neurology – therefore it would be considered a Neuro-structural Shift. This shift puts abnormal stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs, forcing them to undergo changes to adapt. If left without correction, permanent and irreversible damage can occur.

This is similar to the foundation of a house sinking on one side, even by as little as a couple of inches. It may not be noticeable at first, however, at some point, secondary issues will result like cracks in the walls, creaking floors, and windows that do not open and close smoothly.

Of course, the PROBLEM is the structural shift of the house. Traditional doctors will look at managing your Secondary Conditions after they appear. This is similar to a contractor patching up the cracks in the walls, putting another nail in the creaking floor, and spraying some WD-40 in the sticking windows. Will any of these methods FIX your problem? Of course not.

What would you do if this was YOUR home? You would hire someone to repair the foundation! After that (and some care for your secondary conditions) your house would be good to go. This is what Neuro-structural Correction can do for your body and health.

Before we perform any examination, each prospective patient will have a consultation with the doctor. The reason for this is to determine if you are a good fit for our office as well as if we are a good fit for you and the results that you want to achieve. Remember, in our office, a consultation is a conversation, NOT a commitment.

After the consultation, a prospective patient may elect to proceed to our Neuro-structural Correction Examination. The examination may also be scheduled for a later time if you so choose. As always, the decision is yours and there will never be any pressure! The Neuro-structural Correction Examination is comprehensive and that means you should safely plan on allotting no less than one hour of your time.

What to expect on our Neuro-structural Correction Examination:

• Complete series of Neuro-structural Radiography (X-rays) with Specialized Analysis
• Any necessary Orthopedic and Neurologic tests
• Posture Assessment
• Any necessary Range of Motion Analysis
• Segmental Thermographic Scan with Report
• Electromyography Scan with Report
• Heart Rate Variability

The Neuro-structural Correction Examination is designed to not only detect Neuro-structural Shifts but also gives us a complete understanding of the underlying cause of your condition. We will review the results of you Neuro-structural Correction Examination and carefully explain everything we plan to do for you in our office. After your examination, you will be scheduled for a conference where we will explain our findings, present a customized Initial Phase of Care, and an explanation of how our office works if you should decide to become a practice member.

After your report of findings, you will receive your first Neuro-structural corrective adjustment. You will be briefed on office and financial procedure and given any post-correction recommendations. We will call within 24 hours after your first correction just to be sure all your questions have been answered. No pressure, the decision is all yours.