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Frequently
Asked Questions at the Network Family Chiropractic
What
is Network Spinal Analysis?
NETWORK
CHIROPRACTIC refers to a network of independent chiropractic offices utilizing Network Spinal Analysis. N.S.A. utilizes
a profound sequence of spinal evaluations and adjusting
techniques. The systems approach to the spine and nervous
system has gained rapid popularity with people of all ages
and backgrounds.
Research
has documented that increased flexibility, increased inner
awareness, and an improved quality of life have been reported
by individuals in Network Chiropractic offices.
The
relationship of the individual to his or her environment
is dependent upon a clear and flexible nervous system. The
individual who is clear of interference in his or her nervous
system has a more effective connection between his or her
emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects.
Chiropractic spinal adjustments remove interference to the nervous system's
tension and function.
The
brain and spinal cord are one connected unit. The spinal
cord, as it passes through the neck and back, is the main
conduit from the brain for energy relay and coordination.
This soft, vital spinal cord is protected by hard bones
called vertebrae. Between the vertebrae are shock absorbing
cushions known as discs. Vital spinal nerves emanate from
the cord, pass through openings between the vertebrae, and
relay the life-force directed by your innate intelligence.
Through
an extensive nerve network, your innate intelligence (inborn
wisdom) coordinates all functions and regenerates and animates
all body parts.
Every
cell of the body is stirred to life by its reception of
this vital life energy, and its reality is determined by
the quality and quantity of nerve impulses.
When
individuals function with a clear and flexible nervous system,
they are better able to recover from life's challenges.
They adapt to changes more easily and are better able to
heal and express their health capacities. Mispositioning
the spinal cord, nerves and vertebrae can create mechanical
tension. This may interfere with the flow of vital life
force and the coordination of all life processes. When these
things occur, it is called a vertebral subluxation. Chiropractors
are concerned about the presence of vertebral subluxations.
They seek to detect and correct these interferences to the
flow of life through spinal adjustments.
NETWORK
SPINAL ANALYSIS was developed by Dr. Donald Epstein, who
teaches chiropractors across the nation and throughout the
world.
What
is Network Care? A Brief Explanation...
Network is a clinical assessment of
the spine utilizing traditional chiropractic methods while
employing concepts derived from a variety of health professions
and theoretical sciences.
Network is a rapidly growing and evolving system assessing
and contributing to spinal and neural integrity, health,
and wellness.
What is Subluxation?
A vertebral (spinal) subluxation is a clinical condition
affecting the relationship and alignment of spinal bones
and neurological structures which impacts the overall function
of the body's natural coordinating systems. The influence
of the subluxation on the body may be subtle and asymptomatic,
or rather dramatic and expressive. The effects of subluxations
are cumulative and global.
The Objective of Network...
...is to assess and correct two classes of vertebral subluxation
(facilitated and structural), using safe, 'hands on,' low
force adjustments to the spine.
Vertebral
Subluxation. . .What is it?
"All
subluxations are not created equal," states Dr. Donald Epstein,
developer of Network Spinal Analysis. Vertebral subluxations
may be caused by information overload. Different types of
stress may result in different types of subluxations.
The
model of Network Spinal Analysis classifies subluxations
into two types:
1)
Structural Subluxation: compression, or squeezing of the
nerve as it passes through the opening between the vertebrae.
It is commonly called a pinched nerve. This is the result
of a mechanical or physical stress from which the body can
not recover.
2)
Facilitated Subluxation: an elongation or twisting of the
spinal cord and associated nervous tissue. This is most
likely associated with emotional, mental, or chemical stress
from which the body-mind could not recover.
What
causes vertebral subluxation? Any stress your body cannot
deal with may produce a vertebral subluxation.
Changes
in your environment (physical, chemical, mental, or emotional)
create stress. Your brain must access the situation and
react to it. You have the capacity to respond to stress
as a part of normal, everyday life. However, when you exceed
your capacity, you must either change for the better and
grow, or express symptoms and disease.
Your
brain and body can handle an enormous amount of stress.
Beyond a certain point, your system becomes overloaded.
The combined effect of a variety of stresses and the inability
of the nervous system to deal with them can produce vertebral
subluxations. These subluxations involve elongation, twisting,
or compression of the system resulting in a persistent misalignment
of the spinal vertebrae. The resulting interference disrupts
the nervous system's natural ability to assemble and sort
out neurological instructions. Like a computer, if the input
(messages to the system) is distorted, then the output (messages
from the nervous system to the body cells) will also be
distorted.
Until
you know how flexible, adaptable and peaceful your spine
and nervous system can be, you may never know you have a
vertebral subluxation. Symptoms may occur as soon as a vertebral
subluxation is present. In most instances however, a person
may have vertebral subluxations for many years before the
cumulative effect on the body or mind is sufficient to produce
a symptom. Often we are not aware that a subluxation is
present unless a chiropractic examination is conducted.
Your chiropractor can show you what your musculature feels
like when you are subluxated.
When
the nervous system is overloaded or "stressed out," it will
not be as able to function and adapt to challenges in the
environment. At some point, the body-mind may produce warning
signs in the form of symptoms. To focus attention on combating
the symptoms does nothing to increase the adaptability and
functional capacity of the body. Symptoms indicate change
is necessary. Improving the health and functioning of the
spine and nervous system assists the body in healing.
According
to the nature and location of vertebral subluxations and
the level of care you are experiencing, your practitioner
will use the method of adjustment to which you best respond.
The "adjustment" is created by the body's response to the
chiropractor's applied force. The force used to reduce and
correct the vertebral subluxation may be gentle or firm,
depending on what your body needs
How
do you know the vertebral subluxation has been reduced or
corrected?
The
interference from vertebral subluxation is like a rock obstructing
the natural flow of a mountain stream. Normally, that life
force would flow from above down, and like all generated
life energy, from the inside out. When there is interference
to the fluid flow of life's energy, it creates a disharmonious
relationship of the physical, emotional, or mental aspects
of oneself.
When
the pressure of vertebral subluxation is alleviated, and
proper spinal alignment restored, that life force energy
is released, to resume its natural flow. You will get to
know when you are subluxation free and you will experience
an increase in productivity, efficiency, and ease.
In
analyzing the most successful, dynamic and innovative corporations,
John Naisbitt, author of Reinventing the Corporation, defines
alignment: "When people work to their full capacity, when
they feel in sync with their co-workers, when everything
comes together on cue, though completely unplanned, alignment
is present." Such organizations "possess vision, mastery,
and the ability to integrate intuition and rationality,
to see the company as a whole, and create structures that
further that whole."
Imagine
you are stuck in traffic. There is congestion in the flow
of automobiles on the road. Suddenly the road clears in
front of you. There was no accident, no stalled car.
What
caused the traffic? If you were to examine each of the cars
for physical trouble, you would no doubt find transmissions
that needed repair, oil that needed to be changed, faulty
steering and pollution control devices. However, did these
physical deviations from optimum cause the traffic? Would
correction of these "problems" correct the traffic situation?
No! Traffic is a function of the relationship between individual
automobiles on the road. There is a relationship between
the local driving in each car to the global traffic situation.
The
same is true with health of your body. Health is about how
the individual parts relate to one another. Does one part
of the body pick up the slack for the other part, which
may be functioning a little less? The flow of energy between
the parts and the coordination center (the brain and spinal
cord) and the rest of you is what determines your health.
The
chiropractor using Network Spinal Analysis understands that
your spinal health is a function of the relationship of
your body's parts. It is the role of the nervous system
to coordinate all body parts and functions, establishing
and maintaining appropriate relationships. It is a function
of the movement of the individual spinal bones, and their
relationship to the muscles, connective tissues, and vital
nerves. As you move, are each of the vertebra functioning
in relationship to one another, or is there a structural,
energetic and communication traffic jam?
With
each vertebra that is adjusted, both your doctor and you
will become aware of how the rest of the spine responds.
Rather than viewing a particular vertebra as an isolated
problem, he or she will adjust each vertebra in relationship
to the rest of your spine and its natural self-correcting
capacities.
For
example: You may have a swayed pelvis with tight muscles
in your lower back protecting the lower spinal nerves. Consequently,
your middle back may become slightly twisted, distorted
and misaligned, pressing, or twisting the nerves in the
areas between the shoulder blades. This effects the energy
flow to the part coordinated by these nerves. The chiropractor
will think globally about your spinal situation, and then
locally address whatever subluxation appeared to initiate
the total picture.
Often
a specific adjustment may involve a gentle touch at a place
far removed from the region of greatest distortion. In the
example above, a specific correction with barely a touch
to the upper neck may be the local action taken to create
an unwinding or release of spinal tension and interference
patterns. Within seconds, you may experience a release of
tension in the lower spine, and an "unkinking" of the middle
back, as your body "globally" responds to restore your natural
state of ease.
As
you are evaluated and adjusted through each of four levels
of care, your doctor will consider a larger and larger circle
of relationships between your spinal segments.
Your
chiropractor will regularly "check in" with you through
a series of quality of life inventories, which you will
be asked to complete. You can monitor the actual changes
that have occurred in your spine, nervous system, your health,
and quality of life, as your N.S.A. practitioner evaluates
and adjusts your spine.
Over
time, your body may globally make its own corrections as
a result of specific local actions.
A
local interference to the expression of your body's healing
intelligence and forces can have a global effect on your
health and quality of life. As the health of individuals
in any locality improves, a more naturally peaceful state
can evolve in our global community.
The
body is equal to the sum of its parts. When a body suffers
from pain, sickness or disease, health can be added to the
body from the outside-in (invasive); introducing medicine,
vitamins, food, exercise, surgery, etc.
There
is basic distrust of the individual. People, therefore,
respond best to negative motivation such as: fear of pain,
disease, sickness, or punishment.
The
universe and its inhabitants are intrinsically evil. There
is a very limited "supply" of good, for which we must compete.
The
individual cannot take care of himself. He does not possess
the adequate or proper intelligence. To best take care of
himself an external authority (doctor, leader, or ruler)
should be in control.
The
patient surrenders responsibility for himself, assigning
it over to the care of the doctor. The doctor actively makes
the decisions and the patient passively follows orders
The
highest developed living being of society is the ruler who,
through his competitive drive to control and manipulate
the environment, has risen above the rest to become a leader.
The
body is greater than the sum of its parts. Our nervous system
expresses an innate or resident intelligence that animates,
motivates, heals, coordinates, and inspires living beings.
Health
comes from the inside out. By removing interference in the
nervous system, our innate intelligence may better maintain
each of our body's cells naturally.
There
is a basic trust and respect for the individual. People
respond best to positive motivation, such as trust in the
individual's ability to maintain his or her own well being
and to reach his or her fullest potential.
The
universe and its inhabitants are intrinsically good. There
is an infinite "supply" of good since we can perpetually
create more, both individually and cooperatively.
The
individual is fully capable of taking care of himself. A
nervous system free of interference can more fully express
the inborn intelligence of the body. To best take care of
himself, the individual might consult a chiropractor, mentor,
or initiator for guidance.
Practitioner
and patient (or practice member) have a cooperative, mutually
responsible relationship. Both are committed to health and
well being. Both trust their innate ability to take care
of themselves.
The
highest developed living being within society is the person
who, through his creative abilities, is reaching his or
her fullest potential and is helping others to do the same.
A
philosophy who time has come . . .
Never
before has there been a society so ripe, ready, and able
to receive, implement and perpetuate the vitalistic philosophy
of chiropractic. Today we live in the most highly educated,
affluent and technologically advanced society in the world.
It seems that nowhere else on earth does the individual
enjoy such freedom and opportunity to control his or her
own life and destiny.
The
greatest freedom and opportunity, however, exists within
us. Our innate intelligence expresses itself throughout
the quadrillions of cells in our body.
It
coordinates, heals, controls, and maintains the functions
and growth of the body itself, while inspiring us spiritually,
emotionally, and intellectually.
We
have recently emerged from the industrial age to enter the
computer age. The mechanistic viewpoint may have been appropriate
to a society involved with machines and manufacturing, with
mass production and assembly lines. It is vitalism that
puts natural wisdom and a sense of "divine order," trust,
and hope back into our world. Vitalism is the key to integrating
our humanity with our selves.
We
at Network Family Chiropractic approach each individual
from a vitalistic, humanistic, holistic, and integrated
point of view. The mechanistic viewpoint would treat and
fight a disease; the vitalistic view promotes nurturance
of health, fitness, wholeness, harmony, wellbeing, growth,
and development. Your health depends not on what others
do for you, but on what you are willing to do for yourselves.
Personal responsibility, self value, awareness and participation
within our bodies are the primary determinants of health.
We
are more interested in the person who has the "disease,"
than in the disease that has the person!
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