2018 SOT Research Conference Abstracts

Blum CL. Cranial therapeutic applications to facilitate dentofacial growth and development in a 50-year-old adult female

A case report. Sacro Occipital Technique Research Conference Proceedings: Kauai, Hawaii. February 28 – March 2, 2018:32-41

Introduction: A 50-year-old female patient previously under chiropractic care due to multiple presenting symptoms (e.g., temporomandibular joint dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, mitochondrial disorders, and others) was being cotreated with sacro occipital technique cranial and TMJ techniques and a dentist practicing functional orthodontics (e.g. Alternative Lightwire Functional [ALF] and The Crane) for under-developed craniofacial growth and development.

Intervention/Methods: The patient began orthodonture/orthopedic dental care using an ALF maxillary appliance to create hard palate expansion and she started using the CRANE at night to facilitate forward advancing of her maxilla. A system of sacro occipital technique cranial related procedures focused on craniofacial expansion and tongue procedures were utilized to facilitate the reduction of her head and neck tension and improving her cranial suture flexibility to optimally affect the outcome of the orthodontic/orthopedic dental interventions.

Results: During the three years of dental/chiropractic co-treatment the patient’s cervicothoracic pain and discomfort went from a chronic (over a decade) 6-8 on a visual analogue scale (10 being most painful) to a steady 1-2, and 3-4 during a flare-up, which occur during increased physical and emotional stress approximately 3-4 times a year, lasting 3-5 days.

Conclusion: Greater study is needed to determine if these conservative chiropractic treatment procedures can be helpful to pediatric and adult patients receiving maxillary expansion and advancement.

Mersky JA. Conservative chiropractic care for a post-traumatically induced C6/7 intraforaminal disc herniation in a 43-year-old female

A case report. Sacro Occipital Technique Research Conference Proceedings: Kauai, Hawaii. February 28 – March 2, 2018:42-49.

Introduction: Cervical spine pain is the fourth leading cause of disability, with an annual prevalence rate exceeding 30%. Most episodes of acute neck pain will resolve with or without treatment, but nearly 50% of individuals will continue to experience some degree of pain or frequent occurrences. This case report presents a 43-year-old female musician suffering from a post-traumatic intraforaminal cervical disc herniation with radicular syndrome presenting for conservative chiropractic care due to disabling pain and inability to perform with her instrument.

Methods/Intervention: The patient was assessed with sacro occipital technique category and cranial system of analysis and was treated for pelvic torsion and sacroiliac joint hypermobility syndrome with some spinal related discopathy. Treatment also focused to her cervical spine and cranial related imbalance.

Results: Patient was seen initially 2-times a week for 3-4 weeks, and then 1-time a week for 6-weeks at which time she reported no upper extremity discomfort except when she over exerted herself, such as playing a particular stressful piece of music that would resolve quickly with rest.

Conclusion: Further study is warranted to determine what subsets of patients with intraforaminal disc herniations may benefit from this conservative chiropractic method of care and how this type of treatment may produce better outcomes.

Monk R. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and myogenous influences of the temporalis muscle

A case report. Sacro Occipital Technique Research Conference Proceedings: Kauai, Hawaii. February 28 – March 2, 2018:50-53.

Introduction: A disorder of the temporomandibular joint (TMD) is considered a “multifactorial disease process caused by muscle hyperfunction or parafunction, traumatic injuries, hormonal influences, and articular changes. A 32-year-old female presented for care, having experienced right-sided jaw pain (TMD) for several weeks, with the pain gradually increasing in intensity, without any sign of possible reduction in pain or disability.

Intervention/Methods: Palpation along the anterior ramus, especially the medial (lingual) surface, created audibilized pain and flinching. More isolated and specific palpation elicited extreme sensitivity in the tendinous attachments of both lower temporalis muscles along the ramus of the mandible. These muscles were treated with gentle pressure and compression of the affected tissues creating gradual de-sensitivity and pain relief.

Results: Following one treatment the patient reported significantly decreased pain and the ability to open her mouth with less discomfort. The patient was treated in this manner 3-times over a two-week period, then a single follow-up visit 4-weeks later with the patient reported 95% reduction in symptoms.

Conclusion: This low risk treatment for a TMD acute patient is worthy of further investigation to determine what subset of patients might respond to this type of conservative intervention.

Pick MG. Cranial optokinetic reflex and cervical dystonia

A case report. Sacro Occipital Technique Research Conference Proceedings: Kauai, Hawaii. February 28 – March 2, 2018:54-59.

Introduction: Cervical dystonia is a focal dystonia characterized by neck muscles contracting involuntarily causing abnormal movements and awkward posture of the head and neck. Complications of cervical dystonia need to be taken into consideration when weighting risks and calculating costs of the disease and its treatment. A 45-year-old female presented with acute cervical dystonic myotonic spasms and pain of two-day duration, unresponsive to acupuncture and physical therapeutic interventions.

Methods/Intervention: An optokinetic strip stimulus was applied with the patient having a favorable response to care reducing the acute dystonia by 75% and was given home exercises using her iPhone with instructions to direct the optokinetic Stimulus diagonally down and away from the side of cervical tension. She was instructed to apply the stimulation for approximately 10-12 cycles and then recheck her neck tension. This procedure was to be reapplied 4-5 times per day.

Results: The patient was treated with cranial optokinetic reflex procedure and had 75% improvement within 2-minutes. She was given the procedure to perform at home and within two-days her cervical dystonia had completely resolved and has not returned in the past 12-months, as determined at follow-up assessment.

Conclusion: It is hoped that future study will find specific subsets of cervical dystonia patients who present with spastic conditions caused by diminished or aberrant pathway connectivity that can be helped with optokinetic therapy.

Salem A. A 70 year-old female with a 20 year history of reduced cervical range of motion treated with conservative chiropractic care

A case report. Sacro Occipital Technique Research Conference Proceedings: Kauai, Hawaii. February 28 – March 2, 2018:60-66.

Introduction: The assessment of cervical ranges of motion in chiropractic office encounters are common. Reduced motion is often associated with increased patient discomfort as well as limited function (e.g., turning head when driving an automobile). A 70-year-old female presented for care at this office with a variety of ailments, the most obvious being pain and reduced cervical range of motion in all directions, unresponsive to care for the past 20 years.

Methods/Intervention: Initial assessment of the patient revealed marked restriction in her cervical ranges of motion, with forward head posture and hypolordosis. The patient was treated with sacro occipital technique and cranial/TMJ procedures and a novel procedure entitled, cervical wedge technique (CWT). CWT utilizes the principles of progressive inhibition of neuromuscular structures (PINS) technique utilized in osteopathy along with sacro occipital technique’s cervical stairstep and cranial mandibular motion technique assessment and treatment procedures.

Results: After instituting the CWT by 3-4 office visits within one month the patient reported no imbalance when standing or during gait, no cervical spine pain and with significantly improved ranges of motion. Over the ensuing months of maintenance care the patient noted that her condition is stable and not experience any relapse.

Conclusion: Greater research is needed to determine if this novel method of care (CWT) may offer the chiropractor a way to treat refractory reduced cervical spine ranges of motion as an alternative to the typical HVLA type manipulative intervention.