Message from the PresidentDear NUCCA Members, Recently I had a new patient named Jayden. She is 5 months old. At about 2 months old, her parents noticed that something was wrong. She wasn't moving very much and it became difficult for her to swallow. She was suffering with dysphagia, central hypotonia, esotropia, development disabilities, and a history of aspiration. Conventional medicine could not place a specific diagnosis on her and she ended up on Prevacid. This had been going on for about 3 months when someone referred her to my office. She was being fed through a tube that stayed in her nose all the time. I have now seen Jayden 3 times over the last month and I have adjusted her twice. Her parents have about a 3 hour drive to get to my office. Her mother reported that she is more active than she has ever been since the first adjustment and she is beginning to swallow. They are introducing juices to Jayden slowly. She cries every time she sees me. She does not like to get on my headpiece. I know many of you have similar stories within your practice. I can't imagine the world without NUCCA and the doctors who decide to put forth the effort to learn the NUCCA procedure. This is the reason we must stay on course with our research agenda and bring this work to the entire world. The Practice Innovation Conference in Las Vegas last month was a great success. Participants were asking if we will do it again next year. I would like to thank all the NUCCA docs (presenters) that took time away from their families and their practices to assist other doctors and students in creating more success in their practices. The theme for the upcoming NUCCA conference in April is "The Upper Cervical Difference". As upper cervical doctors, we spend a lot of time explaining why we do what we do. But until you have experienced Body Balance or a NUCCA Spinal Correction, it's hard to understand "The Upper Cervical Difference". I wish all of you the best and I'll see you in Las Vegas! All the best,
What Do Patients Ask?How long will it take for me to feel better? If I get adjusted more frequently, will it speed up my recovery? What care should I take of my adjustment?
Why is it that after an adjustment I notice other positive changes in my body that are different than the original concern? Contributed by Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, Jr. 
Research UpdateA 1.7 million, 4-year proposal titled, Biomechanics of Spinal and Neural Elements due to Cervical Adjustment Techniques, was submitted on the 4th of February to the National Institutes of Health under the heading: R01 Biology of Manual Therapies. This proposal, using state-of-the-art biomechanical 3-D protocols, will help in understanding the biomechanics of various cervical manipulation techniques. Consequently, patient treatment will become more individualized resulting in better long-term health outcomes and lower costs. The proposed research study focuses on validation of 6 full-spine finite element models which can eventually be used to determine biomechanical effects of various manipulation techniques, thereby potentially allowing the chiropractor to choose what works best for a patient with a particular problem. The study will help determine to what extent the "subluxation" is biomechanical. The proposed 3-D chiropractic adjustment measurement protocol will record spinal postural changes, adjusting forces and vertebra motion, and will help to answer many critical questions such as how spinal posture changes during patient placement, how the misalignment changes during the adjustment, and how the lateral curve is affected by manipulation. Three techniques will be used for validation: NUCCA (manual), Orthospinology (instrument), and Gonstead (manual). The principal investigator is Vijay K. Goel (Professor of Bioengineering, U. of Toledo) who is internationally renowned for spinal discs and finite element modeling. Other researchers and participants include Ram Gudavalli (Associate Professor, Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research), J. Palmer (Professor of Physics, U. of Toledo), D. White (Professor and Associate Chair Mathematics, U. of Toledo), and 7 doctors of chiropractic : K. Denton & T. Palmer (NUCCA), K. Eriksen & R. Rochester (Orthospinology), M. Pickens & J. Schliesser (Gonstead), and S. Tocco (DMX system). A post-doctorate researcher plus several graduate students also would be supported by the proposal. Major author of the proposal is Xia Liu, PhD who is a post-doctorate researcher supported by UCRF. Secondary authors are J. Palmer and V. Goel. 
NUCCA Spring Conference 2010NUCCA's 2010 spring conference entitled: The Upper Cervical Difference promises to be the most transformational NUCCA event yet. We'll feature a Job Fair, First Contact experience for new participants, Research presentation, terrific exhibitors, and a fantastic banquet with a complimentary VIP cocktail reception for our Gregory Circle members. Our guest speaker is Dr. Christopher Kent, D.C., F.C.C.I., J.D., co-founder of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance. His passion for facilitating human empowerment led him to the chiropractic profession where he has served as a practitioner, educator, author, lecturer, and researcher. You don't want to miss his presentation. The luxurious Green Valley Ranch is our destination with its plush sleeping rooms, on-site Five Star spa and fitness center, numerous restaurants, and gaming experiences. Our special conference package includes complimentary airport shuttles and in-room Internet in addition to the convenient amenities that are already a standard part of this experience. This is definitely an exciting desert oasis! Our special conference sleeping room rate is only $110/night. You can register through the special weblink on the NUCCA website at www.nucca.org/conferences.php or call 866/782-9497. Offer expires March 22, 2010. Be sure to register early and take advantage of the discount. Remember please, GREGORY CIRCLE AND MEMBERSHIP PACKAGE PURCHASERS NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE EVEN THOUGH THE FEE IS INCLUDED IN YOUR DUES. THAT GOES FOR INSTRUCTORS TOO. Visit our website at www.nucca.org/conferences.php, scroll down to the bottom and download the registration form. You can submit it through the site, or by fax or phone: 800/541-5799. 
Practice Innovation 2010Many, many thanks to Dr. Russell Friedman and the doctors who took time and expense from their personal lives to offer their wisdom and expertise during the Practice Innovation seminar held last month at Green Valley Resort in Las Vegas. This short weekend venue provided seasoned upper cervical practitioners as well as students and new doctors with Ôinside' information on practice management, technique, and attitude from some of the most successful healthcare providers in the field. The response was resoundingly positive as the following anonymous comments illustrate: "About time! What a breath of fresh air to be exposed to dynamic new innovative thoughtÉ.. This was the best. Do it again!" "As a recent graduate on the cusp of opening my doors to take care of patients, this seminar has been paradigm shattering. I have at least 3-4x the confidence I had before coming. To hear those NUCCA docs who have put themselves in a comfortable financial state so they can truly focus on the patient and getting a correctionÉ without this seminar I would not be as far as I am in terms of mindset & motivation. I cannot wait to come to the next Practice Innovation, what a great way NUCCA has chosen to address technique in the semi-annual conferences, and practice management in Practice Innovations. I have at least 10 very practical solutions I can implement to revolutionize my practice." "This was a phenomenal weekend for me. It helped with my head space. I also enjoyed the condensed format. Only 2 days, and hardly any breaks. It was very productive. The presenters talked about things that usually only are talked about in the hallways and in the Irish Pub." 
Patient Spotlight"I literally got my life back!" says Richard Farmes, a 54 year old NUCCA patient living in the Chesapeake Virginia area. He explains that he had been in so much pain for so long, he was seriously considering spinal surgery when he heard Dr. David Packer on the radio discussing the fact that if you're living in pain, you're not really living. Richard felt immediately that NUCCA was his last hope for relief without surgery and promptly scheduled an appointment. Like many people, Richard had suffered a head injury as a teenager, but never gave it much thought. Later, in the Navy, he hurt himself lifting a heavy weight and from that incident forward, slowly began a downward spiral into unrelenting pain for 35 years. In addition to the pain, he also suffered from sinus infections, mild hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, and prostate problems, all of which eventually vanished after he began NUCCA care. "After the first treatment, I felt like my neck was on fire and I had pelvic pain for about a half hour. But then, it stopped and I had no pain at all for the first time in 35 years!" The pain returned after a while and Richard was diligent about maintaining his program with Dr. Packer which began at first with corrections two times weekly and gradually reduced to once every three months or longer intervals. It's now been four years since Richard initiated NUCCA care. As a result, he was able to get back to his weight lifting program, lost 50 pounds, and he's active, happy, and pain-free. "NUCCA" he says, " is a remarkable technique. We just have to continue getting the word out so more people can be pain-free!" |
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