What is the Vertebral Subluxation (VS)?
An often painless misalignment, fixation, or malfunction of the spinal joints resulting in Spinal Nerve Stress or Nerve Interference. Can be caused by a multitude of factors the main 3 of which are Chemical Stressors (unhealthy foods, enviornmental pollution, etc.) Structural Stressors (bones, ligaments, tendons and their alignment or lack there of) and Emotional Stressors (stinking thinking, stress of life and the adaptation processes).
It is also defined as a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health.
What is the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC)?
The consequence of neglected or uncorrected VS, causing bone, disc, ligament, muscle, nerve, and organ malfunction and degeneration.
Is VSC serious?
Yes. According to Dr. Hans Selye, Nobel Prize Laureate and Stress Researcher, Poor posture is the beginning of the disease process. Dr. Richard Sperry, Nobel Prize Winner and Brain Researcher, states, Over 90% of the brains energy is tied up in relating the body to gravity. The more biomechanical faults one has, the less energy one has for thinking metabolizing, and healing. And Dr. Chung Ha Su, Biomechanical Researcher at the University of Colorado, adds, Just the weight of a quarter pressing against a nerve can shut down that nerves function up to 60%.
What causes VS and VSC?
Some of the more common causes are: Work, Auto, or Sports Related Stress or Trauma, Nutritional or Chemical Imbalances or Abuse, the Birthing Process, Poor Posture, and Emotional Stressors.
It is important to note that the VS and the VSC are NOT scientifically proven to exhist. However the newest measuring techniques and devices are lending credence to the exhistance of these conditions. Simply put, it is difficult to put a person in a petrie dish.
The History of Chiropractic Cranial Adjusting
The concept that the bones in the skull fuse in early childhood originated in a paper written in 1873 referred to as the “Munro-Kellie Doctrine.” The research that supported this theory was 100 years old at that time and apparently the paper was not very well done (even for the standards of the time). This view was still espoused as late as 1931 by the British autonomist, Sperino. We were even taught this concept J in Chiropractic College in the 70’s.
1796 - Phrenology was the first system to pioneer the idea that mental functions are related to different parts of the brain. The Austrian physician Joseph Gall established the first theory of brain localization in 1796, one hundred year before the introduction of Chiropractic.
Gall’s premise was that: “The skull takes its shape from the brain; the surface of the skull can be read as an accurate index of physiological aptitudes and tendencies.” Employers would use his techniques for character references and as an index of talents and abilities. Phrenology is not practiced or acknowledged today, as there is only one of the localizations has anything close to today’s cranial mapping.
1920 – Craniopathy. The first person to develop a technique for adjusting the bones in the skull was a Chiropractor named Dr. Calvin Cottam (1883 – 1996). His technique was called Craniopathy”. He started teaching his technique in the late 20’s. He reasoned “...that if the Chiropractic principle of pressure off the nerves in the spine was true, that the same should be true of the head.”
1930 - Sacro Occipital Technique (S.O.T.). Major B. DeJarnette (Chiropractor and Osteopath) developed a technique involving the movement of the cranial sutures. He taught it until 1984.
The Sacro Occipital Research Society International continues to this day. All Chiropractors have been taught the three categories and their testing procedures in Chiropractic College. He developed a technique involving the movement of the cranial sutures.
1939 - Osteopathy in the Cranial field. In 1939, William Sutherland hypothesized that the cranial bones actually articulate against one another. He was a student at the American School of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Missouri. He established that the cranium was capable of a “Primary Respiratory Mechanism” and that the C.F.S. plays a vital “nutritive role” in all the tissues of the body. The meninges cover the brain and house the C.F.S. The dura matter is the outermost layer of the meninges and attaches to the foramen magnum, the upper cervical vertebrae and to the second sacral segment. He rationalized that when the head is traumatized, the dura may become twisted and compressed producing dysfunctions and ill health.
Bones in the Skull Move
Mid 70’s - Cranial Sacral Therapy (C.S.T.) John Upledger proved that the bones of the skull moved and that the sutures had a space of 100th of an inch and they contained blood vessels, nerve fibers and connective tissues. Upledger and his research team from the Michigan State University studied fresh cadavers using electron microscopes, radio waves and cinematographic X-rays to prove that the cranial bones moved. C.S.T. is an extremely light touch technique taught mostly to massage therapists.
Directional Non-Force Technique (D.N.F.T.) was developed by a Chiropractor, Dr. Richard VanRumpt. This technique consists of gentle challenging and a unique leg length check. The adjustment is a gentle, but directionally specific thumb impulse.
1979 - Neuro Organization Technique was developed Carl Ferrari D.C. He integrated several other Chiropractic techniques along with his own method of testing and treating and came up with his own protocols. Dr. Ferrari developed a breakthrough treatment protocol for dyslexia and learning disabilities. This was my first introduction to the concept of moving the bones in the skull after adolescence.
1996 - Leon Chaitow in his book Cranial Manipulation Theory and Practice, examines the research on cranial suture movement and refers to the research of Zanaskis et al 1996 on suture respiration. Zanaski measured the range of cranial movement between the sutures at 1/100 of an inch or 1/4 of a millimeter.
2001 - Blye Cranial Technique was developed Dr. John Blye D.C. It is similar in technique to VanRumpt. He utilizes D.N.F.T. testing principles and treats them with a special Activator gun.
Bio Cranial is taught by Dr. Boyd. It is an excellent one adjustment approach to cranial.
2003 Koren Specific by Dr. Ted Koren D.C. also developed a cranial technique.
1986 - Cranial Adjusting Turner Style (C.A.T.S.). My brother, Dr. Allen Turner D.C. and I first took N.O.T from Dr. Ferrari in 1986 and started the journey of correcting cranial subluxations and misalignments. Initially, we mainly used sphenoid cranial adjustments. Today, the technique has developed exponentially to include all of the bones in the skull.
We first started using Ferrari’s protocols to treat learning difficulties and both of us achieved phenomenal successes using this method. From 1986 to 2003 we were virtually the only two
using his technique in Canada. Our technique expanded to include: head injuries, chronic headaches (that were not responding to cervical adjustments), autism, A.D.D., A.D.H.D., O.D.D., P.D.D., O.C.D., epilepsy, even Down’s syndrome and a wide variety of behavioral and learning difficulties. A new section of C.A.T.S. teaches how to do cosmetic adjusting of the facial bones.
2003 - C.A.T.S. has been taught to over 750 Chiropractors worldwide. It is unlike any of these other techniques; it is a very specific touch, its approach is unique and its results are amazing. Dr. Roger Turner D.C. has also discovered a way to correct indents and protrusions in the hard parts of the cranial bones. No other technique addresses this.
Cranial Misalignments. Trauma is not limited to the spine and extremities. Much attention is paid to the protection of the head with the insistence that helmets be used for various sports. Some of them are very effective, such as the football helmet; others are less effective, the hockey helmet for example, and others are almost totally ineffective like the bicycle helmet. The bicycle helmet is only effective if a brick falls straight down, directly on the top of the helmet; otherwise the helmet actually causes more problems and subluxations to the skull when hit from the side, front and behind. A hit to the head can be serious and can cause cognitive and functional difficulties that can last a life time. Chiropractors have all seen patients whose problems have originated from a head injury. The first head injury can occur during childbirth, then falls in infancy from the head hitting the edge of a coffee table or when the child tumbles down the stairs. The incidence of head injuries from hits from baseball bats, swings, balls, pucks, fists, sports injuries, car and industrial accidents are extremely common. Unfortunately, most of these patients do not receive adequate care for these injuries and their conditions deteriorate and result in chronic debilitating health problems.
Post Concussion Syndrome is an excellent example of what happens when a head injury is not corrected. The injury to the head is sufficient enough to cause temporary unconsciousness in some cases. The patient survives, but has many acute symptoms such as: headaches, blurred vision, speech difficulties, memory lapses, brain fog, emotional irregularities, decreased reflexes, altered coordination, and behavior changes. If the cranial subluxations that resulted from the
head injury are not corrected these symptoms persist and become chronic, causing a lifetime of pain, emotional roller-coastering, cognitive disorders and cognitive difficulties resulting in a substandard level of life and health.
“All Chiropractors should master the art of Cranial Adjusting to correct all those “above the atlas subluxations” coming into their offices.”
How are VS, Misaligned Craniums and VSC corrected?
Through specific chiropractic adjustments and lifestyle changes.
