Corrective Chiropractic East Boca

Fantastic Structural Correction!

2011-06-30T13:17:00.001-07:00

This Is What It's All About...

No fireworks show can excite me like an excellent structural correction...It never gets old...

The BLACK curve is the shape this neck is suppose to have. The red lines on the back of the vertebrae depict how the patient's neck is shaped...NOT so good (reversed) in the BEFORE image...BTW, they had a couple SECONDARY CONDITIONS which made them seek my care... headaches and neck pain, which are just a couple of the possibilities this kind of ABNORMAL neck structure can generate.

It took more than a couple treatments (16 weeks) to get the CORRECTION you see in the AFTER image...near perfection! The patient's favorite side effect of NORMAL structure, in this case, is headache AND neck pain relief...no more SECONDARY CONDITIONS!!! That's great...I just like to think about the slowed rate of degeneration, less stress on the nervous system, etc...

Just an example how STRUCTURAL CORRECTION is different from TRADITIONAL CHIROPRACTIC. Have a fun 4th!!!

What Is Normal?

2011-05-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

We all know about normal blood pressure, temperature, vision, lab values...when it comes to our health...but most people don't know that there is a "normal" model (ideal shape) for the structure of the spine, that has been studied to death.

Knowing what is normal helps us appreciate just how abnormal we are, when it comes to an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Hard Core Discussion

2011-02-25T11:27:00.000-08:00

Evidently the definition of what exactly the core is depends on who you ask. Look here, here and here for a variety of descriptions. The only thing anyone agrees on is that at the core-of-the-core is the structure of the spine. At least they should. Now wasn't that easy? It took me only 5 seconds to reveal the answer.

So why do most experts ignore the structure of the spine, choosing to focus on posture, ranges of motion, neuromuscular re-education, strength and conditioning of the spine and surrounding musculature? After all, that sounds good/fancy enough...doesn't it?

The answer is simple…They don’t have the training, the wrong professional degree, a limited scope, little experience or lack the specialized imaging equipment to study the deeper underlying structure of the spine…let alone the custom structural rehab equipment and structural correction technique to fix it.

Just what kind of results can these experts expect from a patient with a structural abnormality like scoliosis, short leg syndrome or anterior head syndrome?

This is not criticism and I'm NOT saying you don't need these things. Actually, I recommend many of them. What I am saying is this...Their focus/objective may be ignoring an underlying structural abnormality that they can do nothing about, and the patient may be wondering what the heck is wrong with them, because their symptoms (secondary conditions) never go away.

Shouldn't these experts know what's going on with your spinal structure anyway? How do they know what they are working with without a proper Complete Structural Exam ?...Anyone?

These experts are like painters, who paint over the small cracks or use joint compound to fill the bigger ones, to hide it temporarily, until the crack expands, again. Sometimes that's all you need. You can keep it up for as long as you like. Besides, it’s easy, cheap and you can always move!

For those who value their homes, there are structural engineers who will find the underlying structural problems in your house and fix the cause of the cracks in the walls. It requires a different set of skills, knowledge and equipment, takes much longer and it will not be cheap.

It's no different in chiro-world. You have your painters, traditional chiropractors, and you have your structural engineers, chiropractors like me who focus on structural correction.

Most people I meet don’t know that there are different types of chiropractors. They think we’re all the same…and who can blame you. If you look at the yellow pages you’d think we all treated auto-accident victims, blasted hair with lasers and teamed up with other types of doctors in those nice little pain-centers. There’s some crazier stuff too, which makes my job harder than it has to be. Anyhow...

Traditional chiropractors have tons of tools/modalities at their disposal, like a painter, to patch over a problem. Tools and techniques that, according to the ACA:

. Increase your ranges of motion
Break up muscle spasm
Decrease Pain

For a more entertaining description of traditional chiropractic check out Dr. Chris Chase's article. I like his other article too.

Then you have the structural-engineers of chiropractic, like me, who choose to focus on only Structural Correction.

So like living in a house with 10 layers of paint and joint compound, you have to wonder why your daily yoga, back massages, 45 minute stretch routines, 1000 crunches, massage chair, home traction, traditional care and other modalities aren’t working or you have to keep doing them to feel better?

Do you need a structural engineer or are you planning to move soon?

If you liked this article you should share it with your friends on FACEBOOK and TWITTER or email them the link. How else are they going to know?

Too Smart For Your Own Good

2011-02-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

I saw this on Julien Smith's blog the other night and thought how it applied to myself and also a special class of patients that I used to deal with in the past...the PITA's (pain in the ass)... That's about as delicate as I can put that, but you know who you are (or were). Hey, It's not like every doctor-patient relationship is a bed of roses.

Briefly: My definition of PITA's...They're the ones who think they know more about what I do than even me! Thank you Google for making my professional life a living hell...I imagine many doctors rue the day Al Gore invented the internet.

Look, It's not as if I'm NOT guilty of being a "know it all". Heck, it's gotten me into more trouble than I'd like to admit. Sometimes it takes something like that blog, or a ruthless trusted-adviser like Marc Swerdlick to rattle my cage enough to open my eyes (he said it a million times)...so I thought some of you past and potential PITA patients might benefit from this.

Here we go: If you'd get your butt out of the self help aisle, stop googling or lurking outside my office, you would, in no particular order:

Realize you're spinal structure or metabolism aren't going to fix themselves. Something more than a temporary patch is needed to deal with this correctly and that "something" is NOT going to be a walk in the park.
Realize Structural Correction and Metabolic Correction are not a quick fix
Realize you can't get any real, predictable structural correction with home equipment and exercises
Realize the Metabolic Reset Plan's results are predictable if you follow the protocol EXACTLY as described. There are no substitutions.
Actually follow ALL my recommendations and ask me if you are doing them correctly
Actually Commit instead of waffle (Right out of Smith's blog. It's dead on)
ONLY focus on the ultimate result, not the day in day out stuff
Face facts...you can't live like this anymore and you can't go back, unless you want to start all over again...which I am always up for!

Wouldn't you?
There is so much more you could benefit from, besides my services, if you would wise-up and realize that maybe you are too-smart for your own good. ( basically reworded from here.) Don't worry, we're all guilty.

POOR POSTURE IS SCREWING YOU OVER!

2011-01-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

The Psychology and Physiology of Posture

I never had a doubt about the relationship between POSTURE and your mental-state AS WELL AS your hormonal-state. It's just kinda hard to tell someone that they will change their physiology and psychology if they just "fix" their posture.

Just take a look around at people's posture and you'll notice who seems more authoritarian and who looks more like a follower. Think of the mad scientist and their hunchback side kick. Got it?

Now the impact of good posture on your physiology (especially your hormonal levels) is well known...Unfortunately you can't bottle it and sell it at a profit...Can't make a living out of telling people to sit up straight for their "low-T"...or whatever the new thing is.

The article below is a nice easy read...if you want more details. But if you're wondering what's my stake in this game...well it's pretty basic. NOT everyone can maintain normal posture to take advantage of its benefits, because their is a problem with the structure of the spine (PAIN, ARTHRITIS, DISC PROBLEMS, DEFORMITY, ETC)...and since all I do is FOCUS ON STRUCTURAL CORRECTION...who better to discuss your STRUCTURAL problems than me!

How You Can Become More Powerful by Literally Standing Tall

Posture can affect how powerful you feel--and how powerful you are

By Adam D. Galinsky and Li Huang | January 4, 2011

"More impressively, expansive postures also altered the participants’ hormone levels. Using salivary samples, Carney and colleagues found that expansive postures led individuals to experience elevated testosterone (T) and decreased cortisol (C). This neuroendocrine profile of High T and Low C has been consistently linked to such outcomes as disease resistance and leadership abilities. Although past research has found that occupying a powerful role leads to expansive postures, Carney et al.’s paper is the first to investigate the reciprocal relationship – the causal effect of posture on the mental experience of power.

Along with Deborah Gruenfeld and Lucia Guillory from Stanford University, we have further established the primacy of posture. In our studies, also appearing in Psychological Science, we empirically demonstrated that not only does expansive posture predict power-related behavior, but it might actually be the closest correlate of these behaviors. Across three studies, we found that when individuals were placed in high- or low-power roles while adopting an expansive or constricted posture, only posture affected the implicit activation of power, the taking of action, and the tendency to see the forest instead of the trees."

NORMAL STRUCTURE EQUALS NORMAL POSTURE

ABNORMAL STRUCTURE EQUALS BAD POSTURE

PEOPLE ARE AWESOME...Maybe a little crazy too

2010-12-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Do NOT try this at home OR anywhere else for that matter!!

Got Butter Posture?

2010-11-26T13:44:00.000-08:00

Can't get chicks? Maybe its your posture...or is it your structure?

You know the saying. "Great body, butter face"...same goes with posture. This article talks about how by tilting their face in different ways, men and women can appear more attractive. I'd add that normal posture helps a hell of a lot more than the way you tilt your face.

What's so attractive about rounded shoulders, a "granny hump" and a craning-neck? Although its the accepted "norm" these days, it is certainly not acceptable...especially if YOU can do something about it.

So stand up straight and square those shoulders! There, you fixed yourself...but can you keep it this way all the time? Or, even worse, can you even fix your own posture????? Are you stuck in that position?

BTW...THIS is normal

If you are in the "lazy" category, and can fix your own posture, then thank your lucky stars. Quit being a lazy-bum and get your act together, before you end up in the "abnormal-structure" category.

People with a structural-abnormality of the spine can only fix their posture temporarily or maybe only to a certain degree. On a side note...Occasionally I'll have a patient with perfect posture, that hides a severe scoliosis...and I mean terrible. I see this more often with athletes, who notice the asymmetry in their back muscles, gait or cycling position, but otherwise have very military-like posture and zero SECONDARY CONDITIONS what-so-ever. So rules don't always apply.

The most common structural-abnormality we correct, in out practice, is someone who has given themselves Anterior Head Syndrome (AHS), after years of subjecting themselves to poor posture. We also see many patients who developed AHS and have Short Leg Syndrome (SLS).

How do you get SLS? Usually you inherit it. You can also "acquire" one with a fracture or surgery.

AHS combined with SLS is not a pretty picture. No amount of "face tilt" is gonna cover up that hump growing between your shoulders!! "Oh, she's sooo nice, butter posture. What's up with that hump?" ...see were we're going with this? :))) I know, I'm a horrible person.

Have a great weekend!

Latest News

2010-11-17T10:36:00.000-08:00

Back pain is the most common SECONDARY CONDITIONS generated by structural abnormalities of the spine...maybe, according to this story, you DON'T want to try everything before checking out Structural Correction Chiropractic here at Corrective Chiropractic.

Back surgery may backfire on patients in pain

Patients who had spinal fusion were less likely to return to work and needed more opiates, study says

By Linda Carroll

msnbc.com contributor msnbc.com contributor

updated 10/14/2010 8:55:44 AM ET 2010-10-14

Just a month after back surgery, Nancy Scatena was once again in excruciating pain. The medications her doctor prescribed barely took the edge off the unrelenting back aches and searing jolts down her left leg. “The pain just kept intensifying,” says the 52-year-old Scottsdale, Ariz., woman who suffers from spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the chanel through which spinal nerves pass. “I was suicidal.”

Finally, Scatena made an appointment with another surgeon, one whom friends had called a “miracle worker.” The new doctor assured her that this second operation would fix everything, and in the pain-free weeks following an operation to fuse two of her vertebrae it seemed that he was right. But then the pain came roaring back.

Back Surgery May Backfire On Patients In Pain

SECONDARY CONDITIONS…were do headaches come from?

A PRIMARY STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITY such as AHS or SLS can result in several SECONDARY CONDITIONS, including a variety of headaches that, according to Nikoli Bogduk, all have a single source…the trigeminocervical nucleus…which resides in your brainstem, but has connections that go down to as low as your middle neck (C4). Translated, this means…if you have a structural abnormality that affects this thing (trigeminocervical nucleus), you might experience a problem with headaches.

Study the following abstract if you prefer the technical explanation.

Ultimately the question is…which do you treat???? The headache or the PRIMARY spinal problem?

The Corrective Chiropractic “way” is different. Let us know if you would like to take a closer look.

Anatomy and Physiology of Headache.
Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy: 1995, Vol. 49, No. 10, 435-445

Nikoli Bogduk MD, PhD, DSc
FROM ABSTRACT:
All headaches have a common anatomy and physiology.

All headaches are mediated by the trigeminocervical nucleus, and are initiated by noxious stimulation of the endings of the nerves that synapse on this nucleus, by irritation of the nerves themselves, or by disinhibition of the nucleus.

DR. BOGDUK ALSO NOTES:
The brainstem contains a region of grey matter called the trigeminocervical nucleus. This nucleus is causally continuous with the grey matter of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The trigeminocervical nucleus is “defined by its afferent fibers.” [Key Point]

The trigeminocervical nucleus receives afferents from the following sources:
1) Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V)
2) Upper three cervical nerves
3) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve)
4) Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal Nerve)
5) Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve)
All of these afferents terminate on common second-order neurons in the trigeminocervical nucleus.

Trigeminal Nerve afferents will descend to the level of C3 and perhaps as low as C4. The trigeminocervical nucleus is the sole nociceptive nucleus of the head, throat and upper neck. “All nociceptive afferents from the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves and C1-C3 spinal nerves ramify in this single column of grey matter.”

Because the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve extends the farthest into the trigeminocervical nucleus, cervical afferent stimulation is most likely to refer pain to the frontal-orbital region of the head.

The stimulation of any neurons that activate the trigeminocervical nucleus can cause headache, which includes cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X, and C1-C3. “Any structure innervated by these nerves is capable of causing headache.”

“The C1 and C2 spinal nerves are distinctive in that they do not emerge through intervertebral foramina.”

The C1 spinal nerve passes across the posterior arch of the atlas behind its superior articular process, descending in front of the C1 transverse process to descend as a part of the cervical plexus.

C1 spinal nerve does not supply the skin, but does supply sensory innervation to the suboccipital muscles. The sensory root of C1 can be found with the motor roots of the spinal accessory (cranial nerve XI) nerve.

The C2 spinal nerve crosses the posterior aspect of the C1-C2 facet joint; its dorsal root ganglion is opposite the midpoint of the C1-C2 facet joint.

The anterior primary rami of C1-C2-C3-C4 join and form the cervical plexus to innervate the prevertebral muscles: longus capitis, longus cervicis, rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, sternocleidomastoid and trapezius.

The anterior primary rami of C1-C2-C3 form the recurrent meningeal branches of the sinuvertebral nerves. These nerves innervate the anterior surface of the upper cervical dura mater, and then pass through the foramen magnum to innervate the dura mater between the pituitary gland to the anterior occiput (the clivus). They also innervate the medial portion of the C1-C2 joint capsule, the transverse and alar ligaments.

In the posterior cranial fossa, C1-C3 sinuvertebral nerves add components to cranial nerve X (vagus) and XII (hypoglossal). [Important]

The anterior primary rami from C1-C3 join the vertebral nerve, the plexus of nerves that travels with the vertebral artery, and supplies sensory branches to the fourth part of the vertebral artery.

The posterior primary rami of C1 innervate the 4 suboccipital muscles: inferior oblique, superior oblique, rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor.

The motor component of the C2 posterior primary rami innervates the longissimus capitis and splenius.

The sensory component of the C2 posterior primary rami becomes the greater occipital nerve. It winds under the inferior oblique muscle, ascends and pierces the shared aponeurosis of the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle to supply the posterior scalp.

The motor components of the C3 posterior primary rami also innervate the longissimus capitis and splenius muscles as well as the C2-C3 multifidus muscle.

The sensory component of the C3 posterior primary rami runs across the posterior aspect of the C2-C3 facet joint (which it innervates) and ascends as the third occipital nerve to supply the suboccipital region.

The posterior cranial fossa and its contents are innervated by cervical nerves. Stretch on the dura mater can initiate mechanical pain. [Important]

“Vertebral artery disease, such as an aneurysm becomes an important differential diagnosis of what otherwise might seem to be neck pain with referred pain to the head.”

Arthritis of the upper cervical synovial joints (including C2-C3) can cause neck pain and headache.

Injury and damage to the alar ligaments can cause upper cervical pain and headache. The diagnosis is made with upper cervical rotational CT scanning, showing significant greater unilateral rotation. [Suncoast Healthcare orders FLAR study MRI sequencing of the upper cervical spine when alar or transverse ligament injury is suspected: the techniques has good visualization of the damage]

**Posterior cervical muscle tears are not a cause of chronic headache.**

C2 neuralgia is a neurogenic headache that can be caused by “scar tissue following trauma to the lateral atlanto-axial joint.” [Important] [Fibrosis of the C1-C2 facet joint affecting the adjacent C2 root]

KEY POINTS
1) All headaches have a common anatomy and physiology.
2) All headaches are mediated by the trigeminocervical nucleus, and are initiated by noxious stimulation of the endings of the nerves that synapse on this nucleus, by irritation of the nerves themselves, or by disinhibition of the nucleus.
3) The brainstem and upper cervical spinal cord contains a region of grey matter called the trigeminocervical nucleus.
4) The trigeminocervical nucleus is “defined by its afferent fibers.” [Key: Chiropractic adjustments stimulates mechanoreceptive afferent fibers]
5) The trigeminocervical nucleus receives afferents from the following sources:
A) Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V)
B) Upper three cervical nerves
C) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial Nerve)
D) Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal Nerve)
E) Cranial Nerve X (Vagus Nerve)
**All these afferents terminate on common second-order neurons in the trigeminocervical nucleus.
6) Trigeminal nerve afferents will descend to the level of C3 and perhaps as low as C4.
7) The trigeminocervical nucleus is the sole nociceptive nucleus of the head, throat and upper neck. “All nociceptive afferents from the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves and C1-C3 spinal nerves ramify in this single column of grey matter.”
Pain in the forehead can arise as a result of stimulation by cervical afferents of second-order neurons in the trigeminocervical nucleus that happen also to receive forehead afferents.
9) Pain in the occiput (primarily innervated by C2) may arise from trigeminal nerve stimulation.
10) Because the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve extends the farthest into the trigeminocervical nucleus, cervical afferent stimulation is most likely to refer pain to the frontal-orbital region of the head.
11) The stimulation of any neurons that activate the trigeminocervical nucleus can cause headache, which included cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X, and C1-C3. “Any structure innervated by these nerves is capable of causing headache.” [Key Point…addresses the joints of the neck]
12) Structures innervated by C1-C3:
A) Dura mater of the posterior cranial fossa
B) Inferior surface of the tentorium cerebelli
C) Anterior and posterior upper cervical and cervical-occiput muscles
D) OCCIPUT-C1, C1-C2, and C2-C3 joints
E) C2-C3 intervertebral disc
F) Skin of the occiput
G) Vertebral and Carotid arteries
H) Alar and transverse ligament
I) Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid muscle
13) “The C1 and C2 spinal nerves are distinctive in that they do not emerge through intervertebral foramina.”
14) C1 spinal nerve does not supply the skin, but does supply sensory innervation to the suboccipital muscles.
15) The C2 spinal nerve crosses the posterior aspect of the C1-C2 facet joint and innervates it.
16) The anterior primary rami of C1-C2-C3-C4 join and form the cervical plexus to innervate the prevertebral muscles: longus capitis, longus cervicis, rectus capitis anterior, rectus capitis lateralis, sternocleidomastoid and trapezius.
17) The anterior primary rami of C1-C2-C3 form the recurrent meningeal branches of the sinuvertebral nerves. These nerves innervate the anterior surface of the upper cervical dura mater, and then pass through the foramen magnum to innervate the dura matter between the pituitary gland to the anterior occiput (the clivus). They also innervate the medial portion of the C1-C2 joint capsule, the transverse and alar ligaments.
18) In the posterior cranial fossa, C1-C3 sinuvertebral nerves add components to cranial nerve X (vagus) and XII (hypoglossal). [WOW! Anatomical proof there is a direct connection with chiropractic adjustments and improvements with abdominal organ system!]
19) The anterior primary rami from C1-C3 join the vertebral nerve, the plexus of nerves that travels with the vertebral artery, and supplies sensory branches to the fourth part of the vertebral artery.
20) The posterior primary rami of C1 innervate the 4 suboccipital muscles: inferior oblique, superior oblique, rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor.
21) The motor component of the C2 posterior primary rami innervates the longissimus capitis and splenius.
22) The sensory component of the C2 posterior primary rami becomes the greater occipital nerve. It winds under the inferior oblique muscle, ascends and pierces the shared aponeurosis of the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle to supply the posterior scalp.
23) The motor components of the C3 posterior primary rami also innervate the longissimus capitis and splenius muscles as well as the C2-C3 multifidus muscle.
24) The sensory component of the C3 posterior primary rami runs across the posterior aspect of the C2-C3 facet joint (which it innervates) and ascends as the third occipital nerve to supply the suboccipital region.
25) Nociception pain can be initiated by the accumulation of inflammatory chemicals.
26) Nociception pain can be caused by mechanical stimulation following a “distortion of a network of collagen” such as ligament or dura mater. [Important: this supports the mechanics of subluxation]
27) Central pain involves no tissue damage but results from dysfunction of the descending pain inhibitory pathways. [Important: the journal Pain in November 1996 suggests that spinal adjusting relieves pain because it activates the descending pain inhibitory system.]
28) Stretch on the dura mater can initiate mechanical pain. [Important: there exists a connective tissue bridge between C1-C2 that attaches to the inferior oblique muscle and attaches to the dura mater. Biomechanical problems in this region can stretch the dura mater, initiating mechanical pain.]
29) The posterior cranial fossa and its contents are innervated by cervical nerves.
30) “Vertebral artery disease, such as an aneurysm becomes an important differential diagnosis of what otherwise might seem to be neck pain with referred pain to the head.”
31) Arthritis of the upper cervical synovial joints (including C2-C3) can cause neck pain and headache.
32) Injury and damage to the alar ligaments can cause upper cervical pain and headache.
33) Posterior cervical muscle tears are not a cause of chronic headache.
34) C2 neuralgia is a neurogenic headache that can be caused by “scar tissue following trauma to the lateral atlanto-axial joint.” [Important: Fibrosis of the C1-C2 facet joint affecting the adjacent C2 root]

The majority of chiropractors in the Boca Raton area are best described as "traditional" chiropractors. Corrective Chiropractic is different because its focus is Structural Correction of the spine. So to determine what kind of chiropractor you need to see at this time, please take the time to understand the difference...beginning with "traditional" chiropractic...

According to the ACA, "Traditional" chiropractic has the following goals:

1. Decrease Muscular Spasm
2. Increase Ranges of Motion
3. Reduce Pain

This is what MOST chiropractors in the Boca area offer and I believe that most of them do a great job at what they do.

Unlike "Traditional" chiropractors, Corrective Chiropractic East Boca focuses on Structural Correction of the spine by utilizing Structural Corrective Chiropractic Technique in an effort to correct the following structural abnormalities:

1. Short Leg Syndrome

2. Compensatory Lumbar Scoliosis

3. Anterior Head Syndrome

NORMAL STRUCTURE
To recognize "abnormal", you must first be aware of what's normal. How do you know if you have a fever? How do you know if you have high blood pressure? How do you know if you are near sited? You know what is abnormal only because you know what's normal.

Whether you are familiar with them or not, there are in fact "normals" in all aspects of life. When it comes to the spine there is indeed a normal structure that is considered ideal. Of course we are not expecting perfection. However if your head is displaced 30mm beyond what is considered acceptable, you have Anterior Head Syndrome (AHS). Your head shifting forward is no different than your care being forced out of alignment, or the foundation of your house sinking on one side by just a couple inches.

Because the underlying structure has been shifted, regardless of the reasons, this deviation of your skull puts abnormal stress on your muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs and spinal bones- forcing them to compensate and inevitably degenerate, possibly producing pain and loss of function.

SECONDARY CONDITIONS...WHAT IS YOUR BODY TELLING YOU?
Fortunately, like your car, life gives us warning signals so that we know when there is a problem. Just look at your dashboard in your car and you'll see a variety of warning indicators that let you know when things aren't right (aka "normal").

Abnormal Structural shifts like these may result in a variety of Secondary Conditions

In the human body, our warning indicators are a number of secondary conditions. As you are probably aware, a secondary condition suggests the presence of a more serious primary condition - typically the underlying cause of your symptoms. Here are a few of the secondary conditions that may require your attention:

Neck & Back Pain
Sciatica & Hip Pain
Numbness & Tingling
Muscular Spasm & Tension
Headaches (Variety including Migraines)
Pinched Nerve
Herniated Disc
Canal Stenosis
Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Joint Disease
Decrease Ranges of Motion
Poor Posture
Granny Hump (Dowager's)
Muscular Imbalance
Dizziness/Vertigo
C arpal Tunnel Syndrome

THE PRIMARY CONDITION...THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF YOUR SECONDARY CONDITION?

An ABNORMAL spinal structure creates continuous strain on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs and even nerves. This stress can result in a variety of the secondary conditions as described.

The best way we know how to determine if you have one of the primary conditions we focus on correcting is to undergo a Complete Structural Examination. During the exam a series of x-ray images are taken to determine if you have any of the FOUR SIGNS that are clear indicators of Short Leg Syndrome, Compensatory Lumbar Scoliosis and Anterior Head Syndrome. These indicators have nothing to do with age or genetics. They are a result of the wear and tear these structural abnormalities can cause. They include:

1. Thinning, compressed discs
2. Changes to the shape of the vertebral body
3. Loss of the spines natural curves
4. Significant spinal shifts to the side, forward or backward

These signs are not hard to miss. If they are there...they are there.

THE COMPLETE STRUCTURAL EXAMINATION
Just like you wouldn't buy a house without looking inside, we don't work on your spine without first looking inside. The Complete Structural Exam is just that...complete. We begin with the structure of the feet, analyzing their alignment with the ankle and knee. Any significant deviations from normal are corrected before we take the structural x-rays.

Short Leg Syndrome (anatomical difference in leg length) is the first thing we address before completing the radiographic examination of the entire spinal structure. Our new high frequency x-ray machine directly downloads the images into the computer. This not only saves time and the environment (no chemicals!), but also insures and excellent image for study. Digital Structural Analysis is then used to correlate the patient's posture with their structure. Finally, functional and necessary orthopedic and neurological tests follow to determine the extent of any damage that may exist.

COMMON SOLUTIONS

There's more than one way to skin a cat, and as the saying goes, there are a variety of ways for you to get treated outside this office. If you are not already on them, prescriptions pain killers, muscle relaxers and anti inflammatory medications are often times our first resort. If they don't work out, the next step is usually physical therapy. Cortisone injections are usually the next step and in many cases, when these other treatments don't work, more invasive procedures are recommended. Some patients have even taken a trip or two to the traditional chiropractor.

Regardless of your experience or level of success with these treatments, all of them have been known to be helpful to many people. We just want you to know what your choices are so that you make the best decision for you and your condition.

THE CORRECTIVE CHIROPRACTIC WAY...FOCUS ON THE PRIMARY CONDITION
As mentioned in the very beginning, here at Corrective Chiropractic East Boca we focus on structural correction of the spine including; Anterior Head Syndrome, Short Leg Syndrome and Compensatory Lumbar Scoliosis.

We do this by utilizing Structural Corrective Chiropractic Technique combined with pre and post adjustment spinal remodeling procedures and structural correction exercises. The goal is to direct your spine toward what is considered normal. By doing so this will relieve the abnormal stress and strains that contribute to your secondary conditions.

So after your Complete Structural Examination you will return to review the findings and receive our best recommendation to achieve maximum correction. This visit is included with the examination along with an opportunity to get a taste of what it is like to be a patient in this office. A taste means you will get a slightly toned down version of a Structural Correction session, so you know what to expect without being surprised on any subsequent visits.

As for "How long does it take?"...A young adult patient with moderate structural changes can expect to spend a MINIMUM of 16 weeks under care. This includes up to 3 sessions per week as well as following the required complimentary recommendations which include sleep position, cervical and lumbar supports, nutritional supplements (just a few things), corrective insoles, heel lifts, shoes, etc...Everything and anything that can effect the outcome.

At the end of the initial phase of correction the Complete Structural Exam is repeated. Maybe you feel great, and all your secondary conditions are "all cleared up", but that isn't as important as confirming, objectively, if your spine is corrected structurally, on its way or if nothing happened. We can't x-ray you everyday, so, after the recommended plan is completed, we take a look. At this time we can see if more work is needed or not.
Finally, just like you would wear a retainer for your teeth after the braces came off, we offer all patients who have successfully completed their initial plan of correction, a Structural Protection Plan. For some, all the exercises, ergonomic recommendations and postural recommendations are not enough to keep their correction on their own. There are a number of Protection Plans which consist of periodic visits designed to protect your investment and make sure what we corrected stays corrected.