Rockford Chiropractor

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping Hearing Problems

2012-01-16T16:07:00.000-06:00

1st Step Chiropractic is THE center for the NUCCA procedure in Rockford, IL. When you are ready to turn the corner, make us a part of your journey back to wellness! 815-398-4500

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping the Feet

2011-12-06T20:41:00.001-06:00

2011-12-05T13:17:00.001-06:00

I have patients ask me what it looks like when I adjust. They hear me working at it and feel a light touch behind the ear, but what is going on?
The physics of force generation and transmission is going on...that's what. In the case of the highly refined NUCCA procedure, the force is produced by a complex lever mechanism (simple!) which involves the doctor's legs, arms, back, shoulders and hands all locked in a particular way. To keep it simple, when the shoulders are pulled together (by contracting the long head of the triceps muscle at its origin) force is generated that moves in the direction of the hands. There are some subtleties that are important to get the force to come straight out and not go off at an angle. If the hand is contacting the edge of the atlas at the correct vector (established through radiographic analysis) then the misaligned system will move back to alignment.
...and our patients turn the corner and begin healing...

Dan O'Brien And Chiropractic

2011-12-04T15:25:00.002-06:00

You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to appreciate and benefit from a higher level of health and fitness. Most of the patients at 1st Step Chiropractic in Rockford, IL, are NOT athletic, but report interesting observations like the following; "I was the only one in the tour group that was able to keep going as we walked through Rome!" "I was the only one in the room that was able to keep going as we put together the cookie tins!"
Stand out from your peers...find Rockford's only NUCCA, upper cervical chiropractic practice. 815-398-4500

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping Hearing

2011-12-03T20:17:00.001-06:00

I get many questions about whether the NUCCA procedure helps tinnitis or deafness. You have to remember that Chiropractic in general began with curing one man of deafness. The trouble is that you must not confuse the task of Chiropractic with the task of the snake oil salesman; Chiropractic works to restore normal physiology to the entire vertebrate system by removing structural interference with the nerve system. Snake oil salesmen want to sell you something to "fix" a specific complaint, like antibiotics for a cough.

In the process of restoring normal function to the entire nerve system, we see tinnitis reduce or vanish, hearing improve, but we also see cases that don't respond. You have to just do the work and see how the body wants to respond. But remember to ask if you want your body to work at its best, and if you do, get under chiropractic care, even if a specific symptom does not go away.
1st Step Chiropractic, 815-398-4500.

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping Headaches

2011-12-01T20:14:00.001-06:00

You can study the Headache books and find many, many categories of headaches. It is possible to understand certain etiologies for headaches without the number crunching; The toxic headache you wake up with, so you have to figure out what you are eating or breathing that your body doesn't like. The cyclic headache is related usually to hormonal changes. The migraine can be triggered by foods, light, or anything else and can begin with a "prodrome," which may be the appearance of jagged lines in the vision. Traumatic headaches occur after a nasty blow to the head. It can fracture the skull or just cause a concussion.
Any of these types of headaches can respond to upper cervical chiropractic. In this Rockford Chiropractor's office, we use the NUCCA procedure to bring balance back into the entire system so that any of these headaches can become a thing of the past.
1st Step Chiropractic, 815-398-4500. How long do you want the headaches?

Rockford Chiropractor: Why You Don't Feel the NUCCA Correction

2011-11-11T06:47:00.000-06:00

What kind of hokey stuff is this? You are very likely to ask this question as you are receiving the NUCCA correction. The answer takes us into the realm of physics, geometry and just plain old practicality. (And you thought you were finished with school...)
In this short video, we look at some of the reasons why you are not supposed to feel the correction. But when the correction has occurred, normal physiology of the central nerve system is re-established, which sets into motion normal developmental processes of the entire body and mind.
You won't believe it till you (don't) feel it!

2011-10-18T20:13:00.000-05:00

Concise! Our colleague in NJ explains very clearly the chiropractic agenda. The NUCCA procedure is used at our office to manage the nerve system from the "main fuse box."

Rockford Chiropractor - Spinal Care for Injuries

2011-09-13T05:29:00.000-05:00

People ask me how we would take care of their children injured on the field. You know, the soccer game where he rolled on an ankle or landed on the knee. It hurts, there's a limp. Someone might even have said, "you have a sprained ligament."
But here is where you have to see the big picture. The ligament may require ice, rest, wrapping...and it may improve. But if the spine is out of balance due to trauma, the joints will not interface correctly EVER, and instead of long-term healing, you get long-term breakdown. Instead of a child going from strength to strength, you get your child suddenly looking old, broken, and looking forward to not playing sports at the end of the season.
Is that what we want?
The 1st Step is to correct the imbalanced spine with the NUCCA procedure. This has the unbelievable potential to correct the position of every joint in the body. If some joints are slow to respond, there are other chiropractic procedures we use to bring them back into right relations.
Then we get what we really want...healthy, happy, active children!

Rockford Chiropractor: NUCCA Practitioner

2011-09-12T10:18:00.000-05:00

Here are a few things that draw me to the specificity of the NUCCA procedure; any condition you can think of has the potential to vanish once the communication between the brain and body has been restored. Look at this fine website by a doctor in San Diego. It shows some images that express one element of the insult caused by the "atlas subluxation complex." I am talking about compression of the spinal cord. This compression causes two events that have been documented in the research - anoxic conditions in the cord and mechanical disruption of the nerve fibers under pressure. In either case, nerve fibers fail to carry signals from or to the brain.
Not good!
(another thing that I like about the NUCCA procedure is that the adjustment is so subtle, the patient cannot feel it)
So, enjoy Chiropractic in Rockford's center for the NUCCA procedure!

The Problem with Skeptics Regarding the NUCCA Procedure

2011-09-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

I understand that there are those who have questions about the NUCCA procedure (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association). Some people actually investigate the procedure - we call them scientists. Some people don't investigate and make up their minds without the help of knowledge - we call them skeptics of the worst kind.
The worst kind because they fail to actually investigate all the factors relevant in the NUCCA work. Factors such as x-ray reliability, analysis reliability, adjusting skills, the value of testing, the value of looking for indicators within a person's nerve system that show the presence of the atlas subluxation complex...
Lucky for many, many people, they don't listen to this type of skeptic, and simply go for what makes sense.
What makes sense is that you need your head to be in communication with your body for anything to work right. The NUCCA procedure does this. Then people heal from conditions as diverse as congestive heart failure, liver disease, fallen arches, TMJ syndrome...and on and on. And it is simply due to the fact that normal physiology has been restored within the nerve system which controls and coordinates all the other systems of the body. Good science!

NUCCA Procedure in Rockford

2011-09-10T21:54:00.003-05:00

Since 2001, I have been actively studying and practicing the NUCCA procedure (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association). As a violinist, I am accustomed to spending many years working on skills and understand the value of effort applied over time. My patients understand this too!
Instead of thinking that their bodies are like cars - a burned out engine you can replace and then you are back on the road, but your body requires the right treatments applied over time for full healing to occur.
How does this work? I am including a link to a NUCCA site that helps explain the corrective procedure that helps so many people, some with miraculous results.
So, now you can think of Rockford, IL, as a center, not only for precise machine work, but also for precise upper cervical chiropractic work!

Throw It Away Or Restore?

2011-08-09T21:07:00.006-05:00

I fixed my car today.

Not just a little fix, but everyone was saying, "270,000 miles on it? Sounds like it's time to let it go!" My '91 Accord was acting like the transmission was giving up the ghost. But I did some research and discovered the key to fixing, not a mechanical problem, but an electronic problem.

So I replaced a tiny, 15 ohm resistor and two capacitors (haven't used a soldering iron for over 20 years...), stuck everything back together again, and the car works now.

I celebrated by cleaning it up real well. Will it last another 100,000 miles? We shall see.

But this isn't just a story about a few electronic components.

This week, I gave a correction to a 92-year old with low back pain. The lumbar spine was twisted and the hips were not level. Most people would have told her, "you have arthritis...at your age there is nothing you can do about it!"

Sounds like pretty grim advice, hopeless...

Good for this patient, she had useful helpers who sent her my way. I corrected the problem (a tiny, two-ounce bone at the base of the skull) and her low back straightened out, bringing the hips perfectly level.

It wasn't a structural problem at all! It was a communication problem between the brain and the body. Kinda like the electronic problem with the Accord. Communication, that's all. Fix the communication, and you can erase signs of the problem.

For the Accord, the problem looked like a broken transmission. For the 92-year-old, the problem looked like an old, broken down backbone. In both, the real problem was a little piece interfering with communication.

I like the pattern emerging here...we don't give up, we look for the underlying problem that is causing all the symptoms. Then health is restored.

Rockford Chiropractor - Getting to the Real Problem

2011-07-23T19:53:00.003-05:00

This was a hole.

The gas company was looking for a leak, and eventually found it under the first patch. But a couple of months later, a sinkhole developed for some reason in the same area. (According to my old friend and engineer, Donald Mosshart, they didn't pack the soil right). You can see the patch over the sinkhole, and you can also see that another sinkhole is developing.

Be thankful that the road crews aren't working as your chiropractor - simply band aiding the problem and letting it recur. Your Rockford Chiropractor believes in getting the foundation set right, so you don't have to keep fixing the "sinkholes" that develop.

So, no matter what you are dealing with - headaches, autoimmune disorders, pain syndromes, ask yourself if the original problem is being corrected.

Rockford Chiropractor Balancing the Body

2011-06-19T21:01:00.003-05:00

Our colleague, Dr. Justin Brown, down in Florida, is bringing NUCCA care to people who need help. What sort of conditions respond to this type of care? In this video, people talk about their asthma, poor health, multiple sclerosis, and other wheelchair events being helped by restoring proper head/neck alignment. We are the only office providing this type of care in Rockford, Illinois.

Rockford Chiropractor - Spinal Balance is REAL!

2011-06-01T20:12:00.002-05:00

It was back in 1921, and Dr. Winsor wanted to find out if Chiropractors were right in stating that the spine was important for health. So he performed autopsies on 75 human and 22 cat cadavers. He found they were right. There really IS a connection between slightly curved spines and diseased organs.

Here is the link...

When the nerves come out of the spine, they go to specific structures to feed them with the right nerve impulses. According to the design of the vertebrate, those nerves will exit the spine in specific places. So the top of the back (the first and second thoracic vertebrae) has nerves that run the heart and lungs. Interestingly enough, Dr. Winsor observed that in 26 spines belonging to people who died of lung disease, this region was not aligned correctly.
People who died of heart disease suffered from a misaligned spine in the top five vertebrae of the back (T1-5). The 17 who had kidney disease also had a misaligned spine in the lower Thoracic vertebrae....and so on.

It would be nice if we could duplicate this study to more carefully define "misaligned."

However, the take-away lesson for us all is this: Be sure your spine is aligned. That means have your Rockford Chiropractor check to see if you have the atlas subluxation complex present. It will throw your spine out of balance. We can predictably bring the spine back into balance by removing the atlas subluxation complex.

Rockford Chiropractor - Restoring Health

2011-05-08T21:00:00.004-05:00

Regarding upper cervical chiropractic (this Rockford Chiropractor uses the NUCCA procedure), the important issue is to restore normal physiology of the vertebrate. The most efficient way to do that (I am comparing drugs, bodywork, physical therapy, segmental chiropractic and osteopathic approaches and their derivatives) is to correct the alignment of the head with the neck. But then WHAT HAPPENS???

Safe Hugging (How to avoid irritating your sensitive friends)

2011-04-19T14:30:00.004-05:00

Patients ask me how to protect their NUCCA correction when friends and family want to hug them. This Rockford Chiropractor recommends avoiding pressure on the neck. Watch this....

Sharing Times at 1st Step Chiropractic

2010-12-31T12:08:00.002-06:00

I can't wait for the next opportunity to share our gifts with people in need! January 20, 2011, from 6-8:30 is the next event! Call your Rockford Chiropractor to find out more...815-398-4500.

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping TMJ Syndrome

2010-12-22T11:30:00.000-06:00

If you were to come to me for violin lessons, I wouldn't start you playing the violin! I would begin by making sure you can stand, or at least sit properly, and hold the violin.
After specific foundational principles are established, then we can be successful in learning the violin. Got it?
By analogy, when there is a problem with the jaw (TMJ syndrome), we can only be successful when setting up the proper foundation for the jaw to connect with.
This foundation includes balancing the joint between the head and neck (the atlanto-occipital joint), which is where the top jaw (the skull) articulates.
This foundation also may include the bones of the skull, including the sphenoid bone (the origin of the sphenomandibularis muscle to the mandible). If you have had a head injury, this bone may be pulling painfully on the poor jaw.
If you want a good foundation, you have to include the skull, the bones of the skull, and even the collarbone (attachement of the sternocleidomastoid muscle - it can throw off the jaw by tractioning the temporal bone out of position), but especially you have to observe that the nerves running the muscles of mastication are sending out the right signals.
Where can you get this thorough examination of the foundations of proper jaw alignment?
TMJ solutions at Rockford Chiropractor: 1st Step Chiropractic.

Rockford Chiropractor - Sports Injuries

2010-12-20T09:45:00.002-06:00

People who are heavily involved in sports come to me for the following reasons:
1. When the spine is out of balance, the body twists and creates an environment unsuitable for exercise.
2. This unsuitable environment has some muscles that are tighter than others. In fact, one hamstring is going to be tighter than it should be. Anyone for the agony of a torn hamstring?
3. Sometimes the joints of the knee or ankle can become malpositioned. This causes pain and sometimes reflex contraction of other parts of the body. Nobody wants to be wasting energy on a muscle that doesn't need to be engaged.
4. They feel more comfortable when they are in alignment!

This Rockford Chiropractor is on your side!

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping Blood Markers

2010-12-18T09:03:00.003-06:00

Dr. Rosner has a good article here detailing the effects of various types of chiropractic care on specific blood markers for specific disease states. Good job assembling this, but, really, what would you expect? If the nerve system controls and coordinates all systems of the body, then it follows that if you improve nerve system function, you are going to support normal physiology. Do you think normal physiology is going to extinguish disease states?

I won't answer that for you...

My only point of contention is Dr. Rosner's conclusion; "The conceptual limitation of spinal manipulation to vertebral fixations without this broader view (of its influence on blood markers) is an impediment to the potentials of chiropractic as an integrated approach to heath care."
That statement reveals two areas of deficit- first, that the stance of the "straight" chiropractor (all we do is adjust the spine) is a backlash from the problems created by the insistence of the Medical Doctor that only Medical Doctors can "cure" diseases.

I'm with Georg Groddeck here, when he criticizes the narcissistic doctor for being more interested in HIS diagnosis than he is interested in the patient.

The other deficit is seen when Dr. Rosner assumes that the lack of an integrated approach is the fault of the chiropractor (Unless he has written this article for Medical publications also).
Oops! Chiropractic has been saying this is important for over 100 years. Now Medical institutions are officially recognizing it. Just look at the conclusion of the Rush University Hypertension Study of the NUCCA procedure; "Correction of the misaligned atlas can reduce hypertension."
Meanwhile, this Rockford Chiropractor forges ahead, delivering foundational care to suffering people, and enjoying watching their blood markers improve over time.

Balancing the Brain

2010-10-17T21:50:00.001-05:00

Rockford Chiropractor on Massage Therapy. After correcting the balance of the body and brain, are there other things that can help enhance health?

Health Care Timelines

2010-10-06T17:20:00.002-05:00

ARE YOU PREPARING FOR 5010?
This is a real heading on an email received today from Medicare.
I know there's a lot of discussion on changes in health care administration, and we have seen some interesting events at Medicare this year, chiefly due to Congress' slow action, but giving us 3,000 years to prepare for changes at Medicare seems a bit much.
Oh, but it turns out 5010 refers to a format by which information is sent to Medicare from health care practitioners.
This Rockford Chiropractor is relieved...

2010-10-01T20:24:00.002-05:00

Here are a few comments from one NUCCA doctor, and three NUCCA patients who have enjoyed the results of this approach. Neck pain, muscular dystrophy, motivation, short leg phenomenon are some of the things that get better with upper cervical NUCCA chiropractic in Rockford.

Rockford Chiropractor: Rescue, Recover, Restore

2010-10-01T15:11:00.002-05:00

With Autumns' compelling colors, we look up and reach out to help those who need rescuing. Help us to help others. New Patients receive a $125 initial exam at no charge in exchange for a food donation to benefit the Rockford Rescue Mission. The week of October 18, 2010, is reserved for this event. 815-398-4500.

Rockford Chiropractor - Nurturing the Nerve System

2010-09-01T19:24:00.002-05:00

What are we trying to achieve in an upper cervical healthcare office? Restoration of the body's ability to heal itself naturally.

2010-08-27T20:49:00.002-05:00

Donna Van Fleet has been a chiropractic patient for many years. A busy realtor, she has found that staying in adjustment, keeping her spine balanced has given her the ability to stay active. Listen to the story of this NUCCA fan!

Helping Encopresis

2010-08-07T20:11:00.002-05:00

Finishing a fine week of adjusting the atlas subluxation complex with new experiences! A child diagnosed with encopresis is getting better.
Also, people coming in with symptoms, or some with no symptoms yet (Wellness care is the wave of the future), are getting great corrections on their misalignment patterns and starting on the road to better health and function.
You see, since the nerve system controls and coordinates all the other systems of the body, we all need to look after that as best we can. One level that is very important is the top of the spine, where the head and neck meet. If it's not exactly right, you have a misalignment that is messing with your nerve system.
It is like being "a little bit pregnant."
Signs can be a short leg, postural distortions, and symptoms of any kind.
One strapping youth came in this week for his first adjustment, and among the signs were less muscle mass on the lateral thigh, just above one knee. After the correction, the muscle mass really quite suddenly was there again. You know how that works? Just look at the anatomy and physiology, quite simple.
Lots of people taking the 1st Step back to health.

Wellness Care: What's In It For Me?

2010-07-23T22:50:00.002-05:00

Rockford patients get checked every six months - like in a dentist's office - to make sure that everything stays corrected and the signals from the brain to the body are clear.

Helping the Feet, Legs and Back!

2010-07-22T16:21:00.003-05:00

Upper Cervical Chiropractic is a fascinating area to work in. Where else can you affect so many systems of the body - blood flow in the brain, hypertension, cardiac rhythms, back strength, sleep, leg pain....and if I write more, you really will go to sleep...
But what if there are symptoms and the upper cervical region tests clear of interference? Taking a look at the feet is a good thing to do.
Today, I found a person whose atlas was clear, but foot pain and back stress were an issue. I don't expect you to believe this, but I just report what is present, okay?
The left leg had decreased motor nerve supply.
The low back had a segment tractioning off to the right, (L3).
The right foot had several bones out of position (Navicular dropping medially in relation to the talus, Cuneiform 2 & 3 and of course, Metatarsal 3). I corrected the relationship between those bones and that removed the stress from the low back, and by doing so, restored motor control to the left leg.
Awesome system we have, don't we? And it is correctable when it gets out of sync!
But what is the first step to take?

Children's Behavior and Chiropractic

2010-06-13T14:35:00.002-05:00

Rogan on left, brother Vaughn on right.

“You gave me a new child!” Those were a mother’s joyful words after she brought her eighteen month old son Rogan for his first NUCCA adjustment with Dr. Barbara Read.

“My son has always been rather angry-spirited in his temperament,” Kim explained. “He would wake up in the morning and instantly—if he didn't get his way, he would lie down and bang his head against the floor, and give other outbursts like that constantly...all day-everyday.”

There were also other signs that Rogan was having problems. “He wasn't babbling or making speaking sounds. I always thought, through my mother's intuition, that something was not right with my son.”
But Kim and her doctors were not quite sure what was wrong. She sought answers to Rogan's problem development in the family's nutrition, her son's vaccine history, and environmental factors.

“I have friends who had talked about their great experiences at the chiropractor and I had heard that they adjusted babies, but I never considered taking him to the chiropractor,” Kim said. “But my mother sees Dr. Read, and she was telling about her practice and how much it has made a difference for her. My husband was completely opposed to the idea, but I thought it was worth a try.”

After one upper cervical adjustment with the NUCCA protocol, Kim reports that Rogan began babbling. And in the month after the adjustment, she identified 10 words that he had learned. “He still has temper tantrums,” Kim reports. “He still has a strong personality, but he is a totally different kid. You can actually get through to him and reason with him.” Those episodes of screaming and slamming his head against the floor have completely been eliminated.

What does Rogan's father think about the trip to the chiropractor now? Kim reports that after the first adjustment, she and the kids spent a week with her parents. When they returned, her husband spent 20 minutes with Rogan and realized he had a new son—a change he attributes to NUCCA care.

Community Service Projects

2010-05-31T20:39:00.004-05:00

I told my wife that I was involved with a community service project, and she wondered who my parole officer was.

"No," I said, "not Community Service, but Community Service Project!"

The Blackhawk Bicycle Club has a ride every year attended by avid cyclists from all over the USA. Winding over 60 miles through the Northern Illinois landscape, some adventurers can opt for shorter circuits as well. At the end of the ride, the Club offers a nice lunch at the Rockton Community Center...and this Rockford Chiropractor offers "muscle flushing" for rapid recovery of the tissues from all the exercise.

It's relaxing, people like it, and it gives us a chance to study the effects of simple procedures on the well-being of the community.

In fact, I noticed that those people who received this gentle work that helped move lactic acid through the muscles had a more energetic look about them within five minutes.

Being a notorious question asker, I wondered if that was a result only of the muscle flushing, or if there was a lucky convergence of forces that included diet, overall health and the muscle flushing responsible for this change.

Wondering what the agenda is here? To see the community looking well, doing well.

We begin with restoring communication between the brain and the body with upper cervical care. Using the NUCCA procedure, we can balance the spine and set up conditions favorable for all systems of the body to normalize.

Then, on the weekends, we get involved in other things...

Rockford Chiropractor on Vaccines

2010-05-17T20:44:00.001-05:00

This Rockford Chiropractor spotted a surprising (or not depending on your level of trust in the CDC) article culled from the website of the International College of Integrative Medicine...
Thorsen Disappears!
submitted by ICIM member Lambert Parker MD:
A central figure behind the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) claims disputing the link between vaccines and autism and other neurological disorders has disappeared after officials discovered massive fraud involving the theft of millions in taxpayer dollars.
Danish police are investigating Dr. Poul Thorsen, who has vanished along with almost $2 million that he had supposedly spent on research.
Thorsen was a leading member of a Danish research group that wrote several key studies supporting CDC's claims that the MMR vaccine and mercury-laden vaccines were safe for children. Thorsen's 2003 Danish study reported a 20-fold increase in autism in Denmark after that country banned mercury based preservatives in its vaccines. His study concluded that mercury could therefore not be the culprit behind the autism epidemic.
His study has long been criticized as fraudulent since it failed to disclose that the increase was an artifact of new mandates requiring, for the first time, that autism cases be reported on the national registry. This new law and the opening of a clinic dedicated to autism treatment in Copenhagen accounted for the sudden rise in reported cases rather than, as Thorsen seemed to suggest, the removal of mercury from vaccines. Despite this obvious chicanery, CDC has long touted the study as the principal proof that mercury-laced vaccines are safe for infants and young children. Mainstream media, particularly the New York Times, has relied on this study as the basis for its public assurances that it is safe to inject young children with mercury -- a potent neurotoxin -- at concentrations hundreds of times over the U.S. safety limits.
Thorsen, who was a psychiatrist and not a research scientist or toxicologist, parlayed that study into a long-term relationship with CDC. He built a research empire called the North Atlantic Epidemiology Alliances (NANEA) that advertised its close association with the CDC autism team, a relationship that had the agency paying Thorsen and his research staff millions of dollars to churn out research papers, many of them assuring the public on the issue of vaccine safety.
The discovery of Thorsen's fraud came as the result of an investigation by Aarhus University and CDC which discovered that Thorsen had falsified documents and, in violation of university rules, was accepting salaries from both the Danish university and Emory University in Atlanta -- near CDC headquarters -- where he led research efforts to defend the role of vaccines in causing autism and other brain disorders. Thorsen's center has received $14.6 million from CDC since 2002.
Thorsen's partner Kreesten Madsen recently came under fierce criticism after damning e-mails surfaced showing Madsen in cahoots with CDC officials intent on fraudulently cherry picking facts to prove vaccine safety.
Leading independent scientists have accused CDC of concealing the clear link between the dramatic increases in mercury-laced child vaccinations beginning in 1989 and the epidemic of autism, neurological disorders and other illnesses affecting every generation of American children since. Questions about Thorsens's scientific integrity may finally force CDC to rethink the vaccine protocols since most of the other key pro vaccine studies cited by CDC rely on the findings of Thorsen's research group. These include oft referenced research articles published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the New England Journal of Medicine and others. The validity of all these studies is now in question.
Citations 1. http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/48229-researcher-accused-of-cheating-uni-out-of-millions.html  2. http://www.safeminds.org/news/pressroom/press_releases/20040518_AutismAuthorsNetwork.pdf 3. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/opinion/06sat3.html 4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr/time-for-cdc-to-come-clea_b_16550.html 5. http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/03/poul-thorsens-mutating-resume.html 6. http://www.rescuepost.com/files/thorsen-aarhus.pdf 7. http://www.cphpost.dk/news/international/89-international/48229-researcher-accused-of-cheating-uni-out-of-millions.html

Chiropractic and Chiari Malformations

2010-05-15T19:44:00.002-05:00

This Rockford Chiropractor attended a seminar today that covered some interesting issues in the joint between the head and neck. One of them has to do with a nasty problem known as "Chiari Malformation," of which there are several types, according to how bad it is.
Here's the problem: The cerebellar tonsils, parts of the hind brain, slip down and through the hole at the bottom of the head. Nobody knows how this occurs, but research points to whiplash injury as a likely cause.
When this is present, the brain pushes against the back of the spinal cord and prevents proper flow of cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF). This "precious bodily fluid," is keeping your nerve system fed and working. You brain makes about 500 cc's per day, and it HAS to keep moving down the spinal cord to your tailbone, back up to the head, then draining into the proper drains in the top of the skull. If you put a cork in the bottle, which is what a Chiari malformation does, you have problems.
These problems can include headaches, abnormal pressure on the brain tissue causing Multiple Sclerosis, and something called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (the medical remedy so far is to install a relief valve in the head).
Oh, by the way, the same trauma that caused the malformation also knocked the atlas bone (C1) out of position. So what's the easiest thing to do?
Find a NUCCA doctor and get a precise, controlled adjustment of the atlas to get it back in position. This can take all the pressure off the brainstem and reinstate normal CSF flow.
I was interested to find that Medical practitioners are finding that this type of patient can get better with upper cervical chiropractic help.
Patient-centered care. What we all want!

Rockford Chiropractor - Tooth Extractions

2010-04-30T20:51:00.003-05:00

There's my tooth. Specifically, number 12, or bicuspid #1 on the upper left. I have had an abcess in it since January. Other means to correct it, including immune support remedies, were effective in only alleviating the pain. I came eventually to agree with my Rockford dentist, who barked at me, "You can band-aid this all you want, but you still have to get it out!"

The experience was not fun. I guess I would rather play a violin recital in my underwear, on music that I was sight-reading, than have to go through this again. But I learned some valuable lessons with the experience!

The cranial osteopaths were right when they specified how certain motions in extracting a tooth would separate cranial bones in predictable ways. I could feel the forces pushing and pulling through my upper jaw, face, back of the head and neck. I could feel the strain on the atlas, my first cervical vertebra as I pulled my head backwards and resisted the pressure of the extraction procedure. I could feel the strange reluctance in the tooth, as though it was saying, "No, we have to work together, we're stronger as a team!"

("Thankyou for your service - you're fired!" I thought)

The dentist chair is a favorite place for a person to lose the all-important relation between the neck and the head. It's not your dentists' fault. The forces going into the head can be brutal to the tissues supporting the head and neck. What can you do about it?

First, make sure the head support is properly positioned, neither placing pressure on the neck nor forcing your head down.

Second, if you don't have an upper cervical doctor who can monitor your atlas' relationship to the head, you need to find one! When this relationship goes out, your nerve system cries "ouch!" and pulls up one leg, creates postural distortions and other havoc with your body systems.

So remember, if you must have dental work (you have my sympathy if it is an extraction), be sure to get checked by your upper cervical doctor afterward.

Oh, by the way, I didn't lose my head/neck alignment, and I feel a lot better after a gentle cranial adjustment.

Rockford Chiropractor - Being the Best

2010-04-26T17:53:00.000-05:00

Conference Time! What do we do at NUCCA conferences? Why does it take so long to analyze films the first time? Why do NUCCA doctors take post-adjustment x-rays after the first adjustment?

We have discovered that the better the initial correction, the better patients are able to heal up. We calculate the percentage of correction, examine the adjusting vector and determine if everything did was it was supposed to do.

In this video, we see some rehashing of some cases that were very challenging. We see people practicing the adjusting stance. These are not rookies doing the practice. As with any high level performer, getting coaching is essential to developing the best skills.

When you are looking for a NUCCA doctor in your area, check and see if they go to the conferences. If not, keep looking!

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping Menopause Symptoms

2010-04-25T17:29:00.004-05:00

In this famous painting, we see a cubist rendition of a woman's face.

But the interpretation seems to also tell us something about this woman. Do you think she's having a bad day? Do you think, "hot flashes," "irritability," "menopause?"

Aside from the well-known imbalances in hormone production (attributable to ovaries, adrenal glands, thyroid, pituitary and hypothalamus getting out of sync), did you know that one of the most significant causes of hot flashes and menopause symptoms is loss of the brain signalling component of that balance?

If the head isn't on straight, exactly straight and on top of the atlas (first bone in the neck) the entire signalling system from the brain to the body can fail.

This condition is called the atlas subluxation complex. Only chiropractors are trained to detect and correct this problem. The NUCCA procedure exists to train doctors to do this at a very high level of precision.

About 60% of the time, women who suffer with menopause symptoms and get a successful correction of the atlas subluxation complex, get better within two months.

Isn't that nice?

Rockford Chiropractor - Correcting Chocolate Cravings

2010-04-22T18:18:00.000-05:00

I have not seen this before! Usually we have to do the Purification Program, a whole food supplement 21-day course, before a person loses chocolate cravings. But in this case, the incredible power of the central nerve system worked first on the abnormal chemistry that creates chocolate cravings!
Using the NUCCA procedure, the brain and spinal cord return to normal relations. This enables all the cells of the body to refresh and behave better. With time, we see healing ensue.
You can be sure that Kathy did not come into Rockford's 1st Step Chiropractic with the goal of eliminating chocolate cravings. I will never state that we can "cure chocolate cravings," but what IS true is that the body cannot heal anything if the spine remains out of balance.
So that's what we do - restore the balance of the spine.

Rockford Chiropractor - Helping Posture, Back Pain and Headaches

2010-04-20T18:06:00.001-05:00

You should have seen Ben when he first came into my office. Couldn't sit up without pain, looked a lot like a teenager (fancy that!) except that he had some other symptoms.
Got the atlas subluxation complex cleared out and stabilized after a few weeks, and now look! We see a classic example of someone getting back on the normal development time line. Any time you see someone who cannot stand up straight, has lost health, you must ask if spinal balance is lost. This is correctable.
Why watch people suffer? It is a principle of our society to make things better for people. We can do that by correcting the imbalanced spine.

Knee Pain and NUCCA

2010-04-10T20:44:00.000-05:00

I had an interesting experience last week when I was able to witness how correcting the atlas subluxation complex fixed a knee problem of short duration.

The patient had twisted her knee a few days before and it was swollen and painful as a result. The tibia was twisted under the femur. She had a brace on it to keep it stable. When I checked it, there was palpable swelling, heat and tenderness below the kneecap. She was out of adjustment due to the presence of the indicators that show up when there is spinal cord pressure at the brain stem.

I adjusted the atlas subluxation complex and re-checked the knee. The swelling had vanished, the heat and tenderness had vanished, and the twisting of the tibia was gone. Everything had straightened out!

Isn't that nice that the body was able to correct the knee problem right away, once the underlying cause of the failure-to-heal had been eliminated!

But can you see that it is all a matter of communication between the brain and the body? This was fixed before the joints had time to wear out.

Knee pain - it can get fixed with upper cervical care!

Rockford NUCCA Adjusting

2010-04-08T21:02:00.000-05:00

Here is a fun video out of the office of my colleague, Dr. Goffe, in Ohio. He uses the NUCCA procedure too (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association)

Notice that the hands are linked together (the better to create the adjusting force), the table is low (so the adjuster's body can get to the correct angle), and the tape measure is out to define the correct angle of the adjustment.

The only thing missing is a heady discussion of complex lever mechanisms, but did you really have that much trouble getting to sleep?

NUCCA, in Rockford, it helps.

Tonal Music and Chiropractic

2010-04-06T20:01:00.003-05:00

After playing some of Chopin's Etude in F#, I was struck by the surprising twists and turns that the harmony plays. In music, what makes it interesting is described as tension moving to resolution, at least that's how Hindemith distills it.
Tension/Resolution, a tonal system that has logic and organization. This is much like the nerve system keeping the vertebrate mechanism in balance. When there is a peaceful balance in the muscles, you could say that there is tonal harmony. When there is tension you could say there is discordant assymmetry.
How can you restore balance in the tissues, in the muscles, in the "sound?"
Upper cervical chiropractic restores communication between the brain and the body. The nerve system controls and coordinates all the other systems in the body, and it relates us to the outside world. If you begin your piece in F#, you want to end it in F#, after wandering through other tonal centers. That gives the music balance and harmony.
Now all we have to do is get that same balance and harmony going in YOU!
Rockford Chiropractor, here to help you restore spinal balance and nerve system harmony.

What is the Cause of these Awful Symptoms?

2010-03-26T16:52:00.002-05:00

As we consider the scope of knowledge about health, it is good to be aware of how too much information obscures the picture. In this article about an interaction between Dr. Palmer and Dr. Mayo, we see how important it is to "get to the main issue," which is establishing the criteria necessary for the body to heal.

In the early 20th century, Dr. Charles Mayo, physician, surgeon, and co-founder of the famed Mayo Brothers Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, brought his wife for treatment to the Dr. B.J. Palmer Chiropractic Research Clinic in Davenport, Iowa.
Dr. Mayo had taken his wife to other physicians, including doctors in Europe, all distinguished diagnosticians and specialists. Dr. P.L. Poulsen of the BJPCC staff informed me that those medical specialists had agreed upon a diagnosis - osteochondromatosis of the knee joint. They had tried everything medical to heal Mrs. Mayo, but all treatment had failed.
Dr. Mayo brought his wife to Dr. Palmer for his chiropractic professional services. He addressed Dr. Palmer as Mr. Palmer. To this Dr. Palmer replied: "This is a case of Greek meeting Greek; a test of steel against steel; a test of our simple chiropractic principle and practice against your complex medical theories and experiments."
Dr. Palmer ordered spinographs taken of Mrs. Mayo's spine.
"Mr. Palmer, why are you only taking spinal x-rays?" queried Dr. Mayo.
"Because, we are going to locate the vertebral subluxation cause of her sickness, so we can correctly adjust it." replied Dr. Palmer.
Dr. Mayo rejoined, "There is no such thing, and if there were, you couldn't adjust it by hand only."
"Dr. Mayo," Dr. Palmer said to the world-renowned clinician, "while you are here, we are going to ask you to keep your mouth shut."
Dr. Palmer performed readings with the neurocalometer and neurocalograph, then analyzed the patient's spinographs. Afterward, he gave her an upper cervical chiropractic adjustment to release spinal cord compression from the vertebral occlusion in her spinal canal.
After the chiropractic adjustment, Dr. Mayo asked, "Is that all you are going to do? What is wrong with my wife? Where is she sick? What is your diagnosis?"
Dr. Palmer replied, "We don't know. What is more, we don't care."
"You are a very ignorant man," retorted Dr. Mayo.
"We are ignorant of everything you think we should know," countered B.J.
After a pause, Dr. Palmer spoke again. "You, too, are a very ignorant man. You are ignorant of everything we think you should know about the cause of disease in the backbone of sick people. We know cause; you know there is a difference or you wouldn't be here. That's the difference in your approach, which has done your wife no good, and our approach, which will get your wife well."
"That remains to be seen," Dr. Mayo replied.
Dr. Palmer continued: "I am ignorant of everything you think I should know about disease of the sick. You know all this, and what good has it done your wife? The fact that you brought her here proves your methods have failed. Because of reports of the success of our methods of vertebral subluxation and adjustment, you brought your wife here to us."
Mrs. Mayo received chiropractic care for several months and went home well. Dr. Mayo stated it was impossible for her to get well with what Palmer did, yet he also admitted she was well.
Dr. Palmer expounded: "Medical doctors are concerned in knowing everything about effects, while chiropractors are vitally concerned in the cause in the backbone and how to correct it. What a difference between medical care and chiropractic care! A patient can come to the B.J. Palmer Chiropractic Clinic and be deaf, dumb, and blind - not telling or indicating anything - and we could and would locate the cause of whatever, wherever he had it; we adjust him and send him home well. It is as simple as that."
I was on the staff of the B.J. Palmer Chiropractic Clinic in 1953-54. Although "Dr. Charlie" had passed away in 1939, during that time, 60 to 80 percent of our patients were referred by "someone" on the staff of the Mayo Clinic.
References:
1. BJ Palmer,DC,PhC. Volume XXXII.
2. PL Poulsen,DC,BJPCC. Personal account.
L. Ted Frigard,DC,PhC, Beverly Hills, CA
For more articles like this, visit revolutionhealth.com

Dr. Schalow's comments: Interesting picture of an interaction between two strong personalities, both of whom did fine work (in their own way) to help suffering humanity. Moral of the story - pay attention to CAUSING health, and then give it TIME!

Living in Pain is NOT Living

2010-03-25T12:13:00.000-05:00

"I literally got my life back!" says Richard Farmes, a 54 year old NUCCA patient living in the Chesapeake Virginia area. He explains that he had been in so much pain for so long, he was seriously considering spinal surgery when he heard Dr. David Packer on the radio discussing the fact that if you're living in pain, you're not really living. Richard felt immediately that NUCCA was his last hope for relief without surgery and promptly scheduled an appointment.

Like many people, Richard had suffered a head injury as a teenager, but never gave it much thought. Later, in the Navy, he hurt himself lifting a heavy weight and from that incident forward, slowly began a downward spiral into unrelenting pain for 35 years. In addition to the pain, he also suffered from sinus infections, mild hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, and prostate problems, all of which eventually vanished after he began NUCCA care.

"After the first treatment, I felt like my neck was on fire and I had pelvic pain for about a half hour. But then, it stopped and I had no pain at all for the first time in 35 years!"
The pain returned after a while and Richard was diligent about maintaining his program with Dr. Packer which began at first with corrections two times weekly and gradually reduced to once every three months or longer intervals.

It's now been four years since Richard initiated NUCCA care. As a result, he was able to get back to his weight lifting program, lost 50 pounds, and he's active, happy, and pain-free. "NUCCA" he says, " is a remarkable technique. We just have to continue getting the word out so more people can be pain-free!"

Two comments from the Dr Schalow - - Unpleasant initial response from the adjustment, wasn't it? (We see that often in the healing process as spinal tissues move back into correct relation, not to worry)
Four years! It takes time to heal properly doesn't it? Stick with the program to see the best benefit.

Children's Health

2010-03-23T12:01:00.001-05:00

News from a fellow NUCCA doctor...

"Recently I had a new patient named Jayden. She is 5 months old. At about 2 months old, her parents noticed that something was wrong. She wasn't moving very much and it became difficult for her to swallow. She was suffering with dysphagia, central hypotonia, esotropia, development disabilities, and a history of aspiration. Conventional medicine could not place a specific diagnosis on her and she ended up on Prevacid. This had been going on for about 3 months when someone referred her to my office. She was being fed through a tube that stayed in her nose all the time. I have now seen Jayden 3 times over the last month and I have adjusted her twice. Her parents have about a 3 hour drive to get to my office. Her mother reported that she is more active than she has ever been since the first adjustment and she is beginning to swallow. They are introducing juices to Jayden slowly. She cries every time she sees me. She does not like to get on my table. "

Now the big question is, "If upper cervical care can help this child regain normal function, can it help other children?"
Another question is this, "If the child does not want to be there, should we let the child call the shots?"

Since the NUCCA adjustment is not painful, since the adjustment is very light, since the treatment is proven to set into motion normal developmental processes, should we allow our children to be under this type of care?

I vote for my kids a BIG YES!

Success with Upper Cervical Care

2010-03-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

I am often disappointed in results, given my perfectionist nature. It is easier to deal with it if we're talking about how the lawn looks, or if the garden is producing well. These are things that don't really matter after all. There's always the store if the cucumbers don't yield.

But where it really hits me hard is when my patients don't get better the way I think they should. Sometimes it takes more time than I think it should, and sometimes strange symptoms ensue as the healing process unfolds. What is going on in these cases and should we give up?

Recalling that we are working with the upper cervical region, however, reminds me that we must be concerned with those details first. If everything is in order in the relation between the skull, the atlas (C1), the axis (C2) and the neck below, then we can rest assured that the process is working the way it should be.

More times than I can count, the case has resolved well after taking new x-rays and finding out that the misalignment pattern changed. The details of the adjusting vector cannot be underestimated, and if those details are not right, we have to get them right to see success. Those patients who share the same interest in the details as I do are those patients who see success.

How can we be most successful? Commit to excellence in upper cervical care so that healing can progress.

Rockford Chiropractor @ St. Bernadette

2010-03-10T20:38:00.002-06:00

Several years ago, during the annual health fair hosted by the St. Bernadette Seniors, I looked out over the crowd of people enjoying the day. I saw some people who were patients already and some people who I had screened in past years who were not interested in getting under care, and suddenly my eyes were opened.

Have you ever had a moment when it is like you wake up from a stupor and can now see what is right in front of your face? This was one of them.

I recognized for the first time that upper cervical care is not just about getting the spine balanced and it is not just about healing from pain and other syndromes. As I looked at those who were patients, I realized that they looked younger, more relaxed, had better looking skin. As I studied those who never committed to care, I realized they looked older, more pinched, stooped, and had less color.

I realized that this is about turning the clock back, putting more life into your life, doing something for yourself that no insurance company can do...

Upper Cervical health care - at St Bernadette this Saturday, March 13, 2010, from 9-1. Come and find out if you have a balanced spine!

Rockford Chiropractor: How to Adjust NUCCA Style

2010-02-16T17:21:00.002-06:00

One of the most common questions in my office is, "How does this work? I cannot feel the adjustment?" Vocab for today - complex lever mechanism, adjusting vector, Laws of physics, atlas, Long Head of the Triceps muscle. And does the doctor have a back ache by the end of the day? Yes, but not from bending over, it's from the pulling of the shoulder muscles. No problem! Lots of people hold their adjustment (that's the goal) and the doctor has learned how to exercise and rehab the shoulders well.

Foot Problems in Rockford

2010-02-15T14:59:00.000-06:00

I had an elderly patient mention as an aside that her feet hurt all the time. Now, I like to know things, especially about my patients. She had never told me that before, so I was surprised! I suggested that we take a close look at them.

I found that there were a number of bones out of position in her feet. Her mother had experienced painful feet, as had her grandmother, so it seemed to be hereditary. But we decided to give the feet four weeks of special attention. Since everything else had cleared up, it seemed appropriate.

Sure enough, by the end of the second week, things were beginning to feel better, and by the fourth week, feet were stable and there was no more problem. So for three generations, there were sore feet waiting for the right person to come along and recognize the problem.

Interestingly enough, that's one foot case that didn't respond directly to the spinal correction. Sometimes, when we correct the balance of the spine, the foot bones move right back into position. When they do not, chiropractic has the right tools for finishing the work.

So, next time you see someone with foot pain, ask, "What's the status of your atlas?"

Shoulder Problems in Rockford

2010-02-08T14:43:00.000-06:00

Some health care practitioners specialize in particular body parts, like feet, knees, shoulders. I like to look at how the painful body part fits into the whole body. When you look at the whole body as a complete unit, you can see how dependent one part is on another to feel good.

Look at this artist's rendering of some of the 'ropes' and 'pulleys' that support and move the shoulder.

Can you see how dependent the shoulder is on the neck and the ribs? What would happen to the shoulder if the system that supports it is out of alignment? Do you think the shoulder would suffer abnormal tensions and starts hurting?

One remedy for shoulder pain is simply bringing balance back to the head/neck/back. One of the most efficient ways to do this is through correcting what is called the atlas subluxation complex. That means the relation between the head, the atlas, and the neck below has gone off, so it's called a subluxation complex. When we correct that, the entire body will balance better. Can you see that once the body is balanced, the shoulders will move back into position?

One patient had a car accident that, among other things, shoved the entire shoulder down the back, so that it was about two inches below the other. When we corrected the atlas subluxation complex, the shoulder moved itself right back into position, even with the other.

Next time you see someone with shoulder pain, ask them the question, "What's the status of your atlas?"

Vocal Problems in Rockford

2010-02-01T14:29:00.000-06:00

Aside from the usual speech impediments brought on by a 6 A.M. alarm clock, or the trouble one feels when the child asks, "Where do babies come from?", there are some causes of voice problems that are simply structural.

Look at this picture of some of the muscles that suspend the vocal apparatus! Can you see that some of these muscles begin up in the head, and some of them attach to the ribs below? What would happen if the bones in the head are not balanced and in position? What would happen if the ribs have been pushed out of alignment? Do you think it could affect the voice?

It sure can, and I have an interesting story to tell about how this happened to one person and how we got it fixed.

For the past ten years, her voice was getting worse. All the medical treatments were exhausted, including vocal therapy. But from the perspective of the upper cervical chiropractic world, we had a serious problem affecting not only the neck, but the entire body musculature.

We call it the atlas subluxation complex, and it involves the head and neck being off line - in short, the head isn't on straight. It is measurable and in most cases, correctible.

Which is what we did. The muscles relaxed, everything went back into position, and now the voice is returning.

Next time something is found to be wrong, ask the question, "What's the status of the atlas?" It might shed some light on the problem!

Back Pain in Rockford

2010-01-27T21:16:00.000-06:00

When people come to me for help, I accept only those patients who I know I can help. The main set of criteria that tells me I can help include the presence of the atlas subluxation complex. So what's that?
The atlas subluxation complex is a big problem that happens when someone has their head knocked crooked. Essentially, it's the "head not on straight" problem. Some people are even told by the medical doctor that, "it's all in your head."
And, well, it is, because the head isn't on straight and that squeezes the brain and plugs up the blood flow and reduces the ability of the body to heal.
So does that fix back pain? It depends...
Look at this article I found from 1960. These researchers were trying to reduce the incidence of Hepatitis occurring in patients receiving blood transfusions. The obvious problem is that sick people were giving blood.
One of the most useful statements in this paper states, "lesions in the liver have been found to manifest electro-dermal points on the dermatomes coresponding to the spinal segments D3-D12, especially D7-D9."
That means the upper back is going to get pain and measurable changes in blood flow to the skin, causing "dead zones" of skin that show abnormal electrical flow. And that is all caused by a disease such as Hepatitis.
That means that correcting the atlas subluxation complex will lift the body's ability to heal, balancing the spine and eliminating muscle spasms, but it won't make the Hepatitis go away and it won't make the Hepatitis-caused back problems go away either. But what do you think the first step would be in bringing the healing process into play? Do you want the whole system to heal, or do you want just the Hepatitis to vanish? Do you want just good enough, or do you want to reach the top?
If the first step is correcting the atlas subluxation complex, what is the second step and third step? Well, if there is Hepatitis involved, that's not too hard, if the brain is back in control of the body's healing system. But that's for another day...
Oh, and by the way, they figured it out and screened out people who had bad thermal scans in the region of the spine running the liver, and were able to drastically cut the incidence of post-infusion hepatitis. (Naito, Morisue, 1960)

Hope for Illness in Rockford Illinois

2010-01-22T16:23:00.004-06:00

The Big Question is..."What are we doing and why do diseases such as fibromyalgia, optic neuritis, congestive heart failure and pain respond to this type of care?" Ponder the info and discuss the events producing improved health. One thing to keep in mind is that the answer is rooted in High School Biology.

Attention Deficit Disorder

2010-01-06T17:30:00.002-06:00

Expensive instrumentation is the hallmark of Academia, but we love it. How else can you show objective data that confirms improved brain function? The first case described here of attention deficit disorder has a couple of interesting points; the initial injury was probably a birth injury caused by forceps or harsh twisting of the neck, although any childhood injury could have done it; the RAND 36 study showed a gradual improvement to 100% in all eight health categories measured. That is beyond the national average! The NUCCA world is the only branch of chiropractic that has been using this Medicare-developed measurement tool.

Moral of the story; birth injury is real and attention deficit disorders can vanish without drugs. Have your children checked by a Rockford Chiropractor as soon as possible to make sure there is no injury festering there.

The second study is of a young lady with bipolar disorder. She gets better. (I wish Dr. Dickholtz hadn't squeezed all of this into one video, it gets overwhelming). Moral of the story; it's so exciting to do this work that you lose a sense of proportion as the immensity of the need by society becomes apparent.

Help for Chiari Malformation

2010-01-05T17:18:00.001-06:00

This discussion of a succesful and complicated case may confuse the layman unfamiliar with spinal anatomy, but it does give a good idea of the detailed care that we give each case, no matter how complex. The goal is to remove pressure at the base of the brain, which for the vertebrate is a very important thing. I mean, the French pretty well proved that the head is important by showing that 100% of their attempts at altering a person's politics during the French revolution resulted in a dead body - separating the head from the body is fatal for animals with spines.

In this video, we see that Shirley's head was not on her neck straight. Three degrees translates to about two and a half millimeters of linear displacement. That's about twice what most people suffer with. Her symptoms were bad, and she truly had "Chiari Malformation," which was symptomatic with the atlas subluxation complex present. Remove the atlas subluxation complex and you have no problem with the unique structure. Shirley got her head on straight!

Interesting case!

Help for High Blood Pressure

2010-01-04T17:07:00.001-06:00

Here is one of my mentors, Dr. Dickholtz, who was the adjusting doctor in the famous high blood pressure study done at Rush University Hypertension Center. When the announcer mentions that Dr. Dickholtz only adjusts the atlas at the top of the neck, you might think it is just a single segment that is being worked...

Actually, the atlas in relation to the skull, the second cervical vertebra and the entire neck below are figured into the equation. The goal is to correct a misalignment complex involving an entire system, and do it with one adjusting vector. So there's some fancy physics involved determined by radiographs of the upper cervical spine.

It's a good, concise video. And if you live in the Rockford, Il area, you don't have to go far to find this exact type of work!

Upper Cervical Adjusting: What Happens?

2010-01-03T16:19:00.001-06:00

Many of my patients wonder what is happening during the adjustment. They cannot feel anything and yet, their family member watching observes me working hard and tensing my shoulders and getting out of breath.
The NUCCA adjustment involves a complex lever system. This system includes the doctor's foot, hip and back (constituting the first lever) and the upper back, shoulder and wrist (constituting the second lever). Each of these levers contains a point of resistance, a fulcrum and a force. You might be able to see that the hip is one fulcrum, the shoulder joint is the other fulcrum.
That's not all, because the patients' atlas is another part of the lever system. It continues into the relation between the patients' skull, the headpiece of the table, and the neck - and it's all part of the lever system!
Now that everyone's sleeping...
If we have taken the films correctly and analyzed the films correctly, all that needs to be done is adjust the patient correctly. It will not take much force to move the atlas back into position if everything is set up correctly and the lever system is moving from the right plane.
So you cannot feel the adjustment because the entire system is moving in the right direction just a little bit, about 3/4 of a millimeter on average, and up to 2 millimeters in the worst cases.
Once that is done, the body can begin healing from all kinds of problems, including speech impediments, pain syndromes, poor posture, and many others.

Hope for Posture

2010-01-02T16:05:00.003-06:00

One of the enjoyable moments in the study of anatomy and physiology is discovering that there are nerves in the spinal joints that carry information to the brain about where you are in space. That's how you know what to do when you slip on the ice - all that flailing around is your brain's rapid processing of where you are in space and how to keep you from a punishing meeting with the planet.
But what if those joints are in abnormal alignment? Do the signals transmit wrong information?
That is one of the theories describing why upper cervical care works. The cervical spine of the neck is where you will find the greatest concentration of these receptor nerves. Does that suggest the neck is an important part of your brain's processing? If you were a factory, would that neck represent the office staff that is giving you updates on all aspects of the operation?
Each spinal segment has an axis of rotation that is altered when the spine is out of balance. This alteration causes abnormal pressures out on the joints at the edge, the facet joints, where the proprioceptor nerves live. Not only does this abnormal pressure alter the nerve signal, but it also creates conditions favorable for osteoarthritis, technically called the piezoelectric effect, in which calcium is attracted to the site of pressure.
In summary, it is not only important for spinal health, but it is also important for postural health to have a balanced spine.

Help For TMJ

2009-12-17T09:56:00.003-06:00

POP! There it goes again, ouch! You were eating, or yawning or just talking with your boss and your jaw let you down. It's called TMJ syndrome, aka temporomandibular joint syndrome. It's a natural result of the conditions that are present, but what are those conditions?
From the Osteopathic world, we have research that shows how a tooth extraction can cause the bones in the head to go out of position, which affects how the jaw sits. From the Chiropractic world, we have research that shows a misalignment of the atlas, or first cervical vertebra, can set the stage for abnormal muscle tone that pulls the jaw out of alignment. From the Alexander Technique, we have compelling evidence that simply correcting the overuse of the suboccipital muscles will re-balance the structures involved.
Check into Rockford's Chiropractor who has training and experience in all three areas to determine the best way to resolve TMJ syndrome for you. 815-398-4500.

Hope for Parkinson's Disease

2009-12-13T20:25:00.002-06:00

It can begin with simple stiffness in one arm. Then the shuffling starts, as though your legs are glued to the floor. Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonia are problems that relate to brain function. Although it is not known how this disease gets started in the general population (you can get it overnight from tainted street drugs), one element is common in this type of patient - early in life there was head/neck trauma.
With upper cervical chiropractic, we are able to restore normal physiology to the tissues in the brain and spinal cord, according to the conditions present. Many people suffering with these symptoms report improvements. For some, the shaking grows less, for some the stiffness relaxes, for some the gait improves.
In Rockford, Illinois, the one chiropractor that offers strictly upper cervical care using the NUCCA procedure is 1st Step Chiropractic. Are you ready to begin the healing process?

Getting To Point "B"

2009-12-11T19:46:00.000-06:00

There have been a few significant influences on my life. It is similiar to a great chicken soup - some garlic, carrots, parsnips...you get the picture?
I want to mention some of these influences to round out the picture of my practice.
Doris H. Johnson, my first violin teacher and coach through my professional violin career until her death from Lou Gherig's disease in 1986. I didn't learn enough about how to get health back in time to help her, but now things are different. She taught me how to listen.
Joseph Primavera, hot-headed conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Greater Philadelphia. He taught me how to stop.
Countess Catherine Wielopolska, aka "Kitty," taught me how to stop stiffening my neck through the Alexander Technique.
Richard Leaky (the younger) and Cab Calloway. A strange but useful lesson. If you don't take care of yourself, you can't stop getting rude and cranky.
George Burns and Lou Tepper. World-class means being encouraging, with high expectations of your fellow workers.
Rev. Elwood Bailey. The importance of rearranging your prejudices periodically.
Dr. Vern Hagen You don't know how much you know, and you don't know as much as you think you do.
My father, Rev. Frederick M. Schalow. The guidebook to all of life, love and liberty with God really is Holy Scripture.
My patients. They have all taught me how to be a good doctor, challenging me to deliver the best adjustment on the planet and expecting the best from me.
I am grateful to you all...

From Twelve Feet Up

2009-12-10T20:33:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered what it would look like to fall on your head from 12 feet above the ground? What would it feel like to have that moment of imbalance when you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're not in charge and that you're about to have an unpleasant encounter with the planet? Do you just give in and relax? Do you have a flash of stoicism and accept without complaint the coming assault? Do you go into shock before you even hit the ground?

Despite the many responses to the event, there is one response that is essential - get evaluated by the appropriate professional for dangerous trauma. Chiropractors are trained to spot signs of trauma that are best handled in the hospital. That includes trauma such as broken bones and internal bleeding. If there are no such signs, it is appropriate to receive a spinal correction that sets the healing process into motion and speeds up recovery.

In fact, that happened today for a patient of mine. His colleague was not so lucky, so once his chiropractor determined that there were fractures and potential bleeding, off he went to the hospital.

We're all rooting for you, and your Rockford Chiropractor is ready to give you the best appropriate care.

Help For Headaches in Rockford

2009-12-09T21:31:00.000-06:00

I really don't know if I can help people find relief from headaches. It depends on what the examination tells me is the problem causing the headaches. One of the causes of headaches looks like this; "I had a nearly fatal accident about 20 years ago where I smacked my head hard and blacked out. Then I started getting headaches about five years later."

Well, that one is a real no-brainer. Did you know that the cranial bones can move out of position? They can get stuck in the wrong place and press on the brain, restricting blood flow in and out and causing some interesting pressure problems.

(Unless you missed the last one hundred years of Osteopathy, Chiropractic and Orthodontics, you may not realize that the bones of the head move and that you can precisely identify the nature of that movement)

When the Atlas Subluxation Complex is present, it prevents the body from fixing these old injuries. Hence the headaches (in this particular case).

Our job at 1st Step Chiropractic (where you find upper cervical chiropractic in Rockford) is to correct this problem and then make sure the body heals up. What a great sight to see someone living without the pain of headaches any more!

Who do YOU know that wants to get better?

NUCCA Presence in Rockford!

2009-12-09T20:26:00.003-06:00

What's all this about? Rockford's NUCCA chiropractic practice devoted to identifying and correcting the atlas subluxation complex. Are you ready for some good changes in your life?

Help For the Heart in Rockford

2009-12-08T20:34:00.002-06:00

The medical research is beginning to catch up with the rest of us when it comes to simple activities that support normal physiology. Among other research studies comes this one on Vitamin D3. Turns out that people with lower levels of Vitamin D in the blood are more likely to develop and die from cardiovascular problems. The normal range of this important steroid, however is listed at 30 ng/ml. Other sources point to 50 as a preferable level of D3. I know I function better with a higher level!
So whether you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and get the blues in the winter, or are interested in heading off cancer, diabetes and heart disease, find a good source of vitamin D3 - NOT D2 (made by plants and useless in the human body). 5,000 international units per day is what all the research is showing is useful.
If you need help with that, your Rockford chiropractor is ready to perform a thorough exam to find out what you really need and in what sequence.

Slipping Kneecaps!

2009-12-01T20:15:00.006-06:00

Just had a chance to observe the muscle condition of a young lady whose kneecaps keep slipping out of position. Let me ask you what YOU would expect if the muscles of both thighs do not share an even tone? What do you think would happen if the muscles to the right of both kneecaps are way tighter than all the other muscles in the region? YOU'RE RIGHT! The kneecaps will move out of position.

Now let's just say you have a Rockford Chiropractor who uses the NUCCA procedure correct the atlas subluxation complex (which is causing this loss of normal tone). Would you expect the muscles to go to a normal and even tone? YES, YOU WOULD. And that's exactly what those muscles did last week for this young lady.

So if you are an athlete who is relentlessly pursuing the leading edge in your own performance, and if you are ready to achieve a higher level by ensuring correct muscle and spinal balance, call us to find out if we can help.

1st Step Chiropractic, S.C. 4519 Highcrest Rd. Rockford, IL 815-398-4500.

In Pain? Steps for Quality of Life

2009-11-28T21:36:00.004-06:00

It doesn't matter what the symptoms are when people come to 1st Step Chiropractic. The important thing is whether the brain is talking clearly to the body. When the Atlas Subluxation Complex is present, it is as though the signal is coming through, "Hey, would you please take the trash and dump it in the living room!?" That's what it looks like when a 13-year old girl comes in with slipping kneecaps and abnormal muscle tone in the legs...those muscles are just doing what the nerves that run them tell them to do! Problem is, the signals are wrong. The signals are wrong because of the pressure on the brainstem/spinal cord at the top of the neck! Correct the atlas subluxation complex and the right signals come through. "Please take the trash out, and feed the dog, too!"

Are YOU ready to take the first step back to Quality of Life? Come to Rockford's center for NUCCA chiropractic.

Popping Jaw!

2009-11-21T20:41:00.002-06:00

Think about this; if the lower jaw hinges at the TMJ, where does the upper jaw hinge? (It hinges where the base of the skull meets the spine)
If the muscles of the jaw are receiving signals from the brain, what happens if those signals are garbled by some sort of interference?
Why does Dr. Norman Thomas, TMJ specialist, recommend that his patients get checked and adjusted by an upper cervical chiropractor?
Here's the short story... The jaw is designed to move in several directions so you can chew and grind food. Muscles that do the work attach at all kinds of angles from points in the skull to points in the jaw. If the TMJ doesn't work right it is important to discover the primary cause, which can be in the neck, skull, nerves, or the muscles they run, tissues in the jaw joint, or even the teeth. In order for the dentist to get a good picture of the influence of the teeth, the NUCCA procedure can bring balance back to the neck, skull, and nerves. If there is another factor still causing jaw popping or TMJ pain, the dentist will be better able to address it once the other factors are eliminated.
Are you ready to start clearing up the problems? Dr. Schalow is the only chiropractor in Rockford who uses the NUCCA procedure to bring about those conditions necessary for natural healing.

My Family, Your Family

2009-11-05T20:31:00.004-06:00

It was around 2:45 am, and I awoke to the sound of my son crying in pain. Not your normal night...we get real quiet around here about 8pm as the children start konking out. (How do you spell that anyway?) I went in to see what was happening and he said his neck popped and then started hurting. I said, "Go back to sleep, can't do anything about it now anyway!" I was tired and grumpy.

15 minutes later we were dressed and heading to the office where I established the fact that there was brainstem pressure from the atlas subluxation complex. (short leg phenomenon, muscle spasms, postural distortions, and temperature asymmetry). I took a set of NUCCA films to find out how to correct the problem, corrected the problem, and by 4:30 am we were back in bed. He slept. No more problem.

Easy? Well, if you figure that eight years of school studying anatomy, physiology, neurology, chemistries, and all the other 'ologies that you find in a med school plus some you don't find in med school is easy, then, okay, it's easy.

If you consider that studying a branch of chiropractic (NUCCA) under the guidance of several mentors around the country over an extended period of time easy, then, well, sure it's easy.

But where my wife and children are concerned, I would do it all over again, and do whatever it takes to make sure they get the best of care and the most appropriate care.

Even at 3 in the morning...

Join us to find out how easy it really is to get kids back on their feet and adults back on the path to healing.

On Her Way!

2009-11-03T18:44:00.002-06:00

Did a first adjustment last week on a person new to upper cervical health care. She has had a long history of doing healthy things - massage, body cleanse, chiropractic... so she had a big head start. Checked her today and she reported that she is sleeping better, beginning to feel better, and also had a strange emotional release that relates to a trauma that occurred decades ago. That's fast! She's still holding her adjustment (Yay!). The emotional release reminds me of the work of Candace Pert, who at Georgetown U. (back in the 90's) was able to determine the existence of actual biomolecules of emotion. These molecules become stuck in body tissues apparently as a defense mechanism. They don't always get released, but correction of the atlas subluxation complex is one thing that can initiate release when the body/mind is ready. It's not JUST Chiropractic!
Who do YOU know that wants to get better?

How Does It Do That?

2009-11-02T20:36:00.002-06:00

My children and other patients come to me with things that trouble them. Maybe it's a sore muscle, maybe it's a sore throat. Sometimes it may even be a bit of trauma experienced at school today. "Check me please!" So what does that mean...?
Getting checked means having your upper cervical doctor look to see if your spinal cord is screaming "OUCH," and to see if any of your joints (such as elbows, wrists, ankles or foot bones)are stuck in the wrong place. If they are not happy, we correct the abnormal pressure and the spinal cord relaxes, limbs move smoothly and normal sensation and function returns. The most common question is, "How does it do that?"
If the head isn't on exactly straight (to the tune of, like, the thickness of a piece of hair) the nerves are pinched and the brain cannot run the show. (Remember High School Biology - the nerve system runs everything in the body). What does that look like? Hair falling out, legs don't work, can't feel the feet, stomach upset, can't go to the bathroom, can't stop going to the bathroom, hands numb, shoulder bursitis pain, all the other pain syndromes...
Well, your body isn't stupid, it just cannot get the signals through the pinching!
Give your body a chance to heal. Get checked!

What a Day!

2009-10-21T19:27:00.003-05:00

I love my job! I get to meet all kinds of people who have been spending lots of time and money doing the wrong things besides getting to the root of the problem. I find out 99% of the time that I can help them, and then I correct the underlying problem - the atlas subluxation complex (the head isn't on straight). Then I get to watch and study them as they go through the healing process. About 4% of the time, the healing process is not a happy time in the beginning, but for the rest of my patients it is a gradual improvement. I see changes that seem like the old injury from 20 or 40 years ago is present again. I see changes that seem like we lost the good adjustment - but on close inspection, is only an aggravation. Sometimes we see alarming symptoms that tell me the misalignment factors changed and we better get a new x-ray pronto cause the doc is adjusting on the wrong angle!
Sometimes my work is similar to the orchestra conductor who crafts harmony out of a stage full of individual (and sometimes cranky) musicians. But what a fine sound we develop! When you're ready for an improvement, we're here to help.

Article Published: A Fighting Chance

2009-10-20T20:17:00.002-05:00

In this article, we see examples of three people who are wondering how to reclaim their health. Look carefully at each person's condition and think about how long you want to spend doing the wrong things.

Dan O'Brien And Chiropractic

2009-09-21T15:25:00.003-05:00

If Dan O'Brien Needs Chiropractic maybe you could use it too? Give us a call today!

Today's Shocker!

2009-09-17T20:29:00.001-05:00

I had a patient today who reported that after her first adjustment of earlier this week, her tinnitis vanished with a disconcerting silence. It came back again after a couple of days, but less noisy than before. Can you trace the possible events that transpired within the organs of hearing? Do you know how the delicate tissues within the ear, and all through the head, are nourished by nerves that supply oxygen and other materials necessary for good function? Do you know where those nerves pass from their origins? The answer lies within the training of every chiropractor and everyone who studies the nerve system thoroughly. The chiropractic curriculum trains the doctor how to manage the nerve system for maximum function. Are you ready to take the steps necessary to regain maximum function?
1st Step Chiropractic, available to help when you are ready to take the first step!
815-398-4500

Can You Help...?

2009-09-03T21:08:00.004-05:00

I was going over a partial list of things that have improved with people who are under care here at 1st Step Chiropractic. Listen to these comments...my hair is growing out thicker, my fingernails are not splitting anymore, I thought I had a brain tumor but now it's better, I was a candidate for hip and knee surgery but now I'm not, my vision has improved, my hearing has improved, my varicose veins disappeared, my speech has cleared up, I can do the things I enjoy, my pain is going away.
It is common to think that this work of correcting the imbalanced spine is all about pain reduction. When you see the array of things that the body can heal or at least organize on a higher level, you wonder if there is a deeper principle involved. Well, YES, there is a deeper principle. It is the restoration principle and it is related to the task of getting the biology of the vertebrate mechanism functioning normally again.
Are you ready to get started on the program of restoring normal function for yourself and your family?

Don't Quit Before You Start - Truly Inspirational

2009-08-28T08:21:00.000-05:00

A Day In The Life Of A Spine...

2009-08-26T09:44:00.000-05:00

Does your spine need help? Give this Rockford Chiropractor a call!

Some Basketball Inspriration...

2009-08-18T08:12:00.001-05:00

Chiropractic for Ear Infections?

2009-07-08T15:50:00.000-05:00

Chiropractic in Rockford, give us a call.

How Far Would You Go For Your Health Care?

2009-06-25T21:36:00.003-05:00

Pat has been coming to this office for two years and has seen results unobtainable with other forms of chiropractic. It is not that they are all clueless docs out there, it is just that HOW you apply the principle of chiropractic can make the difference between success and failure. We use an upper cervical procedure that makes a lot of people happy because the underlying problem is corrected and they begin to heal. Pat drives three hours to Rockford for this kind of care. Why doesn't the adjustment hold forever for her? well, she enjoys whitewater rafting and other wild outdoor activities that put stress on the spine. I always say, "If you're going to lose your adjustment, have fun doing it!"

Jerry Rice Speaks Out For Chiropractic

2009-06-17T19:52:00.000-05:00

Need a Chiropractor in Rockford IL? Give us a call!

Dr. Christiane Gendron - Why I Became a NUCCA Doctor

2009-06-16T21:08:00.000-05:00

Why I became a NUCCA doctor, story by Dr. Christiane Gendron. This describes how the NUCCA upper cervical chiropractic procedure helped her and helps her patients.

Consumer Reports - Chiropractic # 1!

2009-06-07T18:58:00.000-05:00

Need help? Call this Rockford Chiropractor.

Improve Your Race With Less Effort!

2009-06-05T21:37:00.003-05:00

I had a startling revelation today. I learned that having a balanced spine is not only important to serious bicyclists, who I have seen in my office, but also to swimmers. Both groups can shave off time from their races. Cyclists, of course, want to have an even stroke between the two pedals. If there is a short leg, it is going to be the fault of the spine being out of balance. A short leg makes the seat shift in the saddle and alters the motion of the stroke (big waste of energy). For swimmers, a straight spine means cutting through the water with less resistance. Two more reasons to jump at the chance to acquire a balanced spine.

Chiropractic Care For Kids

2009-05-11T14:29:00.001-05:00

Need a Rockford Chiropractor? Call us today!

It's the Flu! What to Do?

2009-05-03T20:32:00.002-05:00

In response to partial information disseminated in press releases by various levels of the Health Department, we want to give a stronger foundation of knowledge about how to minimize your chances of a fatal flu infection.

During the 1917 Flu epidemic, thorough research was conducted that showed the Davenport, Iowa area had fewer deaths among people under chiropractic care. One out of fifteen patients treated by medical doctors perished, but only one out of over sixteen hundred patients treated by chiropractors died. Is there any other research that supports the use of chiropractic for immune strengthening?

Patients receiving chiropractic care showed higher blood serum thiol levels, compared to patients with active disease, and also showed some values that were higher than what are considered normal values.

Serum thiols are primary antioxidants and serve as a measure of human health status. The test provides an estimate of DNA repair enzyme activity, which has been shown to correlate with life span and aging.

Oxidative stress is now a broadly accepted theory of how we age and develop disease. It results in DNA damage, and inhibits DNA repair. In short, the evidence demonstrates that chiropractic adjustments affect the chemistry of biological processes on a cellular level. Do you think the immune system involves activities on a cellular level? Yes, it does!

Research published in 1994 showed that HIV positive patients receiving specific upper cervical adjustment had dramatic improvement in immune function markers. These were compared with patients who had a placebo adjustment. Of the patients involved in the study, 80% were already on HIV medication. They measure a 48% increase in immune cell levels over a six month period.

These and other studies in the medical and chiropractic fields show that optimal nerve system function, as supported by the specific chiropractic adjustment, is critical to protection from disease and aging processes.

If you are not under chiropractic care, why wait any longer? If you haven’t been checked recently, how can you be sure your nerve system is at it’s best?
Call us at 815-398-4500

Chiropractic for High Blood Pressure

2009-04-16T09:57:00.001-05:00

Need help with your health? Give this Rockford Chiropractor a call!

A Chiropractic Miracle?

2009-04-01T10:34:00.001-05:00

Looking for your own "miracle" from a Rockford Chiropractor? Give us a call.

Happy Feet

2009-03-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

I have an elderly patient who has benefited from the NUCCA correction that I do in this office. I don't see her much because she holds her adjustment well. One day, she came in and asked if I could help her with her sore feet. I was surprised, because she had never told me that her feet hurt. She believed that was the way it was and that was the way it would always be. Her mother suffered with sore feet and her grandmother suffered with sore feet. There was a component of inherited weakness.
I carefully examined her feet and determined that I could help her. There were bones in the wrong place.
I have seen the NUCCA procedure, which is done at the top of the neck, correct misaligned bones of the feet, but in this case, it wasn't happening. So I began the correction process of these small bones. I anticipated that it would take about four weeks, and it did. At the end of that time, a problem that extended over at least three generations stopped being a problem.
Do you have a problem that chiropractic might help resolve? Would you like to find out?

How Old Do You Have To Be To See A Chiropractor?

2009-03-27T17:16:00.000-05:00

Many people wonder if there's an age requirement before they consider seeing a chiropractor. The answer is that there is an age limit. You must be at least 1 second old before you can see a chiropractor. We just can't do it any faster than that!

With a misalignment of the first vertebrae (also called the atlas) being linked to all manner of childhood related health issue, it makes sense to consider chiropractic when it comes to your child's health!

Problems such as ADHD, autism, even SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) have been linked to vertebra misalignment. Don't worry, we are gentle as can be on our newborn patients. They often sleep right through the whole thing.

The Danger of Symptoms

2009-03-27T17:12:00.003-05:00

It is easy to think that everything is fine if there are no symptoms. We tend to think, “Now that I have symptoms (neck pain, hot flashes, heart arrhythmia, bedwetting, high blood pressure, headaches, or your favorite malady), it’s time to get my spine checked. The problem is that the underlying problem (the atlas subluxation complex) had happened in secret (or not, if you just fell over the dog). The problem could have been corrected before you began with the symptoms. All we need to do is check. There will be certain signs for most people; the short leg and postural distortions. For some people the signs will be more subtle, cranial bone distortions and restriction of the blood flow in the head. Clinical experience is now being supported by research that shows the atlas subluxation complex can cause serious problems before you feel symptoms. The right question is not, “Can the NUCCA procedure help me?”, but instead, the right question is, “What can I do to help myself heal?” The answer is, “Get your spine and nerve system checked!”

Migraines and Chiropractic

2009-03-15T17:10:00.000-05:00

Many people are surprised that when they are dealing with migraines, someone suggests they visit a chiropractor. What? How could that possibly help?

It helps all the time.

The spine moves out of alignment most often due to a trauma. That trauma doesn't need to be a car accident or a fall. It can be stress, bad posture, an overexcited hug from a friend... many, many things.

When the vertebra moves out of alignment and creates pressure on a nerve, the types of problems you can experience are numerous. Just a slight adjustment to the right part of the spine in the right direction makes all the difference. Time to give chiropractic a try?

Organic farming and your health...

2009-03-02T13:00:00.004-06:00

Like the soil of an organic farm, the nerve system requires carefully measured upkeep. How is the acid content? Are the right minerals present in the right proportions? These are issues that have a measurable impact on the quality of the crop, and even determine whether the crop survives.
In reflecting on the thousands of cases I have managed with upper cervical care, I have come to recognize that the reason more people fail to get under care is this; The belief that chiropractic is just another "pill" for a particular problem. Let us consider this belief. If someone comes to me to make headaches go away and the digestion and elimination improves instead, can you call this procedure a failure? Or if someone comes to me for low back pain and their sleeping and vision improve, can you say, "It doesn't work!?" So if you cannot pin down how the procedure is going to help the body heal, what can you say about it? You can certainly say that it will set up the conditions favorable for the body to heal anything according to the conditions present.
Would you like to find out if upper cervical care can help you?

What Does The Jaw Have To Do With Your Neck?

2009-02-28T10:12:00.000-06:00

Think about this; if the lower jaw hinges at the TMJ, where does the upper jaw hinge? If the muscles of the jaw are receiving signals from the brain, what happens if those signals are garbled by some sort of interference? Why does Dr. Norman Thomas, TMJ specialist, recommend that his patients get checked and adjusted by an upper cervical chiropractor?

Here's the short story... The jaw is designed to move in several directions so you can chew and grind food. Muscles that do the work attach at all kinds of angles from points in the skull to points in the jaw. If the TMJ doesn't work right it is important to discover the primary cause, which can be in the neck, skull, nerves, or the muscles they run, tissues in the jaw joint, or even the teeth. In order for the dentist to get a good picture of the influence of the teeth, the NUCCA procedure can bring balance back to the neck, skull, and nerves.

If there is another factor working, the dentist will be better able to address it once the other factors are eliminated.

Spinal Cord Injuries...

2009-02-22T10:10:00.000-06:00

Spinal cord injuries are something that can puzzle any clinician. Sure there are the overconfident ones that will give a blanket statement, "You'll never walk again," or, "it will take at least one year to get better." But can we ask some questions first? How about this one - "What kinds of things will maximize my ability to heal from this injury?" Here's one that is going to make the neurologist's head hurt - "How can you be sure that it won't get better?"

Asking questions is what drove Columbus west, and asking questions is what drove Edison to invent the light bulb successfully. The questions we ask include - Is there interference with the brain's control of the healing process? What is the nature of this interference and can it be corrected with the NUCCA procedure? These are the questions that have driven my patients with spinal cord injuries to my office and these are the questions that are finding a positive answer for even this type of injury.

A Chiropractic Miracle Story!

2009-02-18T10:30:00.000-06:00

We see miracles every day at our Rockford Chiropractic office, but this is still one of the best stories about chiropractic.

2009-02-17T20:57:00.008-06:00

I went to a different church a few weeks ago and met a friendly gentleman...
He introduced me to a professional woman whom he thought I should meet. When I met her, I was honestly baffled as to why he thought I should meet her, so I told her about myself. "I'm an upper cervical doctor," I started, and didn't get any further because she started crying. She told me about her neck, face and jaw pain and all the things she had been trying, without remedy. She told me that they were going to do an MRI of her neck in two days to see if a problem could be seen. I suggested that once the MRI is done, she come in for a second opinion.

Well, as it all turned out, she had a serious problem in the connection between the head and neck. It was creating a lot of tension in the temporal bone region, which not only serves as one foundation for the jaw, but also cradles the nerve centers that produce facial pain. The first adjustment went beautifully and over the last few weeks, the pain has been receding. I love it when the body can heal itself so easily. In this case the only interference was structural. She had not engaged in poisonous drug therapy which in other cases seems to have injected layers of complexity onto the case.

How long do you want to wait before finding out if 1st Step Chiropractic can help?

Speaking Of High School...

2009-02-17T10:05:00.000-06:00

Speaking of High School, I adjusted my 9th grader last week since his nerve system was indicating chronic stress. With the NUCCA procedure, you can't feel the adjustment, so it's hard to tell anything happened, unless you have significant pain that vanishes. In his case, I've observed that he does his homework more easily when adjusted well, but I've always wondered what he experiences when he is in adjustment.

So this week I asked him, even though I know teenagers are, well, speech-challenged. Surprisingly enough, he said that although he still had some aching sensations around the body, he felt that his spine was balanced. I'm not sure which surprised me more, that he communicated, or that he could feel the balance in his spine. Maybe the spine helps the teenage problem too?

You know, it's never really soon enough to visit a Rockford Chiropractor and get the help you need...