Dr. Steele utilizes a blend of specific upper-cervical techniques. These methods use a light touch to trigger reflexes as part of the body’s own inherent healing capacity.
Upper-cervical chiropractic has evolved from the work of chiropractic pioneers like B.J. Palmer, famous for the “Palmer Method.” He sought to revolutionize health care with a new perspective: that health comes from within, and that a lack of normal nerve function (dis-ease) results in a lack of health. Further refinements by Doctors Grostic, Gregory, Sweat and Friedman led to a greater understanding of how the alignment of the head and neck influence the brainstem for health and wellness.
Upper-cervical chiropractic targets the brainstem to free the nervous system of interference, restoring optimal nerve communication using the least amount of force possible. It allows the body to realign itself and do its own healing. Patients regularly report it is considerably gentler, more effective and less invasive than other methods.
Upper-cervical chiropractic holds that the brainstem and head/neck alignment are key to the balance of the entire spine and body. Once the head and neck are in alignment, the entire spine will follow suit as the nerve messages between your brain and body travel more freely and clearly to those regions. This allows the innate intelligence and healing abilities of your body to unfold naturally.
The upper-cervical adjustment is extremely gentle and precise. There is no twisting, popping, or cracking. Because of the precision of the adjustment, very little force is required. Patients often do not know that the procedure has begun, let alone been completed!
How does this light touch allow the body to realign itself with a spinal adjustment? A basic explanation is that it triggers a reflex in much the same way as a light tap below the knee will cause your leg to jump. Reflexes are “spring-loaded” for action. The Vestibulospinal reflex is the relay center that collects information from our inner ear (or vestibule, the sense organ for balance) and sends instructions for balance to the muscles supporting the spine. This maintains our body balance and keeps us upright on our feet against gravity. The brainstem houses this reflex and is like a circuit board sending and receiving a continuous stream of nerve messages for all body systems.
The upper-cervical adjustment restores this reflex to a greater capacity and as the body neurologically re-balances itself, structural realignment takes place simultaneously. Reflexes by nature take very little stimulus for activation which is why the Vestibulospinal reflex responds so strongly to such a light touch.