Part 30

Movement

When it has been decided that the coccyx must be moved, the position and use of hand is the same as for the palpation. The finger hooks under the tip of the coccyx, draws upon it until a tight contact is secured and then jerks sharply backward upon it with a view to its abrupt fracture. No mitigation of the jerk in the hope of previously loosening or gradually replacing the bone is of value for osseous tissue must be broken before any movement may take place.

This movement is painful and the region of the newly fractured coccyx may remain sore for a period ranging from a few days to several weeks. It is wise to warn the patient of the facts before proceeding.

The fractured coccyx may be absorbed, or may be reankylosed in a proper position or in a new abnormal position, or may remain loose and movable.

ADJUSTMENT OF CURVATURES

We have previously discussed in detail the nature and discovery of curvatures. A few words should be said here about their correction.

If the sole object of the adjustment is to correct the curvature it is best to select for adjustment those vertebrae which are most subluxated in the direction of the curvature. According to the length of the curvature a series of from two to six, separated by some distance, are chosen. These are adjusted until they cease to be the most prominent ones in the curvature and then others, then most prominent, are chosen and adjusted until they in turn cease to be most prominent. In this way the curvature may eventually be straightened, or nearly so. It is doubtful if any curvature can be absolutely eradicated, although it may be straightened until unnoticeable except by the expert.

To overcome a curvature it may be necessary to break every rule which governs ordinary adjusting and to invent new ways of placing the hands or of delivering force. No two require exactly the same measures and he is most successful with curvatures who is most adaptable to changing conditions.

One rule may be safely laid down. Do not alternate from day to day, loosening at the same time many vertebrae, but choose the ones most in need of adjustment and follow your choice as long as it is indicated. The chief vertebra is nearly always the one at the angle or point of the curvature.

The sharp, angular curve of Potts’ Disease, involving two or three vertebrae, should warn against adjustment, usually, since in this disease the vertebrae are fragile and easily fractured. If a case has not progressed too far a cure may be effected, but great caution in taking such cases must be exercised. Every Chiropractor should be well informed on the diagnosis of Potts’ Disease, or spinal caries.

Many months are usually required for the straightening of a curvature--how many can scarcely be estimated in advance of the experiment with any case. Often the case which seems simplest requires the longer time, while a very pronounced curvature, as in some cases of rachitis, may yield in a few months.

PREFERABLE ADJUSTMENTS

The selection of the move with which to correct each subluxation depends upon the adjuster’s concept of the kind and direction of the subluxation and of the mechanics of the different corrective moves in his repertoire. The move used should be one in which the application of force is exactly along opposite lines to the lines of force which originally produced the subluxation.

Omitting involved explanations as to the elements of each displacement and the manner of change in bone, muscle, ligament, cartilage, etc., and presupposing a comprehension of the principles of each adjustment named, there follows here a list of possible subluxations of each vertebra in turn, from Atlas down, with a simple statement of the RIGHT MOVE for that subluxation.

In each instance there are other moves than the one listed which would move the vertebra and some which would partially correct it, but none which would quite so definitely tend to correct the displacement. Unfortunately it is not a fact that every movement of a vertebra is an adjustment. If this were true subluxations would not exist, because they could never have been produced. Too often the adjuster uses a move because it is easy, because its use has become habitual with him, rather than because it is indicated by the conditions of the case--then blames Chiropractic because his results are negative or bad.

The move which is suited to a certain kind of subluxation of one vertebra may be quite out of place with another, in a different part of the spine. Thus the Recoil is quite proper for a posterior Lumbar and is contraindicated with a posterior middle Dorsal.

If all vertebrae were shaped exactly alike, if all were equal in size, if subluxation were possible only in one direction, then one method of adjustment would be quite sufficient. Diversity of technic is demanded, but a discriminating diversity, with a good reason for every move used.

First Cervical

Subluxation. Adjustment.

Right--R. Break, or straight lateral. Right, posterior--R. P. Rotary lateral. Right, anterior--R. A. Morikubo. Right, superior--R. S. Break. Right, inferior--R. I. Break. Right, posterior, superior--R. P. S. Rotary lateral. Right, posterior, inferior--R. P. I. Rotary lateral. Right, anterior, superior--R. A. S. Morikubo. Right, anterior, inferior--R. A. I. Morikubo. Left--L. Break. Left, posterior--L. P. Rotary lateral. Left, anterior--L. A. Morikubo. Left, superior--L. S. Break. Left, inferior--L. I. Break. Left, posterior, superior--L. P. S. Rotary lateral. Left, posterior, inferior--L. P. I. Rotary lateral. Left, anterior, superior--L. A. S. Morikubo. Left, anterior, inferior--L. A. I. Morikubo. Anterior (entire Atlas)--A. Morikubo (both sides). Posterior (entire Atlas)--P. Rotary lateral (both sides).

NOTE.--All right subluxations adjusted from right side, all left from left side.

Second Cervical

Posterior--P. Posterior Cervical move. Posterior, right--P. R. Double contact on right side. Posterior, left--P. L. Double contact on left side. Posterior, right, inferior--P. R. L. Double contact on right. Posterior, right, superior--P. R. S. Double contact on right. Posterior, left, inferior--P. L. I. Double contact on left side. Posterior, left, superior--P. L. S. Double contact on left side. Right (lateral)--R. Break (Same if R. I. or R. S.) Right (rotary)--R. Rotary (Same if R. I. or R. S.) Left (lateral)--L. Break (Same if L. I. or L. S.) Left (rotary)--L. Rotary (Same if L. I. or L. S.) Superior--S. Posterior Cervical move. Inferior--I. Posterior Cervical move. Anterior (entire Vertebra)--A. Ventral transverse contact on most anterior side. Anterior, right (lateral)--A. R. Second metacarpal contact from right. Anterior, right (rotary)--A. R. Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on right. Anterior, left (lateral)--A. L. Second metacarpal contact from left. Anterior, left (rotary)--A. L. Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on left.

Third Cervical

Same as second.

Fourth Cervical

Same as second.

Fifth Cervical