Chiropractic Neurology

Currently there are 525 board-certified chiropractic neurologists worldwide recognized by the American Chiropractic Association. There are four in Indiana. While neurology has always been the basis of chiropractic, advanced training in the discipline allows the practitioner to serve patients at a higher level.        Chiropractic is neurology, That's what we do -- affect the central nervous system. We affect segmental spinal cord reflexes. That has an immediate segmental response back to a muscle, back to a joint, out into the periphery, and into the central nervous system. In addition to spinal adjustments, chiropractic neurologists employ such therapies as auditory stimulation using music or sounds; visual stimulation using various frequencies of red, green, and blue; and alternating pen-light stimulation. These are brain-based exercises. We use many aspects of integration of the brain, brain stem, spinal cord, and feedback loops along known pathways to affect the central nervous system.(1)

Typically, a chiropractic neurologist serves in the same consulting manner as a medical neurologist. The difference is that the therapies or applications of a chiropractic neurologist do not include drugs or surgery. As a result, certain conditions are more customarily seen by a chiropractic neurologist, as opposed to a medical neurologist, and vice versa. Specifically, we see patients with a variety of movement disorders, dystonia, post stroke rehabilitation, and radiculopathy or nerve entrapment syndromes that are consequences of peripheral or central types of lesions. Chiropractic neurologists can provide therapies as well as counsel, when there is a diagnostic dilemma or a question of appropriateness of care. (1)

Chiropractic neurologists treat patients of all ages. Older patients often arrive at the clinic with mental or physical disabilities due to brain-based dysfunction, with or without spasticity, weakness of muscles, or motor neuron diseases. Many patients suffer signs and symptoms of pinched nerves, pressure on the spinal cord, or more serious central nervous system disorders resulting from stroke, injury, or disease. Young patients are the subject of exciting new research into learning and other neurologically based activities related to the effectiveness of non-invasive methodologies associated with chiropractic. For example, chiropractic neurology has successfully treated attention deficit disorders without drugs. Chiropractic neurologists isolate aspects of the brain that are not developing or functioning properly and determine the appropriate therapeutic approach.

When should a patient be referred to a chiropractic neurologist? Most doctors recommend a referral when conditions do not improve in patients who complain of dizziness, headaches, tingling, or apparent seizure or spasticity in the arms or legs; who have suffered any type of traumatic injury, stroke, slip or fall, or motor vehicle collision; and who are experiencing pain syndromes, motor recruitment, or gait problems. Referrals may be warranted for patients that have minimal progression or a stop in progress during care. In addition, referrals are advisable in the case of altered states of consciousness, such as depression, anxiety, coma, or pseudocoma. (1) JACA, pp. 8-14, June 2000 NeuroPractice, September 1998, 5 (9)

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Neurology

What is a Chiropractic Neurologist?
  Just as with other health professionals, doctors of chiropractic may choose to be general practitioners or become specialists. Through education, training, and board certification, those doctors who choose to specialize devote their practice to a particular branch of health care. Within chiropractic, doctors specialize in many disciplines, including radiology, orthopedics, physical rehabilitation, and neurology.

Typically, a chiropractic neurologist serves in the same consulting manner as a medical neurologist. The difference is that the therapies or applications of a chiropractic neurologist do not include drugs or surgery. As a result, certain conditions are more customarily seen by a chiropractic neurologist, as opposed to a medical neurologist, and vice versa. Chiropractic neurologists can provide therapies as well as counsel, when there is a diagnostic dilemma or a question of appropriateness of care.

How are Chiropractic Neurologists Trained? 
The training to become a board certified chiropractic neurologist in the chiropractic profession is an additional three years after the doctorate degree studies. The training is conducted under the auspices of an accredited university or college that is recognized by the U.S. Office of Education. After completing the training requirements, the chiropractor sits for a board examination in neurology. The tested areas are specific to the field of neurology and include clinical and diagnostic techniques and knowledge of neurophysiology. The certification examination includes oral and practical portions as well as a battery of psychometric testing.

What is the Nervous System?
  There are two parts to the nervous system: the central and peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves found in the head and body outside of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is designed to receive input from and send information to the body. Sensory input is received through receptors, specialized nerve cells that respond to different stimuli. The sensation of touch is controlled by receptors that respond to compression and stretch. These receptors of touch (mechanoreceptors) are found in every joint of the body, especially those of the spine, and are very sensitive to motion. They have a greater effect on the central nervous system that the receptors related to vision, taste, and hearing due to the constant effect of gravity. If the joints of the spine do not move freely, the activity of these receptors is suppressed. Consequences of this are a change in muscle tone, coordination, brain activity, and an increase in pain.

How Does Chiropractic Neurology Continue a Chiropractic Philosophy?
  Chiropractic is a hands-on method of treatment without using drugs or surgery. Chiropractic adjustments result in a change of function of mechanoreceptors in the involved joints to affect the nervous system. Recent studies in neuroanatomy confirm that mechanoreceptors have a direct effect on brain function.

The human brain develops through our neurological experiences, be it Mozart, Rembrandt, baseball, yoga, food, massage, meditation, smells, or a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic works by stimulating the nervous system; nowhere is the phrase "use it or lose it" more applicable. The chiropractic adjustment is one of the most powerful inputs to the brain and nervous system.

When should a patient see a chiropractic neurologist? 
Most doctors recommend a referral when conditions do not improve in patients who complain of dizziness, headaches, tingling, or apparent seizure or spasticity in the arms or legs; who have suffered any type of traumatic injury, stroke, slip or fall, or motor vehicle collision; and who are experiencing pain syndromes, motor recruitment, or gait problems. Referrals may be warranted for patients that have minimal progression or a stop in progress during care. In addition, referrals are advisable in the case of altered states of consciousness, such as depression, anxiety, coma, or pseudocoma.

Chiropractic neurologists treat patients of all ages. Older patients often arrive at the clinic with mental or physical disabilities due to brain-based dysfunction, with or without spasticity, weakness of muscles, or motor neuron diseases. Many patients suffer signs and symptoms of pinched nerves, pressure on the spinal cord, or more serious central nervous system disorders resulting from stroke, injury, or disease. Young patients are the subject of exciting new research into learning and other neurologically based activities related to the effectiveness of non-invasive methodologies associated with chiropractic. For example, chiropractic neurology has successfully treated attention deficit disorders (ADD) without drugs. Doctors isolate aspects of the brain that are not developing or functioning properly and determine the appropriate therapeutic approach.