Body disorder phenomena
The symptoms of the Category I, II and III phenomena help the Chiropractor identify the basic types of injuries to the human body which affect the nervous system and result in health deterioration.
Symptoms
The Category I phenomenon occurs when the sacro-iliac joints become misaligned (subluxated) moving one hip forward and the other backward. The sacrum rotates and the sacral pump loses its rhythmic function, creating a distortion of the Dural Membrane around the brain and the spinal cord as a result of the Category I pelvic rotation.
Sin I slika 1
Sin I slika 2
Sin I slika 3
ASYMMETRIC SPINE
The Category I phenomenon results in the asymmetric spine; the pelvis rotates, the shoulder girdle reciprocates and the head tilts.
This distortion affects the free flow of the cerebro-spinal fluid (C.S.F.). The sacral pump becomes unstable and imbalanced and can no longer circulate the required amount of the C.S.F. around the brain and the spinal cord. This leads to a lack of nutrition, an increase in toxicity and a lowered level of the nerve function inside the body. As we know, the nervous system controls the functions of every tissue, organ and system in the body and therefore Category I symptoms may be varied and many and may include some of the following:
- Any visceral disturbance
- Skin disorders
- Numbness in facial structures and extremities
- Insomnia
- Lower back pain
- Headaches
- Nervousness
- Weight problems
MUSCLES
The muscle groups involved in the Category I phenomenon attach from the pelvis – particularly from the sacrum to the occiput. These muscles provide support for the sacral pump mechanism.
HEEL TENSION
When the sacral pump mechanism is out of balance, the body adapts by locking the normal motion of one heel. Your Chiropractor will use the heel tension as an indicator as to which sacro-iliac joint is involved.
OCCIPITAL FIBRES
Occipital fibers are small nodules located on the back of the skull (occiput) produced by muscle pull when the pelvis rotates. The most painful or major area is a reflex from a specific level of the spine indicating a vertebral subluxation. Your Chiropractor will proceed to neutralize the subluxation by rubbing the nodule on your head followed by a gentle adjustment to the involved vertebra.
Chiropractic care
CORRECTION OF CATEGORY I SUBLUXATION PHENOMENON
When correcting a Category I subluxation, your Chiropractor will use two blocks which he will place under your pelvis in a designated position and leave you in a prone position for about six minutes to allow your body weight and respiratory motions to reset the sacro-iliac joints and reinstate the sacral pump mechanism for C.S.F. circulation.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Your Chiropractor is the only person in the health field who is qualified to stabilize the spine and the pelvis and restore normal balance to the sacral pump mechanism. Follow the advice and instructions carefully in order to derive the most benefit from your Chiropractic Care.
Home care
- Set aside a special part of each day for complete mental and physical relaxation. This is important in the restoration as well as maintenance of normal health
- When sitting, you should choose a chair that has adequate firmness to hold your weight comfortably, and always sit straight. Avoid a chair which is too soft or over stuffed. Recliner chairs are acceptable if they are constructed so that you may recline with your back in a normal, straight position
- Cross your legs only at the ankles, not at the knees. Crossing your legs at the knees could aggravate an existing back condition as well as interfere with the circulation of the lower limbs.
- Get plenty of sleep to allow your body to recuperate and repair
- Sleep on a firm mattress, preferably one which is neither too hard, nor too soft, but just firm enough to hold your body level, while at the same time soft enough so that your shoulders, buttocks, etc., will sink into the mattress.
- Your pillow should be neither too high, nor too low. The ideal pillow is the one which supports your head so that your neck vertebrae will be level with the rest of your spine (shoulder width = pillow height). Avoid sleeping on two pillows. Never lie on a couch with your head on the arm rest.
- Sleep on your back or on your side with your legs flexed slightly, not drawn up tightly. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
- Rise from your bed by turning on your side, and then push yourself into a sitting position with your arms
- Do not read or watch TV in bed, particularly with your head propped at a sharp or strained angle
- Do not sleep sitting in a chair or in cramped quarters. Lie down in bed
Symptoms
Sin II slika 1
Sin II slika 2
Sin II slika 3
PELVIS
The pelvis consists of a triangular shaped bone called sacrum. The sacrum is wedged between iliac bones connected with the sacrum over the sacro-illiac joint.The pelvic bones are connected by strong strip-like ligaments. The pelvis is the basic foundation of the spine. It supports the body weight. The sacro-illiac weight-bearing joints are “safety vents” of the body.Irrespective of their strength, the ligaments are still prone to stretches and tears resulting from falls, strains, sports and professional injuries and everyday effects of gravity on the body.
MUSCLE GROUPS
The muscle groups involved in the Category II phenomenon are the muscles that connect the extremities with the spine and as such have a task to keep your body straight.
STRESS
The uncorrected Category I phenomenon forces the body to continue with adjustments, which results in pressure placed on the sacro-iliac joints and leads to the Category II phenomenon.
CATEGORY II SUBLUXATION
When ligaments in the pelvis stretch or tear, the sacro-iliac joint separates and the sacrum slips on one side; the spine becomes imbalanced, the vertebrae of the spine become misaligned and the nerve roots down the entire spinal cord can become irritated and compressed, effecting normal neurological function.The separation of the sacro-iliac weight bearing joint as shown in the Figure results in reciprocal distortion in the shoulder girdle and the neck, as well as disruption of balance of other weight bearing joints such as the knees, ankles and arches of the feet.Thus Category II symptoms may be varied and distant from the vicinity of the pelvis, and may include some of the following:
- Jaw problems
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Shoulder, arm and hand pain
- Ear pain, loss of balance, tinnitus
- Knee, ankle and feet problems
- Groin pain
- Thigh pain
- Hypoglycemia
- Low back pain
TEMPORO-MANDIBULAR JOINT (T.M.J.) DYSFUNCTION
The Temporo-Mandibular Joint (T.M.J.) or the Jaw Joint has a reciprocal relationship with the sacro-iliac joint and is therefore reliant on the stability of the sacro-iliac joint. When the Category II phenomenon results in sacro-iliac joint separation, the T.M.J. will change its position to compensate and can bring about changes that can affect the bite, balance, hearing and neck position.
Chiropractic care
The Category II patients demonstrate a sacro-illiac joint ligament disruption, and thus have biggest difficulties with mobility and posture alterations. The objective of this treatment is therefore to achieve equal weight bearing on both sacro-iliac joints as soon as possible, which requires three phases. The first phase includes a series of precise motions to prepare and relax the musculoskeletal system for the use of the so-called blocks to close the separated sacro-illiac joints. In the second phase the patient is put in a lying position onto the foregoing blocks. This does not take any longer than two minutes as in this position the ligaments relax and make the left and the right side of your pelvis equal. The third phase includes preparation of the musculoskeletal system for the newly-achieved pelvis position. The acute Category II patient requires 6-8 weeks for a full ligament repair.
Home care
During your recovery (6-8 weeks) it is important to avoid the following motions to prevent any further injuries:
- Make smaller and easier steps to avoid stresses in the system.
- Do not cross your legs while sitting
- When getting in and out of your car and bed, do not space your legs too much apart, but move slowly to gradually achieve the desired position.
- Walk on level ground, not uphill
- Do not walk longer than 30 minutes
- When rising from a sitting into a standing position, push yourself with your arms to lift the burden off the pelvis
- In addition to prescribed exercises, do not subject yourself to any severe physical burden
- Avoid carrying your bag; if you cannot, then carry your bag across your chest only
- Do not take tub baths, only showers
- If the treatment fails to repair your ligament, the Chiropractor may recommend a sacro-illiac belt
Symptoms
Sin III slika 1
Sin III slika 3
Sin III slika 2
MUSCLES
The muscle groups involved in the Category III phenomenon consist of the piriformis muscle, located above the ischiatic nerve, and the psoas muscle, connected with the diaphragm, all lumbar discs and the thigh bone (femur). The contraction of any of these muscles may affect the ischiatic nerve.
PELVIS AND LUMBAR SPINE
The pelvis consists of two iliac bones and the sacrum. The sacro-iliac joint, the junction between the iliac bones and the sacrum, is interconnected by ligaments. This is a weight bearing joint that provides support for the entire spine. The sacrum is a foundation of the lumbar spine.
INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS
The intervertebral discs are pads located between the vertebrae. They act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to have mobility. The discs also protect delicate spinal nerve roots that emerge from openings between the vertebrae. The disc consists of a tough outer covering annulus fibrosus and the inner jelly-like substance nucleus pulposus.
STRESS
When the body shows the signs of the Category II phenomenon, it can no longer adjust to any further stress, which results in the Category III phenomenon.
CATEGORY III SUBLUXATION
When the ligaments in the pelvis are torn or stretched, a separation of the weight bearing sacro-iliac joint takes place. This separation permits one hip to move forward, and the other hip to move backward, changing the leg length.When this pelvic rotation is set in motion, the sacrum tips to one side causing the basic foundation upon which the spine rests to become unbalanced.The Category III Subluxation occurs when the vertebrae in the lower lumbar spine are stressed beyond their ability to recover, usually upsetting a pre-existing weakness in the area.
This can be caused by:
- Physical trauma caused by lifting, turning or pulling
- A variety of accidents
- Poor nutrition, medicaments
- Emotional stress or mental stress – in this condition, it is enough to sneeze, cough or merely bend to set the Category III phenomenon in motion
In the events of the Category III phenomenon, the pressure placed on lumbar discs forces them to bulge out and put pressure on nerve roots producing any or several of the following symptoms:
- Pain down the back of the leg
- Burning sensation down the back of the leg
- Pins and needles in the leg
- Numbness in the leg or back
- Tightness in the leg
There are generally three types of postures involved in the Category III phenomenon:1. Leaning away from the side of leg pain – usually a subluxated vertebra and a slight disc protrusion.2. Leaning towards the side of leg pain.3. Leaning forward.
These last two postures can be affected by:a. Herniation of the disc, where the outer layer tears and some of the inner jelly-like substance seeps out into the spinal nerve root space.b. Rupture of the disc. The disc collapses and the inner substance spills around the nerve root, or fragments of the outer layer put pressure on the nerves.
Chiropractic care
The primary target of the Chiropractic Care is to stabilize the affected area, to remove acute pressure on the nervous system and allow the patient to start moving normally as soon as possible. This is achieved through precise and easy motions while the patient is lying down on the sacro-occipital blocks which provide instant pain relief and help the Chiropractor to restore balance to the patient’s musculoskeletal system (homeostasis). Lying down on the blocks may take as long as 45 minutes for a very acute Category III patient. It is not uncommon for the patient to fall asleep during the treatment due to their chronic fatigue.
Home care
In acute cases, every detail counts, as the pressure on the nerve roots may be very painful even when you make a smallest movement.
- In the morning, after careful rising from your bed, spend the first hour on your feet – without any bending, rotation and weight lifting, if possible.
- Take a shower immediately upon awakening. Brush your teeth in the shower to avoid bending over the wash basin.
- Get dressed from a sitting position, not while standing
- During the day spend as much time as possible making slow movements
- Avoid sitting longer than 10 minutes (respective of the level of acuteness)
- In acute cases, apply cryotherapy (ice cooling) to the lower lumbar area (in the middle of the spine at the shoulder level)
- Be extremely careful when sneezing and coughing. If you are standing, slowly squat down and lean your arms onto your own knees before you sneeze or cough. If you are lying sideways, before you sneeze or cough try to curl up into a fetal position or bend your knees if lying down on your back.
- If possible, go for a 30 minute walk twice a day. While walking, look 10 meters in front of you and swing your arms slowly. Walk on level ground only