Torticollis / Wryneck Significantly Reduced

UPPER CERVICAL CARE FOR SPASMODIC TORTICOLLIS CASES
by Kevin A. James, D.C.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study involved two torticollis cases. On both instances patients presented at our office complaining of severe neck pain. Severely distorted posture of the head and neck area was present in both cases. Both patients were less than 20 years old. One patient was male. The other patient was female. With this severe pain and grossly distorted postural changes, we would use the Grostic/Orthospinology Procedure to attempt to make a spinal correction that would improve the patient's health and well-being.

METHODS: The patient would be examined and a set of cervical x-rays were to be taken using the Grostic Procedure Model. After the x-rays were analyzed, the patient would be adjusted using the hand or instrument as described by the Grostic Procedure/Orthospinology.

However, due to the severe pain involved in these cases, the method of spinal correction was modified based on the doctor's knowledge and understanding of the cervical biomechanics. Along with these modifications, the hand and instrument form of spinal correction was used.

After the spinal correction was made, post Grostic x-rays were taken to note any changes.

RESULTS: In one case, a stroking pull type maneuver (Laney's Finger Tip Pull), as described by Dr. Cecil Laney at a previous Life University Annual Upper Cervical Conference, was used with great success. This maneuver was used because the patient, due to his head weight and pain, could not lay on his side. This successful correction was noted on post cervical x-rays as used in the Grostic Procedure. The second case was adjusted with the stroking pull maneuver and with the hands and instrument as described Orthospinology. This patient was in such pain that the Laney maneuver did not make any notable differences and the customary correction methods were used. Following post cervical x-rays, on this second patient, a notable correction was observed also.

CONCLUSION: In cases, presenting with severe spasmodic torticollis, the symptoms of severe pain are normally expected. The correction of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex in the Upper Cervical area is a must. Due to the severe pain and muscle spasm involved with spasmodic torticollis, the light forced gentle non-manipulative Grostic Procedure provides an excellent method of correcting the VSC causing this spinal imbalance. If this patient is unable to lay down in the proper position due to severe spasm and pain, the doctor's knowledge of the cervical biomechanics as described by Dr. John F. Grostic can be applied using the Laney Finger Tip Pull obtaining favorable results. Once the subluxation has been reduced enough to allow for decreased muscle spasm, the patient can now lay in the desired position for care. The customary hand or instrument adjustment can be used to complete the correction of the VSC.

Upper Cervical Corrections by Hand or Instrument?

I think this is a fair assessment of the question above.

HOW GREAT IS THY ART?
Cecil D. Laney, D.C.

Chiropractic is a philosophy, science and art. The philosophy is our core beliefs which maintain that optimum nerve function is vital to good health and that the nerve function can have interference and this interference can be removed.

The science is the mathematical determination of the structural integrity of the human body. It also addresses the postural standards as to what is normal and optimum to achieve normal nerve function.

The art is the skill with which we render service to the patient in restoring nerve function in the pursuit of better health.

Without data, everything is just an opinion. Therefore, I will offer opinions after over 50 years of observation. I am saying that our greatest failure has been our poor achievement in the art of chiropractic.

Someone estimated that there are over 150 different techniques in the country. I think that there are really two major procedures, the manipulators and the specific adjusters. There is a difference. To manipulate, you move structure randomly. To adjust, you move structure from a given place to a different given place. Unfortunately, the vast majority of chiropractic practices consists of manipulation.

The time is here when the powers that be, the government, insurance companies, etc. are asking: "What do you chiropractors do?" Our answer is: "We correct spinal distortions." But do we? Can you prove it? Do you take pre and post x-rays? If not, what is your method of evaluation?

Dr. B.J. Palmer said the subluxation can only exist in the cervical area. My experience leads me to agree with him. In this area, palpation and postural observation are helpful, but the only reliable performance monitoring method is precision pre and post x-rays. This is the only method I accept.

I have heard claims of everything up to 100% on nearly all cases. I have yet to see proof of this kind of performance. Dr. John D. Grostic told me his father had about 87% overall average correction. This was a surprise to me in view of the fact that adjusting me, he hit 100% almost every time.

It doesn't tell us much if you show a case of 100% correction, but it will give a picture of your performance if you show a dozen consecutive cases with close proximity dates on the film.

In discussions with some of our best hand adjusters, I have come to the conclusion that their overall average is in the nature of 50%. This is good, a far better performance than the manipulators. It is about twice as good as I was ever able to do. I applaud anyone who is training themselves to hand adjust. Maybe someone will come up with a modification of the procedure that will make it more doable.

My observation is that an average 50% correction will eventually build a referral practice even if the doctor has a sour disposition. A 70% average correction will build you an overflow practice.

We are entering a new era in the art of chiropractic. I have designed, built and delivered to Life University a new table mounted cervical adjusting instrument, giving them all rights to it. It has functions that to my knowledge, has never been utilized before. It is being evaluated in the Research Department. We expect to achieve 80 to 90 percent average corrections. This kind of performance will make miracle cases commonplace. The instrument uses the Grostic analysis and adjusting vectors. We urgently need for it to be placed in a few Grostic proficient doctors' offices to accumulate data.

If my opinion is wrong and you can document a correction performance of 70% or above, I want to be a student of yours. If you are averaging much less than 50% with hand adjusting, I would recommend you move to the use of adjusting instruments. It is not fair to your patients to do otherwise.