The chiropractic principle stated that effective force applications to the spine can assist the body’s inherent wisdom to restructure spinal cord tension patterns, misalignments and even allow “innate” to seat the vertebra properly. Early chiropractic principles state that no educated mind actually knows exactly where the vertebra needs to be in space at any point in time. Traditional chiropractic principles stated that the proper force application would provide the “missing link between intelligence and matter” and would allow innate intelligence to create the adjustment.

Since there is no unified clinical concept that defines subluxation or adjustment, there is a challenge when the subluxation is the one condition or dis-ease that chiropractors address with the chiropractic adjustment. Surely all structural distortions and spinal pathophysiolgy are not synonymous with subluxation. Degenerative spinal changes are not subluxation, any more so than altered curves, spastic muscles, spondylosis, or disc protrusions. All misalignments or fixations are not necessarily subluxations. Presence or absence of pain does not define subluxations. To add to the confusion, all force applications are not adjustments, even when technically applied with precision. Therefore, chiropractors rely on technique, and utilize philosophy specific, or practitioner specific assessments. With such lack of clinical clarity about the primary service we provide no wonder that it is difficult to communicate our care to the world.

When we achieve a spinal or health change, does this actually mean we corrected a subluxation? If so, did the force applied correct a subluxation, or was the change due to the body’s use of the applied force? Did the force application initiate positive constructive changes at all? These are vital distinctions that can be monumental in the practitioner’s clinical decision making, outcome assessment and communications.

The chiropractor applies specifically developed forces to the spine with the intention that with the right place, the right time, and the right direction the organizing intelligence of the body can have a greater ability to express its perfection.

The chiropractor seeks to find the right place to “get into” the system so it can assess itself and reorganize to allow its innate forces to express themselves and transform the individual through evolving his/her adaptive strategies with the world.

A result of this is greater adaptability, greater wellness, and the body’s ability to recognize efficient and non-efficient structural relationships, especially at the spine. One of the consequences of this greater expression of life is the self-regulation of factors which inhibit the further expression of life. Vertebral subluxation correction, is one of the desired outcomes of this application.

We don’t have to label something as a cause of a person’s problem in order to help the person. Instead of using the medical approach of blaming, naming, diagnosing and treating in as few visits as possible, I am suggesting an exciting new possibility. 

In taking the leap from having to name and treat any condition, including subluxation, to advancing the expression of life, we no longer have to treat a condition to help someone. Rather than trying to find out what we believe has caused a person’s problem and trying to restore them to a previous state, we can instead use our assessment of healing, wellness and spinal self-organizational strategies as our indicators of success. 

Within the method Network Spinal Analysis™, I have introduced the concept of the Spinal Gateway™ . This is viewed as an interface between the dimensions of energy, consciousness, and physical tissue. They serve as a nexus or hub for interaction between the sub systems that establish and maintain spinal and neural stability and integrity. Spinal Gateways™ are located on, or adjacent to, the spinal segments having physical vertebral-dural attachments. Application of a light force or touch to a Spinal Gateway™ assists the nervous system to shift from a dominant state of stress physiology (which is worn as defense posture) to a state of greater adaptive self-assessment and organization. 

Precise and gentle touch contacts at these Spinal Gateways™ assist the brain to connect more effectively with the spine and body. As a consequence, the individual develops new strategies for living and healing.

You can take “The Leap” to a practice based on values of wellness and trust, one that strives to help individuals to develop new emerging properties for spinal and neural integrity and for life. As chiropractors we are perfectly positioned to intervene at the exact interface between how an individual experiences his body and how the individual experience his life. At the Spinal Gateway™ minimal force is needed to transform a spine and subsequently a life. 

As an alternative to battling that which is “wrong” to prove our self worth, we can choose to work with that which is always right and perfect.