Chiropractic Neurology
“Chiropractic neurology? What’s that?” I get that question a lot, but to chiropractors the term is redundant. This is because chiropractic was founded on the principle that disease stems from dysfunction of the nervous system.
The original chiropractic postulate was that spinal bones move out of place and pinch nerves, and this can then cause nerve interference, resulting in disease and disrupting normal function and the ability of the body to heal itself. This came about in 1895 when DD Palmer, while working late in his office one evening trying to understand the true cause of disease, “adjusted” the neck of Harvey Lillard, a janitor who had been deaf for several years. Mr. Lillard could then immediately hear, and DD deduced that he had moved a bone off of a nerve in the neck, allowing for normal function and the ability to hear. Subsequently he formed his premise which began the chiropractic profession. He thought that disease stemmed from dysfunction in the nervous system, and that if the nervous system functioned appropriately it would heal any problems in the body.
At the time conventional wisdom throughout the scientific community thought that there was one nerve that ran from the brain all the way to different places in the body, such as the toes, and that it controlled all function for that area. Santiago Ramon y Cajal won the nobel prize in 1906 for the neuron doctrine, something considered revolutionary at the time and contested for years after his win. He stated that neurons were the functional component of the nervous system, i.e., many groups “talked” to each other to create different areas of orchestrated function. It was prior to this that DD made his postulate that began the chiropractic profession.
The idea of chiropractic was ahead of its time. A scientific idea from 1895 still has tremendous application in 2008. However, now with modern science we have a better and more accurate understanding of the exact neurophysiology behind the beneficial effects of chiropractic, with the greatest understanding occurring in the last dozen years. Much of the original idea, such as dysfunction of the spine and simultaneous dysfunction of the nervous system, go hand in hand today and is one of the reasons that chiropractic exceeds other health professions in terms of effectiveness for conditions like low back pain, yet is infinitely safer than even an over the counter Tylenol.
Modern chiropractic has a definition as dynamic as that of the continuously changing understanding afforded by modern science. The chiropractic profession contributes important research and education efforts through chiropractic colleges and affiliated universities as well as through private institution and individual research efforts. There are many board certifications in the chiropractic profession, some of which are, but not limited to, Neurology, Radiology, Orthopedics, Sports Physicians, and Pediatrics.
The American Chiropractic Neurology Board (www.acnb.org) certifies chiropractic neurologists. The ACNB is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation body for the National Organization of Competency Assurance (NOCA). The ACNB has subspecialties in electrodiagnosis, vestibular rehabilitation, and developmental disabilities.
Chiropractic neurology deals with dysfunction of the nervous system through receptor activation, or, by specific activation of parts of the nervous system depending on one’s individual loss of neurologic function. Chiropractors as a whole increase sensory input to the nervous system by increasing spinal and extremity funtion, but chiropractic neurologists do so with more specificity and depending on an individual’s need. For example, a chiropractic neurologist may adjust a patient on only one side, or spin the patient to one side to activate the horizontal canal of the vestibular system, or perform eye exercises to one side only, when one has diminished brain function on one side only. And because every person’s presentation is different, each therapy is created to that person’s specific needs.
This is different than a medication in that all medications are non-specific. If a child has a right brain deficit, then a medication will change function on both sides equally. A chiropractic neurologist will devise a series of types of sensory inputs, including in house activities and treatments as well as lifestyle modifications, that will be specific to that child’s right brain deficit. Then after a given therapy the chiropractic neurologist will re-check function to see if a functional neurologic improvement has been achieved. Therefore, treatment is directed by objective improvements in function, and this is done while a patient is undergoing treatment .
This approach to care has detailed direction that leads to accurate diagnosis and treatment. And, it’s a lot of fun! Also, this care quite naturally leads to home-based therapies with a goal of making the patient independent of the doctor who prescribed them.
Dr. Stelzer is a fellow in neurology of the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies, and he is board certified in neurology and electrodiagnosis by the American Chiropractic Neurology Board.