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In health care, the
concept of "normal" to refer to as
a goal for care is not new. A common example
of this is "120/80"— you
probably recognize this as the normal
(average) blood pressure reading. If you
were to be evaluated by a physician who
determined your average blood pressure
reading to be 210/135, obviously a
significantly abnormal finding, intervention
to normalize this condition would be
recommended. What is the goal for care? To
lower your blood pressure into the normal
range. Thus, "120/80" becomes a
goal for treatment for "high blood
pressure" or "hypertension".
In Chiropractic
Biophysics (CBP), we utilize the
"Normal Spinal Model" as our goal
for care. This model has been researched,
and tested by the scientific community, and
is accepted as being an accurate
representation of how the spine should be aligned
for maximum strength and stability. When
your spine is resembles the Normal
Spinal Model, it is best able to handle the
everyday stresses of gravity and other
various loads imposed by the
environment upon your body.
How do we determine how
your spine compares to the Normal Spinal
Model? By first evaluating your static
(non-moving) upright (standing) posture—
we determine how your body is bearing
weight, how gravity is affecting you when
you stand up. Your posture is then recorded
on paper by using a well-established system
of notation used in biomechanics (the
Cartesian coordinate system). After this is
complete, precise standing X-rays are taken.
Your projected image from the X-ray exam is
then compared to the results of
your postural exam thus cross checking
your projected image with your actual
posture.
Once these two studies
are completed, an accurate understanding of
your spine and posture is achieved. The
radiographs (X-rays) are now analyzed to
determine how you "measure up" to
the normal spinal model. Extremely accurate
measurements are performed on your X-rays.
Specific lines are drawn on the X-rays in
order to determine how your spine compares
to the Normal Spinal Model. When all of this
preparatory work is complete, your X-rays
are shown and explained to you so you may
understand what steps, (if any) need to be
taken in order to correct your posture.
Perhaps the most
important thing about this process is that
it provides an objective goal of care that
both the patient and the doctor can see and
it determines the methods we will use to
correct your unique spinal abnormality.
After a period of 8-10
weeks of care, with the specific application
of forces applied to your spine to correct
its abnormal position, a new set of
comparative X-rays are taken to measure
your progress. Often at this time, it is
determined you have achieved maximum
correction of your spinal problem, in other
cases, more work may be required in order to
achieve a posture that is as near normal as
possible. In any event, there is no guessing
involved, as you can plainly see how your
spine has progressed.
When the time comes
that you have made as much change as
possible towards normal, maintaining this
new improved position is vital. Ask
yourself, if I feel good does this mean I am
healthy? Do you know what your blood
pressure is right now? If you do, how do you
know, and why do you care if you "feel
good"? It is important to use objective
data rather than subjective (symptoms) data
when analyzing health. The spine is no
different. Many people, perhaps even
you, are walking around thinking that they
"feel fine" despite the fact that
their spinal structure is severely abnormal
and very unhealthy which will eventually
lead to degeneration and possibly many, more
serious spine-related conditions. An
appropriate spinal evaluation using the
latest technology of postural examination
and X-ray can establish just how healthy
your spine is. Why leave your health to
chance?
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