Miracles. I recently had an experience with a client that I wish to share. This client had been seeing a NUCCA chiropractor for approximately 15 years. For those who may not be familiar with NUCCA chiropractic, I would refer you to the NUCCA.org website. NUCCA emphasizes and focuses on C1 as the cause of issues throughout the body. Treatment is focused only on C1. My client felt that the NUCCA chiropractor had really helped him over the years, but with some reservations.
One thing that seems universal among NUCCA is that no one, beside the NUCCA chiropractor, should be allowed to touch the person’s neck, for fear of knocking the precise adjustments out. Additionally, this client had been warned to avoid hitting potholes with the car or jarring the neck or back in any manner. My client had developed a deep sense of fear that the alignment of C1 would be knocked out of place with the slightest incident.
This client, after numerous return visits to the chiropractor for check ups and re-adjustments after minor jarring, finally asked me to look at his neck. Tightness of the upper neck was evident and we proceeded with a few sessions of simple cervical lifts to release the sub-occipital region. He was doing quite well for a long period of time until a few weeks ago. He bumped his head and called to schedule a session. At the session he voiced his fear that this would send him into a few months of problems, as it had in the past. Prior occurances such as this required frequent re-visits to the chiropractor and much caution and guarding of the neck. At that session I simply performed a cervical lift to loosen the upper posterior cervical region and sent him on his way. He returned two weeks later calling me a miracle worker. While I appreciate the praise (and asked him to repeat it a few times!), I educated him further about the environment surrounding C1 and the need to keep things loose.After the previous session he had no symptoms at all, nor had any returned.
I tell this tale to ask why some health practitioners build so much fear into a client? I might be that they really believe that the precautions that they convey to the client are real. The cynic in me feels that it is a guaranteed method of maintaining repeat business. Make the client so fearful of any type of re-injury that they keep coming back, if nothing but for reassurance that they are OK. That’s what I love about the work that I do and teach. Get them moving again and get them out the door. Miracles.
Walt Fritz, PT
I have had the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a DC that focuses only on C1 (I don’t know if he is NUCCA). The patients have definitely received benefit from the myofascial combined with the osseous. He also wisely supports and promotes a Craniosacral approach (which I place under the myofascial umbrella). Your point of FEAR based precautions is very accurate. Instilling fear keeps patients powerless in a situation where they already feel so little control.The muscular tension resulting from fear does appear to be a perpetuator of pain. Thanks for the post and inspiring me to do a little blogging of my own.
Dorothy,
Thanks for your comments. I would not say that NUCCA as a whole promotes fear. Practitioners come into their own power and change things that they were taught.
Regards,
Walt Fritz, PT
http://www.MyofascialResource.com
I like your point about educating the client as to what is going on so that they can own the symptom as an indicator of what to do different.
Walt,
Yes, miracles come in many forms! Clearly your client trusted you and received good treatment. The comment about fear brings up a basic issue– When a client is able to effectively respond to their body, rather than be paralyzed by fear, good things can happen!
Dianne,
Well said. Once a person stops being influenced by what another says, including the transference of beliefs, they can begin to truly feel.
Walt