If you have read this, have you ever wanted to quickly get rid of your irritating neck and shoulder stiffness, but have not been able to find a good treatment and have tried many different methods? Or are you at a loss as to what to do and are considering changing jobs or taking a leave of absence?
For 13 years, I suffered from pain all over my body due to the impact of the accident. The discomfort in my neck (upper cervical vertebrae) in particular continued even after the pain subsided. The area where my neck connects to my head always felt stiff and sore, as if barnacles were stuck to the bones inside.
Even after undergoing imaging and electroencephalography at orthopedic and neurosurgery clinics, the diagnosis was "nothing abnormal." This leaves you with the choice of relying on traditional Chinese medicine or folk treatments. When searching online for neck stiffness or numbness, you'll often find treatments like chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy, and myofascial release.
Among them, chiropractic is a medical qualification in the West and has a history of over 100 years, so I felt that it would be good to have some hope, and I went to a number of clinics. However, the problem is that it is difficult to determine whether the doctor's skills are reliable.
There is a list of alumni from Palmer College, a prestigious chiropractic school , so you can use this to find an internationally accredited chiropractor working in the country. However, some people may be afraid of having their neck touched.
In this article, I will introduce a method for correcting the neck bones without touching the neck, based on my own experience of trying it out about four times.
- First of all, I want to know what it feels like when the bones are properly aligned.
- I want to receive cervical spine adjustment without touching my neck.
- I know that cervical spine adjustment is very effective, but I'm too anxious to go to the doctor.
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I struggled to find a treatment, and finally decided that I had no choice but to cure myself, so I attended a therapist seminar and became a therapist myself.I wrote this article based on my experience.
Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic is recommended for those who are afraid of chiropractic
First, please watch this video (sound will be played) . It is a fluoroscopic image of the movement of the neck bones during adjustment. You can see a black bar at the top of the screen, and the bones are moving due to the vibrations emitted from this bar.
It shows the first cervical vertebra (the first bone in the neck) being guided into the correct position. At first, I was skeptical, wondering if it was possible to do correction without using my hands, but after watching this video, I decided to go and see a doctor. I actually tried it, and it only took a second. The metal rod touched my neck, and there was a small click! sound.
How can you correct it with just vibration?
This technique is called Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic . It has been scientifically proven that the cervical vertebrae move to the correct position through X-rays and other studies of bone movement during adjustment. During the treatment, a specially designed device made in the United States is used to apply a small vibration to the first cervical vertebra for just a moment. This vibration guides the bone into the correct position, just like the clapperboard balls being bounced off Newton's Cradle.
This small vibration is performed within the normal range of joint movement, so you won't hear any cracking sounds. It's a painless and safe treatment, so even children and the elderly can receive it with peace of mind. Note that "atlas" refers to the first cervical vertebra , and "orthogonal" refers to a right-angled position . In other words, this therapy adjusts the position of the first cervical vertebra so that the cervical vertebrae are kept at a proper 90-degree angle .
Why do chiropractors place importance on the neck bones?
The first cervical vertebra is considered the most important in chiropractic care because it has been proven that misalignment of the first cervical vertebra can cause not only pain but also illness.
The first cervical vertebra is an important fulcrum supporting the head, which weighs 4 to 6 kg. If the first cervical vertebra becomes misaligned for any reason, the head will tilt. The bones below the first cervical vertebra try to correct this tilt by distorting the spine to maintain balance . As a result, the spine cannot maintain a straight position, and eventually the entire body will become distorted, even down to the waist and legs.
The first cervical vertebra is also positioned to protect the brainstem, which is central to maintaining life, so adjusting the first cervical vertebra has a significant impact on the nerves. There are no intervertebral discs above or below the first cervical vertebra. For this reason, the upper cervical vertebrae are the part of the spine most susceptible to misalignment. Meanwhile, the lowest part of the brainstem, which is the center of life-sustaining functions, is embedded in the first and second cervical vertebrae. If the first cervical vertebra is not positioned correctly, the brainstem will be compressed, and commands from the brainstem to the body will not be transmitted properly .
When the first cervical vertebra is adjusted to its normal position, the body regains its fundamental skeletal balance. As a result, neck and shoulder stiffness, as well as lower back pain, are alleviated. In addition, the relief of pressure on the spinal nerves improves nerve conduction between the brain and the body, allowing the body's natural healing powers to be unleashed.
Immediately after the treatment, I felt a weightless feeling in my head lighten and my vision become clearer. The pain I felt when releasing the fascia in my abdomen and legs disappeared the same day, and my running time improved by 15% the day after the treatment. I was amazed that just one cervical vertebra could make such a big difference.
Since when has chiropractic become scary?
Chiropractic adjustments (joint adjustments) are essentially safe and effective techniques , and are painless. To perform safe and accurate adjustments, X-rays are taken to determine whether the patient's condition is acceptable for treatment. While visual diagnosis is essential, congenital skeletal issues can make corrections difficult. However, even among chiropractors licensed in the United States, few in Japan take X-rays due to equipment and certification issues. In fact, the chiropractors I've seen have accompanied me to the hospital to take X-rays, or handed me a referral letter with detailed instructions on the direction of the X-ray before beginning full treatment.
Images previously taken under the direction or supervision of a chiropractor
In this way, we determine the areas to be corrected and the direction of force application by looking at X-ray images, joint movement, and nerve response. The purpose of correction is to apply high-speed, low-amplitude stimulation in the correct direction and with the correct force to the area with poor movement. The process by which the "crackling" sound is produced in joints is still unclear, but it is believed that when a joint moves through correction, changes in pressure within the joint cause gas to be generated in the synovial fluid, which then creates the sound of popping and moving. Therefore, the sound is a by-product of correction, and making the sound is neither good nor bad. It is not a technique that involves bone colliding with bone, so it does not cause scraping or fractures.
In this way, chiropractic doctors rely on X-ray images to ensure safety and accuracy, and are able to use delicate techniques to move joints by applying subtle amounts of force and direction at high speed in an instant .
The general public has a reputation for being scary and dangerous because of the media coverage of accidents caused by incorrect treatment methods. When performed correctly, chiropractic is a safe technique that can be used by pregnant women. Safety is explained in the Japan Chiropractors Association's FAQ .
Results of the examination
1) Your vision will become brighter immediately afterwards
I was able to experience this immediately after the treatment. I was amazed at how bright the world seemed. It shows how the cervical spine affects the nerves and the five senses. This can also be experienced through manual adjustments, and is one of the many physical sensations that can be gained through approaches to the cervical spine.
2) I can feel it moving from deep inside my head.
For over 10 years, I have always felt like my brain wasn't working properly and my five senses were dull. After the treatment, I felt a strange sensation of loosening from the inside, as if the depths of my head were being massaged from the inside. Until now, I had never felt this sense of loosening from the inside without the acupuncture approach. By loosening my head, I felt refreshed and my five senses regained their clarity.
Up until now, I haven't been able to do the things I take for granted. Even if I wanted to go shopping, my brain would shut down and put the brakes on if it put a strain on my body, so I would be pulled back by negative feelings of not wanting to go. I wanted to go, but I couldn't. I remember that on the day I received my first Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic treatment, I went to look at a Staub pot that I had always wanted to buy. It was just a matter of going to the store, but it gave me the space to act on what my mind wanted to do. It was just this one thing, but it was a big step for me to have a body that could act on my feelings.
3) Increased body temperature
Although I didn't measure the exact change with a thermometer, I felt a rise in temperature after the treatment. Since it was winter, the sensation was obvious.
4) Good condition lasts longer
With previous techniques, the positive state after treatment could only be maintained for a short period of time, but now it can be maintained for a longer period of time than before. Also, the range of fluctuation between good and bad symptoms has become smaller, and the number of times I hit rock bottom has decreased.
5) I moved.
As an aside, once my brain started working properly, I was able to plan, calculate, and remember things more smoothly than ever before. Thanks to that, I was able to move, something I had always wanted to do. Having the mental and physical space to make such a big decision gave me confidence. And it was just a simple matter of moving.
summary
- Orthogonal chiropractic only requires one second of vibration
- First of all, this is recommended for chiropractic beginners who want to know what changes occur when bones move.
- Since it is a machine-based treatment, you can receive treatment with a certain level of quality.
- Because it affects the brainstem, it can also be expected to improve emotional anxiety.
- True chiropractic is medically proven to be safe and effective
High-quality treatment will speed up the process of identifying the cause, which will allow you to find better treatment methods and doctors. Pain is difficult to understand, and it can be difficult to establish treatment methods, but I hope that my experience will be of some help.
References
∗1Jack Carleton et al.
Resolution of Cervical Complications Secondary to Motor Vehicle Accidents by the Application of Stereotactic Cervical Alignment (SCALE) Methods
Journal of Whiplash & Related Disorders Volume 5, 2006 – Issue 1
∗2 GLOBALAO.COM The official Site of the Atlas Orthogonal Program