FEATURE PATIENT CARE The ultimate “why” Functional neurology dr . erik klein L DR. ERIK KLEIN is the CEO of Town Health Solutions, an Atlantic Canadian Network of corporate owned and franchised clinics, establishing a new model to rapidly scale chiropractic practice and businesses for new grads and established docs alike. Visit townhealthsolutions.com/franchising or email drerikceo@ townhealthsolutions.com. 22 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor May 2020 cndoctor.ca Photo:© sdecoret / Adobe Stock et’s start with an experiment: If you can touch your toes, find someone who can’t. If you can’t, follow along. Stand with your legs together and flex forward, taking note of how far you can reach. Now, stand straight again, but this time, push the tip of your nose down gently one time and bend forward again. You were more likely than not flexed further by a substantial margin than you did the first time. While no one knows exactly why this works, this is part of a collection of very consistent mechanisms to influence how the brain can turn muscles on and off at whim. This is a typical example of the power of functional neurology. According to José Palomar, MD, the creator of the Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex® (P-DTR): Like in a computer, functional problems are 95% software, and only 5% or less are hardware. He says, “we need to have this in mind before we do surgeries, put joints in place, or release fascias.” Broadly, functional neurology is the assessment and treatment of functional or non-pathological abnormalities in the brain, and the central nervous system using conservative methods. The focus is on identifying disconnect between what the brain is sensing and how it is responding or compensating to per cent of functional problems are due to our “software.” While only 5 per cent or less are due to our hardware, according to Dr. José Palomar, MD. 95 generate the patient’s symptoms. Simply put, it is identifying the ultimate “why” for some of the most complicated presentations that we see in our office. Technically, the practice of functional neurology is a sub-specialty (in the United States) of chiropractic, or as a certified practice interest in other countries (which don’t recognize the specialty). Popularized by Dr. Ted Carrick in the 90s and 2000s for chiroprac-tors, techniques and educational programs have arisen directed at chiropractors, medical doctors, physiotherapists, RMTs, and strength and condition-ing trainers. Here we discuss the more common techniques. The Carrick Institute According to the Carrick Institute website, they pro-vide “its post-secondary degreed students with an opportunity to prepare themselves with new and additional educational opportunities in the field of clinical neuroscience in our degree and certificate programs. Through the guidance of the faculty at the Carrick Institute, theoretical aspects, as well as prac-tical and creative applications in clinical neuroscience procedures are addressed in the curriculum and re-inforced with other practicing professionals in the clinical neuroscience field.” This program traditionally leads to the Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (DACNB). Candidates can take an exam following 300 hours of various courses offered. As mentioned previously, the DACNB isn’t recognized in Canada as a specialty, but there are more than 30 practitioners in Canada with the designation. The programming is
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