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Did you know that there are actually over 40 different styles of chiropractic techniques?.
Why this matters is because many people only think of remedial chiropractic without ever considering if it is actually the right approach for them.
“Remedial chiropractic” is what many people think of as a form of spinal manipulation of cracking the low back or twisting the neck in a few different directions.
While this form of remedial chiropractic might help generic musculoskeletal aches and pains, it also withholds important information for people who may experience other symptoms besides just back and lower back pain.
Part of the challenge is because, in Australia, there is no formal recognition of a “chiropractic specialist.” Instead, it is made out that all chiropractors use the same remedial chiropractic approach.
Now, I get it because you would not EVER want to see a medical practitioner who calls themselves a specialist when all they’ve done is a 1-weekend course on a particular subject.
In the same breath, when there are practitioners who have completed hundreds of hours of post-doctoral and clinical study in particular areas of practice, it would be valuable to be able to share these special interest areas of focus with people who are in need of their services.
So what we want to share with you in this article is the recognition that not all chiropractors are the same.
There are many who practice remedial chiropractic, but there are also many with special areas of interest who take a different approach that may be able to help people even if they have tried remedial chiropractic before without success.
This is the difference with what is known as Blair upper cervical chiropractic,
What is a remedial chiropractic procedure?
When a person receives remedial chiropractic care, the process typically begins with a general health history followed by a few orthopaedic tests to identify sites of pain or discomfort, and maybe a few standard x-rays (although there are many chiropractic techniques that do not use x-ray images at all).
From here, remedial chiropractic typically focuses on where most of your pain or symptoms are located by palpating the spine for the most prominent body landmark, and then using a variety of different procedures, which involve stimulation of spinal manipulation, which is frequently accompanied by a “cracking noise.”
Remedial chiropractic is correct when it explains that this “cracking” is not actually the bones, but is the sound that fluid inside of a joint makes when it suddenly moves. In an of itself, this is not a bad thing.
However, what remedial chiropractic does not always explain is that you do not need to “crack” the joint in order to correct its alignment and mobility.
In fact, it may be preferable in many instances to correct the alignment of a joint without cracking at all, which means that you DON’T need to stretch the low back or twist the neck.
This is one of the major differences between remedial chiropractic and the Blair upper cervical technique.
How is Blair Upper Cervical different from remedial chiropractic?
The Blair technique does not involve any twisting, cracking, popping, or spinal manipulation. The procedure is quite gentle, using only the amount of force that you need to click a pen, and with the spine in a neutral position. In fact, most people remark that they don’t actually feel anything during the procedure, but do notice the difference afterward.
The key is often the level of precision that a Blair chiropractic doctor uses to determine the exact location, direction, and degree of any misalignment in the spine BEFORE adjusting.
Like with remedial chiropractic, the Blair procedure first involves a patient history. Thereafter, we perform a number of tests multiple times in order to establish a baseline reading. These tests include a combination of musculoskeletal tests looking for tight muscles and posture imbalances, and also infrared paraspinal thermography, which measures heat differentials along the spine, which reflect muscle and nerve activity.
In this way, we are able to identify sourvces of distress in the body even if that is not where the pain is located.
In addition, the Blair technique takes a deeper look when a problem is identifies in the neck by taking a series of unique, 3D x-ray images that are customised based on each individual’s bone structure.
Every human being is different on both the outside and the inside. Therefore, for many people with challenging health conditions, even if they have tried remedial chiropractic, we often find that there is something different going on beneath the surface that cannot be determined from a superficial examination alone.
With this information, a Blair chiropractor is then able to perform an adjustment that is truly individualised, just for you, in the exact location where you need it. And because the location, direction, and degree are so precise, it therefore does not require that we need to push or crack things into place at all.
We simply need to give our body the right amount of force that it needs in order to do what it is designed to do: heal itself.
How does adjusting the upper neck affect the full spine?
The Blair technique focuses on the alignment and normal motion of the top vertebrae in the spine called the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). The alignment of these vertebrae often has a profound impact on the health and function of the brain and entire body.
So one of the other major differences between a Blair upper cervical chiropractor and remedial chiropractic is that we do not actually perform adjustments on the entire spine.
It is not to say that there is never a need to work on the lower spine. Many times, people still do need remedial chiropractic. Nevertheless, it is our belief and experience that if the alignment up at the base of the skull is not correct, then none of the rest of the system can ever be balanced.
… Or if it does, the rest of the spine keeps going out of alignment every week or so.
And this is NOT the focus of Blair upper cervical care. Our goal is to help your condition stabilise for as long as possible with the least amount of treatment necessary,
What this means is that, unlike remedial chiropractic where people frequently have an adjustment on every visit, in a Blair upper cervical office, we do not adjust the spine every time … ONLY when our tests indicate that it is necessary.
So an appointment with a Blair chiropractic doctor is not just a quick matter of lying on the table and getting a few remedial chiropractic “cracks.” It is s deliberate process where we compare your daily readings against your baseline pattern (which is why we did the posture, neuromuscular and thermography tests in the first place) to know WHEN you may actually need an adjustment.
As a general rule, we believe that the fewer adjustments that a person needs, the better they are doing!
Isn’t this true when you see your dentist or medical doctor too? You don’t want to have a mouthful of cavities. You want to take as little medication as possible.
We believe the same thing goes with needing a spinal adjustment. You don’t want to need one because it means otherwise that your body isn't functioning quite as well as it should.
So when you don’t need an adjustment, we don’t want to mess things up because this is when your body is working the way it is designed.
Where can I find a Blair chiropractor near me?
Certainly, there are more differences between remedial chiropractic and Blair upper cervical chiropractic, but we hope that this little intro gives you just a little bit more information to let you know that despite the common perception, not all chiropractic is actually the same.
So if you have a health condition that you’re seeking answers for, and even if you’ve already tried remedial chiropractic, there may be something else different that Blair upper cervical chiropractic may be able to do for you.
At Atlas Health Australia located in North Lakes (Brisbane), we are dedicated to helping people with a variety of health challenges - many who have been to Doctor A-Z - find the long-term solutions so that they can get back to living life. Our principal. Dr. Jeffrey Hannah is an advanced certified Blair upper cervical chiropractor with 15 years of experience in upper cervical chiropractic. He is an international lecturer, author, and leader in the field of upper cervical chiropractic care.
If you would like more information, Dr. Hannah offers a 15-minute complementary phone consultation where you can discuss your individual condition and ask any questions you may have so that you can decide if Blair chiropractic care may be right for you.
So you are ready to take the next step, you can reach us through the Contact Us link on this page, or call us direct at 07 3188 9329.
Atlas Health Australia - “Hope, healing, and wellbeing from above-down, inside-out.”
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