PALMER NUCCA CLUB

NUCCA Biomechanics

By: Taka & Pat

The Purpose of the Adjustment

• The purpose of a Nucca adjustment is to restore the spine to its normal biomechanical balance and to bring all structures back to vertical axis.

• It is the understanding on how to direct a calculated force from the atlas down through resistance and allow the spine to correct to zero.

• To measure the subluxation and measure the effects of the adjustment.

Four Components Of Biomechanics

1. Measure where it is2. Visualize the path that the BODY has

broken down in3. Deliver a force to a specific point of

application to overcome resistance4. Know what to do if it doesn’t correct

Key Words

• Vector• Resistance• Force• Reduction Pathway• Point of Application• Closed Kinetic Chain• Correction

More Breakdown of Terminology

• Vertical Axis- Gravity with relation to the body

• APL- Atlas Plane Line• Angular Rotation- the

direction in the frontal plane of the cervical spine

• Central Skull Line-The bisecting line through the patient’s skull that is the midpoint of the skull

CSL

APL

Angular Rotation

What do we learn from this model?

• We learn two things: the precise vector or line of drive and the point of application.

• The precision of the calculated vector is what cause the resistances to breakdown with little application of force.

• The correct point of application will create a correct position.

To summarize…

• If an adjusting force fails to overcome the resistances in a C1 sublux., it fails to be corrective.

• The adjusting force must be directed exactly along a resultant that counteracts the resistances, doing this correctly greatly reduces the depth and force that is needed.

• If the adjusting force is greater than the resistances than a greater misalignment can result, if to small then the misalignments are not sufficiently corrected.

How is this accomplished… A unique Model

• The skull and lower cervical spine function as if on the rim of a circle.

• This is important to understand what we are trying to accomplish when we make the adjustment.

• We call this C/A – the point at which the skull and lower angle move at the different speeds, but the same distance.

Putting it all together

• From a breakdown of the whole body• We calculate a vector • Than by applying a force at one point • At a specific point of application • Through a closed kinetic chain• Down the reduction pathway• To overcome resistance• And correct the misaligned spine

Patterns of mis-alignment

• Through clinical experience Dr. Gregory found that people misalign in certain patterns. We call these the Basic Types.

• There are Basic types and out of pattern types which are similar in there basic components but have structures moving in opposing and out of sequence patterns.

The Basic Types

• The basic types are:

• Basic type 1

• Basic Type 2

• Basic Type 3

• Basic Type 4

But before we learn that….Headpiece placement

• The position of the headpiece is critical in order to gain an optimal correction.

• Remember the Point of application?

• The headpiece helps facilitate the adjustment because it is fixed and stabilized during the adjustment, so that the adjustor’s corrective force can be controlled.

Headpiece Overview

• The headpiece is divided into four areas: A, B, C, D

Headpiece Overview

• We position the head according to the type of misalignment.

• The more the skull is vertical the more support it needs during the adjustment so that it does not move.

• A skull that is leaning away from the VA or towards the VA will be positioned differently in order to get the correction.

Pelvis

Basic Type 1

Characteristics of BT1

1. C1 laterality on the same side of angular rotation

2. The skull is parallel or toward vertical axis

3. C1 above parallel

Vertical axis

Resistance

To Correct this Misalignment

1. The vector will be above the c/a

2. Headpiece placement will be above the CG to overcome resistance on the right C1/C2 surface and close the left C0/C1 surface

3. Point of Application is R to L

CG

Vector

Right short leg

R3

L5

52%

Other Factors:

• In the basic type 1 as with other types:

• We need to visualize the skull and spine down to the pelvis as a three dimensional structure that responds and misaligns three dimensionally.

• The short leg and weight bearing should be on the same side in a basic misalignment.

• This forms a single reduction pathway.

Pelvis

Basic Type II

Characteristics of BTII

1. Ipsilateral acute angles

2. C1 remains fairly horizontal

3. Laterality produced mainly by skull

Vertical axis

Resistance

To Correct this Misalignment

1. The vector will be below the c/a

2. Headpiece placement will be below the CG to allow the vector to overcome resistance on the right C0/C1 and the left C1/C2

3. Point of application L to R

CG

Vector

Left short leg

R3(R5)

R7

25%

Again…Where do we brace?

Type 2

• For a type 2 you could brace on C or you could brace on D.

• Another thing to look at is the body position.• If there is a lot of rotation you can position

the shoulders on the table differently to help reduce this factor of the misalignment.

Pelvis

Basic Type III

Characteristics of BTIII

1. No angular rotation

2. C1 remains horizontal

3. Laterality produced by skull tipping

Vertical axis

Resistance

To Correct this Misalignment

1. The vector will be below the c/a

2. Headpiece placement will be below the CG to allow the vector to overcome resistance on the right C0/C1

3. Point of application R to L

CG

Vector

0

R4(R4) 7%

Again…Where to brace?

Pelvis

Basic Type IV

Characteristics of BTIV

1. C1 laterality on the same side of angular rotation

2. The skull is tilted away from the vertical axis

3. C1 above parallel

Vertical axis

Resistance

To Correct this Misalignment

1. The vector will be above the c/a

2. Headpiece placement will be below the CG to overcome resistance on the left C0/C1 surface

3. Point of Application is R to L

CG

Vector

Right short leg

R5(R2)

L4

14%

Again…Where to brace?

Type 4

• In a type 4 we have to see what percentage of the misalignment is head tilt and what percentage is angular rotation.

• If there is more head tilt then we have to place the mastoid support more below the skull’s center of gravity.

• If we have more angular rotation then we have to brace the skull closer to the center of gravity to take out the angular rotation.

Practice Examples

• What is this type?

• How do we correct it?

Type 4 Head Piece on (C) or (D)

• What is the type?

• How do you correct it?

Type 3 Head Piece on (D) or (C)

• What is it and how would you correct it?

Type 1 Head Piece on (B) or (A)

• Finally, what would this one be and what is the solution?

Type 2 Head Piece on (D)

Final Outcome…To restore the BODY to anatomical zero and OPTOMIZE

a patients ability to HOLD a correction and Heal at the highest possible rate.

Pelvis

Level & non-rotated pelvis

Body center on vertical axis

Level atlas & base of support

Skull on the vertical axis

Digital scales within 2% of body weight

Conclusion

• “Better than 90 percent of the energy output of the brain is used in relating the physical body in its gravitational field. The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy for thinking, metabolism and energy.”

• Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize Winner, Brain Research