The NUCCA Procedure (To Correct Spinal Misalignments)      The little known and highly effective corrective procedure used at Brooks Spinal Care has been developed and refined for over fifty years by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA) (www.nucca.org ) and its research affiliate the Upper Cervical Research Foundation (UCRF) (www.ucrf.org). The NUCCA Logo, circa 1977 (The atlas, or first cervical vertebra, holding up the world)      The NUCCA procedure is based on measurement, observation and reason and all corrections are based on objective evidence. By using measurements on pre and post X-rays, the anatometer and thermal scans we can know that the spine has been corrected to a normally aligned position. It is the most advanced procedure available today to help spinal and spine related problems. What The NUCCA Procedure Is Not!      In Chiropractic there are over forty and as many as two hundred fifty different procedures available for doctors to care for patients’ spines. With the NUCCA procedure there are no bone popping manipulations and patients are not twisted or cracked.      Some chiropractic adjustments put forces into the spine believing and hoping they will work without any objective evidence that a change has been made. If a spinal joint is popped or makes noise it does not mean that a bone is back into a normally aligned position.      It is not necessary to adjust the spine over and over again if it is truly corrected and stabilized. When corrected, the spine needs to be left alone in its normal position unless it is misaligned again. What is the NUCCA procedure? The History Determines If The Problem Relates To The Spine      After a detailed health history each patient is evaluated by comparing the length of the legs while lying on their back (Supine Leg Length Examination). The short leg phenomenon is from the muscles contracted on one side of the spine more than the other. Any deviation or short leg of more than one quarter of an inch has been found to indicate the presence of a spinal misalignment. Supine Leg Length Examination The Anatometer Confirms The Presence Of A Spinal Misalignment      When a short leg is present one of the hips or shoulders will be higher and lower, the pelvis will be rotated to the right or the left or the body will be leaning to the right or the left. There may also be a tilting of the head to either side. These measurements are made on an instrument called the Anatometer. Supine Leg Length Examination Pre or Before X-rays Are Taken       When a misaligned spine is found in your examination, precise X-rays are taken: one of the entire spine including the head and pelvis and three X-rays of the upper neck focused on the first cervical vertebra named the Atlas. The cervical X-rays show a three dimensional picture of the head and neck so that the misalignment can be precisely measured. Careful Positioning for the Nasium Cervical X-ray Lateral, Nasium and Vertex Pre-X-rays X-rays Are Analyzed With Templates       The correction of the spinal misalignment is from the exact measurement of the deviation of the head, the Atlas and the cervical spine from their normal positions. A vector (specific direction) is calculated that will be used to make the adjustment. Vectors are Calculated For Precise Corrections       Before the initial correction of the spine the doctor will review the X-rays with the patient, discuss the expectations for relief and recovery, and a plan to care for the spine to assure the best possible results. Very Specific and Directed Forces Correct the Spine       For the correction of the spine the patient will lie down on either their right or left side. The doctor supports the patient’s head on a headpiece. The doctor’s body is positioned in line with the calculated vector from the X-rays to make the correction.      Very specific and gentle forces move the head and cervical vertebrae back into their normal position. The patient usually feels nothing but the side of the doctor’s hand during the adjustment. Using the Atlas vertebra as the contact point there are over 5,000 different directions that can be used to make the correction from either the left or the right side of the patient’s neck. Each misalignment and its correction is as unique as a finger-print. The NUCCA Spinal Correction Post Adjustment Measurements       After the initial adjustment, the measurements are repeated to assess leg length discrepancy and body posture. When the spine has been corrected back to a normal position, the legs will be same length and the body posture will have been returned to normal.      The doctor will make note of any immediate responses or improvements and discuss expectations for any reactions to the correction. Measurements Made Immediately to Verify Correction Post X-rays Taken To Verify the Correction       Following the initial adjustment post X-rays are taken immediately to determine the effectiveness of the correction. These post X-rays allow the doctor to measure the position of the structures and to determine if spine is corrected back to its normal position. Or, if it is not, a new correction is calculated and the patient is adjusted again. Post X-rays are taken again to determine if the head and the vertebrae of the spine have been corrected or if the misalignment has been reduced as much as possible. This process may be repeated until your spine has been corrected as much as possible. Post X-rays Taken Immediately to Verify Correction       Following the correction the patient is taken to the recovery room to rest for fifteen minutes. This rest allows the body to accept the correction and provides more stability. Rest Following a Spinal Correction Monitoring Stability       When the patient’s spine has been corrected a follow up appointment is scheduled to monitor the stability of the correction, the relief of the patient’s symptoms and to monitor recovery. Sometimes one adjustment is all that is necessary and the spine stays corrected for weeks, months or years. For this patient only a few follow up visits are necessary.      Other times the spine will need a period of recovery before the body will be able to stabilize the spine in its normal position. When this happens the spine will misalign several times and a number of adjustments will be necessary before the corrections will “hold” or stabilize for months and years. Patients Being Examined for Stability of their Spinal Corrections       After a period of keeping the spine corrected and the patient has relief and recovery has been initiated, the patient may be released from a schedule of visits to the office. This happens when the patient becomes aware when their spine is in its normal position and when it is not. It is usually before recovery is complete. Recovery Is From Reversing the Effects       With the NUCCA procedure the doctor is able to correct the ASC, stabilize the spine in its normal position and reverse it’s progressive degenerative effects. During the recovery it is determined which symptoms relate to the spine and which ones do not (different degrees of the misalignment will create stress on different areas of the body and will cause different symptoms) and to determine whether the patient’s body can recover and to what degree. This allows the patient to have the spine corrected and not only to recover, but also to recognize any spinal or spine related problems, which will allow the patient to know if the spine has misaligned again in the future. The Need For Periodic Examinations       A weakness remains for as long as the patient lives for the spine to misalign again. Through precise X-ray measurements of the spine it has been found that when a spine misaligns again, over 90% of the time it will misalign in the same direction, only the degree varies. This allows the doctor to have predictability and to be able to duplicate the adjustment without the need to X-ray the patient on future visits. There are however, times that new injuries can create new and different misalignments and new X-rays are needed.       Patient education consists of creating awareness of when the patient’s spine is in its normal position and when it has misaligned again (to give the patient the ability to determine their own need for care beyond their recovery). Correction Not Ongoing Treatment       The NUCCA procedure is designed to effectively correct the spinal misalignment (Atlas Subluxation Complex Syndrome), not to continue to treat it. It is our objective to correct the spine to normal for as long as you live with as few adjustments as possible, providing the best possible spinal and human health.       If you have any questions about the NUCCA procedure please ask. It is an honor and a privilege to provide this incredible service.