Gentle Chiropractic 1 Disclaimer Before you start reading this book I must express to you the importance of seeking medical attention when you have strong pain or after you have had an accident, a fall, or injured your back in any other circumstances. It is important to rule out any fractures, ruptures or other conditions that may be detrimental to proceeding with any of the exercises containing in this book. If you are not sure how to do certain exercises ask a health care practitioner, chiropractor or physiotherapist. The information contained in this E Book is educational in nature. The author has made every reasonable effort to ensure that all information is complete, true, correct, appropriate and accurate. However, the information and advice contained in this E Book is not intended as a substitute for consulting your doctor or health care practitioner regarding any action that may affect your well-being. Gentile Chiropractic is –an E Book to refresh the knowledge of chiropractic practitioners and beginners in learning how to do great gentile chiropractic. It is intended as learning and repeating chiropractic only and not as medical or professional advice. Information contained herein is intended to give you the tools to make better gentile chiropractic. Individual readers must assume responsibility for their own actions, safety and health. The author shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, injury, financial consequences or damage what-so-ever allegedly arising from any information, exercise or other suggestion contained in this E Book. I wish you success Christina Reuter 2 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de Welcome to the gentile Chiropractic Hello and welcome to the gentile chiropractic. I wrote this book to help more chiropractors to be successful and Use a soft gentile chiropractic tech- nique. For over 20 years I have worked as a naturopath and chiropractor in my own practice. When I lived in Canada, I developed this technique in order to treat my patients more effectively. I have refined and improved the technique more and more as time go by and am now able to teach it and hand it on to oth- ers. This is a book for chiropractors to learn different techniques and also for beginners who learn chiropractic. It is important to me that many more naturopaths and chiropractors practice this safe and gentle method. It turns out that with proper use the results last longer than they do with “normal” chiropractic. For 96.9% of the time there are no side effects beyond occasional sore muscles, and even the daintiest of women can learn it. The “heave ho” techniques are out, and gentler techniques, that are effective, are what patients want today. The treatment can be described as effective for 94% of all patients. 3 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de Introduction: We are talking here about a very gentle form of chiropractic, combined with other techniques: » Trigger points » Stretching » Back training » Back exercises » Physiotherapy » Wedge technique » Massages » Lifting technique » Cupping » Deep tissue massage 4 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de History of Chiropractic: Chiro = the hand As early as 3000BCE the musculoskeletal system was being treated by use of the hands, and through pressure and stretching it was possible to bring relief. Among prominent doctors of antiquity, Hippocrates and Galen treated the spine. We differentiate today between 2 techniques that come from the 19th century: » 1) 1899: The Swiss doctor Otto Naegeli developed a method which cured headaches by manipulations with the hands and massage techniques. He wrote the book Ailments of the Nerves and Nerve Pain. Their Treatment and Cure through Use of the Hands. » 2) 1828-1917: Andrew Taylor Still founded osteopathy in America. According to an anecdote, Still suffered from very bad migraines from the age of 10, and had a crucial experience whereby he healed himself of his migraines. He lay down with his neck on a lasso strung between two trees – the assumption was that one of his vertebrae underwent an adjustment, and so he cured himself of his headaches. He went on to study medicine and observed many patients with ailments of the spine and the effect of these on human health. In 1892 he founded the American School of Osteopathy, in Kirksville, Mis- souri. His simple examination and treatment methods are the basis today for Manual Therapy. Universities were founded in America in order to teach Manual Therapy, so that today everyone in America who studies this tech- nique gets a medical degree. 5 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de » 3) David D. Palmer brought chiropractic into being in Davenport, Iowa – one could say that he was the naturopath of movement therapy in America. The first patient that he treated was a deaf janitor. He was able to put the man’s vertebrae into correct alignment, and the man regained his hearing. Palmer developed his own theoretical ideas about the function and treatment of the spine. He separated himself entirely from the osteopaths and physicians. In 1897, he opened the first chiropractic school, and later others as well. The gentle Chiropractic is usually a very strenuous method, and in the wrong hands it can lead to side effects or pain. However, it is suitable as well for less robust people, as it does not require great strength, but rather the right technique. There are no two patients who are identical to one another, and therefore there are no two identical therapies that help all patients. But there is a therapy continuum that one can use to orient one’s self and which one can use to work out the best way to improve the patient’s health. 6 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de Comparison of General Musculoskeletal Therapies Gentle Chiropractic Chiropractic is a simple and gentle method to bring the vertebrae back into alignment. Gentle chiropractic developed out of chiropractic, but is much safer and gentler. Everything depends on using the correct technique – physi- cal strength is secondary in using this technique. The most important thing is to position the patient in the best way, and to have a good stance one’s self. In addition, the patient receives exact instructions after the realignment how to move, he is given back exercises and movements to practice, and should not lift anything, bend over or carry anything for two hours after treatment. It is also important that the patient should not cross his legs after the treatment, or any other time, for that matter – as this can have a negative effect on the sacroiliac joint. Chiropractic has to do with moving the vertebrae with the hands, but there are different methods, which can be quite gentle or can use considerable force, to adjust the vertebrae. We should mention subluxation here – used improp- erly it can lead to paralysis or paresthesis. For that reason it is imperative to know what one is doing, and in the case of uncertainty to not practice chiropractic. We differentiate between the European chiropractic, which is a harder and more “heave ho” method and the gentle Canadian chiropractic, with its safer manipulations. It is an old wives’ tale, that chiropractic wears the joints out!!!!!!! 7 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de Dorn Method The Dorn Method is a branch of chiropractic and was developed by Dieter Dorn. He is a farmer and carpenter, who got to know the therapy through a farmer friend of his and then developed it further.Through pressure and movement, displacements of the spine and joints are brought into line again. As well, the patient is shown exercises that he can do himself to strengthen and stabilize the spine. In particular pelvic obliquity is treated. Osteopathy Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) Treatment through the skeleton (Osteen) » Structural osteopathy » Visceral osteopathy: inner organs, blood, vessels and nervous system » Craniosacral Therapy: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is brought into movement through gentle pressure Through osteopathy, the spine, inner organs and CSF are treated at the same time. Special manipulations are done that help to relieve symptoms. 8 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de Craniosacral Integration Technique according to Dr. De Jarnette Here CNS (Central Nerval System), skeleton, muscles, inner organs and the en- docrine system are brought into a harmonic rhythm with one another. This is only possible when there is CSF (Cranio Sacral Fluid) circulating in the sinuses of the brain. There is a connection between the cranium and the pelvis. Through breathing, the occiput moves in minimal, rhythmical movements, bringing the CSF into movement. Here we are speaking of the cranio-sacral pump. 9 © Copyright Christina Reuter • Chiropractor and Naturopath Otto Fischer Weg 2-1 • D-72766 Reutlingen, Germany • Phone +49 (0) 7 121 - 208 343 • [email protected] • www.christina-reuter.de Chiropractic Treatment from where, to where: In the gentle chiropractic, this is quite easy – you always treat from the bot- tom to the top.