Technique Toolbox Continued from Page 16 Classic Cervical Syndrome subluxates pos-terior with slight spinous rotation away from the nodule (thick grey arrow). The An-terior Cervical subluxates anterior and has a greater rotational component with spinous deviation toward the nodule (thick black arrow). Also note that the nodule occurs at the same facet location. However, with the Classic Cervical Syndrome, the superior vertebrae subluxates and causes the facet to stretch through the segment’s inferior ar-ticular facet (thin black arrow). In an ACS, the inferior vertebrae subluxates producing the stretch on the facet capsule through the segment’s superior articular facet (thin grey arrow). Step 3 Correction: Anterior Cervical Adjust-ment: (See Pictures 1 and 2) • Patient: Prone. • Doctor: On the involved side, head of table. • Table: Cervical piece in the ready posi-tion, dorsal piece inclined. Contact: PIP of index finger on the an-terior aspect of affected TVP , and tip of the thumb on the lateral aspect of the spinous process (on the involved side). • Stabilization: Opposite zygomatic arch or parietal bone. • LOC: A-P with rotation. In this adjustment the thumb contact on the lateral aspect of the spinous process is critical with respect to the correction of the rotational aspect of this subluxation pattern, whereas, the index finger contact on the anterior aspect of the TVP , corrects for the anteriority. It is important to note that the doctor cannot change the contact to the posterior aspect of the opposite transverse process. The doctor must always be cognitive of the biomechanics involved with the sublux-ation: • The opposite transverse process is not subluxated posterior, it is in its neutral position. • It is only posterior relative to the sub-• luxated anterior transverse process on the affected side. • If the opposite traverse process is con-tacted, the doctor will move the entire complex anterior, and thus cause a greater problem. It is imperative for us to understand all potential subluxations involved with an issue. If we don’t expand our knowl-edge base to learn modifications and inclusions to a particular technique, we risk potentially harming a patient. The Anterior Cervical Subluxation is a perfect example of this. If a chiropractor only learned basic Thompson Technique, they would not know this procedure, and po-tentially miss the primary problem. As usual, I have only scratched the sur-face of the Thompson Technique. If you would like to learn more, please visit www. ThompsonChiropracticTechnique.com. If you have any comments, please contact me at [email protected]. Until next time . . . Adjust with Confi-dence! • Current Trends and the Future of Chiropractic Research Continued from Page 40 chiropractor would readily appreciate the implications.” Interestingly, Dr. Budgell suggests that the notion of vitalism as incompatible with the scientific method has now come full circle. He notes that vitalism, the theory that the quality of life was separable from the vessel, was tested a number of times, and seemingly successfully disproved, at least 150 years ago. “What chiropractors mean by vitalism, however,” observes Budgell, “is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts – this is their way of acknowledging there are things we don’t understand. To scientists, this means we need to investigate. Even peo-ple who believe they adhere to a distinct vi-talistic point of view understand the world in much the same scientific terms as the most hardened scientist. They believe it expresses itself in the same atoms and molecules and forms of energy as physicists understand to exist. The distinction is that scientists have come to the point where we understand that these notions are comprehensible and we can now investigate and can find answers.” Some phenomena with vitalistic conno-www.canadianchiropractor.ca tations, he notes, are testable in their own right. The discovery of endorphins, for ex-ample, may help explain some of the feel-good effect that comes from treatment. “Previously, many clinical effects were dismissed as placebo, meaning there was no specific mechanism identified which brought about these effects. We now un-derstand there are molecules – endorphins – which may account for some of the effect.” Characteristic of research into chiroprac-tic fundamentals, investigation into the vital-istic roots of the profession is frequently pre-sented in the mechanistic, biomedical terms of prevailing mainstream medicine. “What could be cast as a study of vitalism is instead presented as a biochemical investi-gation,” explains Dr. Budgell. THE FUTURE OF RESEARCH IN CHIROPRACTIC In Dr. Budgell’s opinion, “At this point, there is more potential than productivity at CMCC and I’m really comfortable with that. We have some really bright, really skilled people and we now have the environment that is going to support them. CMCC will be pro-ducing and publishing research of the same quality you find at the University of Toronto, at McGill or at any other major centre. If you look at the numbers and the funding that is coming in, then you see that we stand very well compared with many Canadian univer-sities.” In comparison with other chiropractic colleges, at least in terms of the neurobiologi-cal basis of chiropractic, Dr. Budgell notes, “CMCC would be ranked number 1 without doubt.” Regarding chiropractic research in Cana-da generally, Dr. Budgell says, “For whatever reason, Canadians have done this one right. This idea of identifying able, young research-ers and giving them what they need to get off the ground will be hugely profitable across the country. Getting people into university environments and setting them up so they can get kick-started with their research, and interact with researchers from other health disciplines and the pure sciences, will help them form connections that will allow them to develop in a way, intellectually, that they could not if they were isolated. There are some individuals in the United States who have done very well in terms of support, and are outstanding researchers, but they are the exception, whereas in Canada now we have a number of promising researchers. It is disproportionate to the small population of chiropractors and will pay great dividends in the future.” For chiropractic research in Canada, at least, the future really is so bright we have to wear shades. • CaNaDIaN CHIROPRaCTOR | DECEMBER 2010 • 61
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