What is chiropractic? A chiropractor is primarily interested in the structure and function: the spine and nervous system. Thus the spine is of primary concern although a problem in a limb can affect the whole body.

What is a medical doctor? What do you describe? A surgeon who uses cutting, an internist who uses chemicals, a urologist, a dermatologist, a rheumatologist...? Likewise chiropractors come in various flavors. Traditional chiropractic uses an adjustment, an impulse to try to change the spine, to reduce the chiropractic subluxation.

What is a subluxation? A subluxation, not the medical definition, is an indication that a joint is not functioning at its optimum. There are several ways to figure out if there is a subluxation: motion palpation (trying to move the joint), difference in the skin conductivity near the joint, heat difference near the joint, tone of muscles near the joint, and so on. Some chiropractors use one most of the time, some use even more indications for each subluxation.

What is an adjustment? In the traditional addressing of a subluxation, sometimes the adjustment input can be quite forceful, and sometimes there is an audible sound that we think is the change in volume of the gas in the joint. Studies have been made about the increased speed of nerve conduction after such an input. A sound is not necessary to indicate there is a change, but it can be very satisfying. Some names associated with this type of adjusting are Gonstead, osseous, and diversified. Some chiropractors use heat or electric stimulation or ultrasound stimulation to help tissues relax in order to more easily affect a change.

Some patients find they have enough stimulation in their life, and that a lighter input is more desirable. There are many techniques that have lighter input: Activator, Total Body Modification, and Network Spinal Analysis among them.

What symptoms do chiropractors address? You might expect that only back pain would be of interest, because of the interest in the spine, but chiropractic has been successful in treating headaches, asthma, frozen shoulder, heel pain and many other symptoms. NSA does not treat symptoms per se, but as a practice member learns to deal with stress, often symptoms are reduced.

What is Network Spinal Analysis? Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) is a system of chiropractic that uses very light touch to effect changes in the body and help deal with stress. The patient uses this light touch to become more aware of the body and thus be able to make the changes from the inside out, rather than the changes being imposed from the outside. While NSA does not “treat” symptoms, very often symptoms change with an entrainment.

What is Somatic Respiratory Integration? Somatic Respiratory Integration (SRI) is a system of exercises using breath and muscles to integrate the body rhythms. The exercises can be done in the office or patients can do them at home to advance their care.

Who developed NSA and SRI? Donald Epstein, DC, developed these techniques because he wanted more than the excellent chiropractic care he was getting. He found that, with his ideas of a different way of addressing the body, he stood straighter and felt more empowered. He continues to develop his ideas and share them with other practitioners.

What is NeuroModular Technique? NeuroModular Technique (NMT), or the Feinberg Technique, is a chiropractic technique that uses the holographic view of the universe of chaos theory and the latest brain research for observing the brain and its information pathways. Once the body becomes aware of the faulty information pathways, it can have an easier time figuring out how to improve the way it processes information (more at NMT.md)

What are the risks of getting chiropractic? Risks occur whenever change is possible. Since the light touch techniques I use do not induce force on a body the likelihood of stroke is small. One study looked at strokes after "chiropractic" adjustments, and categorized each by the kind of practitioner, which included several kinds of untrained people. Some of the strokes happened some time after an adjustment (weeks?) and there was no control for people who might be more likely to have a problem. Considering the number of adjustments that have been made, and the number of strokes reported, the chances of having a car accident is more likely than having a stroke after an adjustment, even including the actions of untrained people. The looking over the shoulder in a car to make sure there is no car close before changing lanes, could cause as much possibility of stroke as a cervical (neck) rotation move. Since the techniques I use do not use cervical rotation move, there is still less of a risk.

What is a practice member? In many chiropractic practices, the doctor treats a patient. With NSA the chiropractor and the practice member work together to affect change.

What is an entrainment? Since the protocol of NSA uses light touch to educate the practice member, some of the profession uses the word "entrainment" to describe the procedure. It emphasizes the learning process inherent in the process.