THE UPLINK
Merging Contemporary Chiropractic Neurology and Nutritional Biochemistry in the Tradition of Applied Kinesiology
Issue No. 18
Issue No. 18
YOU KNOW IT'S THERE
BUT YOU CAN'T FIND IT!
You know the scenario: the patient's complaint, and/or history,
and/or postural findings, and/or T.S. line indicators all suggest a certain
type of muscle imbalance, yet you are at a loss to find it. In this issue of THE UPLINK we discuss a very common TMJ-related pattern which
results in the body hiding many problems from our muscle testing and Neuro
Metabolic Assessment procedures.
WHEN VERTICAL DIMENSION WEAKENS
For some time, forward-looking dentists and other practitioners
have been aware of the importance of
loss of vertical dimension in the TMJs as a source of many health
problems including recurrent muscle inhibition patterns. However, in many
patients, deceased vertical dimension causes a muscle facilitation pattern
which hides our expected findings, or any findings for that matter. In these patients, increasing TMJ vertical
dimension by placing tongue depressors bilaterally between the molars will uncover
these hidden problems, temporarily causing expected muscle weaknesses to be
apparent.
When increasing vertical dimension brings out the hidden
weakness(es), there will be a positive
challenge (inhibiting any indicator muscle) to both TMJs in the
direction of increasing vertical dimension.
Challenge both TMJs by contacting the posterior lower teeth and pulling
the mandible directly inferiorly (not
anteriorly and inferiorly.) This TMJ
challenge can be done unilaterally or bilaterally, but both sides are always
involved. Find a phase of respiration
(more often inspiration) which negates this weakness and treat in the direction
of challenge weakness during the strengthening phase of respiration. Do this 5 or 6 times and rechallenge to
ascertain correction. This will allow
the expected patterns to show their presence regardless of jaw position.
As you may expect, the need for this procedure shows up in
patients who have a history of TMJ problems, missing teeth, or dentures. It is
also found in patients with no evidence of TMJ dysfunction, but who tend to
clench their teeth often as part of a stress reaction, whether or not they are
aware of doing so.
Clenching the jaw is a common part of the flight or flee
reaction. When the vertical dimension is decreased for whatever reason, it
appears that part of the related sensory feedback produces a pattern close
enough to the fight or flee reaction that there is a general facilitation
throughout the body; but not enough of a facilitation to cause the All Muscles
Strong pattern discussed in Issue #17 of THE
UPLINK. In fact, this vertical
dimension problem allows for normal autogenic inhibition (muscle spindle cell
techniqiue to weaken) throughout the body. However, there is enough
facilitation to override inhibited muscles and produce strong responses where
weakness is expected.
If this decreased vertical dimension problem is recurrent,
referral to a dentist is likely in order.
SUMMARY OF PROCEDURE
1) Expected muscle inhibition
patterns are not found, yet autogenic inhibition works normally.
2) Placing tongue depressors
bilaterally between the molars causes these expected muscles to test weak.
3) Bilateral challenging the posterior molars directly inferiorly produces indicator muscle weakness. This inhibition is negated by inspiration or expiration.
4) Correct in the direction of
challenge weakness with the strengthening phase of respiration.
5) Expected muscle inhibition
patterns are now present regardless of vertical dimension.
EXCESS NUTRIENTS CAUSE BACK PAIN
One of the negative effects of the increased nutritional
awareness of our society is the over consumption of nutritional supplements. We
encounter this far too often. We have seen two nutrients in particular whose
excesses create low back pain which is chronic and non-responsive to
treatment. On the next page we discuss
vitamin E excess. In Issue #19 we will discuss low back pain from too much
calcium.
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VITAMIN E EXCESS: Most people who supplement with vitamin E take at least 400
IU per day, usually of the alpha-tocopherol form. This is 13.33 times the DV (Daily Value)
which is enough to cause toxic reactions in some people, especially considering
the fat soluble nature of vitamin E.
It is not uncommon to find recurrent, non-responsive low back pain (or other pain) as a result of excess vitamin E intake. This appears to be due to the inhibitory effects of the excess vitamin E intake on the vitamin E related low back muscles (psoas, gluteals, adductors, hamstrings, abdominals). Three patterns stand out as clinical indications of this excess:
1) Recurrent weakness of any of these muscles,
2) Multiple weaknesses of these muscles, or
3) Correction of one of these muscles leads to inhibition of another in
the group.
Simply perform an oral
challenge with a vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) source of 400 IU or greater and
observe for weakening of these vitamin E related muscles and/or the small
intestine related quadriceps. Usually,
very low doses of mixed tocopherols will not induce the inhibitory pattern, and
in some patients, low dose mixed E will actually cause a facilitating effect.
Treatment should include IRT to all positive reflex areas with oral stimulation
of the high dose E.
Why does this happen so commonly? It may be simply due to the excess intake of a fat soluble substance which is enough to create toxic effects. Or it may be due to the fact that we all need a mixture of naturally occurring tocopherols. (There are eight which exist in nature.) All the tocopherols compete with each other for absorption and an excess of alpha-tocopherol, for example, has been shown to inhibit the availability of gamma-tocopherol, which is the major quencher of the free radical peroxynitrate. In these cases, excess alpha- tocopherol can lead to increased inflammation and pain from the buildup of peroxynitrate free radicals.
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SKI WITH WALLY IN 2001: Mark your calendars.
1)
2)
€
STOP YOUR PAIN NOW! is the name
of a new 48 page book and 80 minute audio tape designed for doctors and their
patients. This self-help product is being introduced by Innovative Healthcare
Group, LLC., a company we have started primarily for sharing this and several
other self-care products with doctors and patients. We will complete this pain relief system with
a follow-up book entitled Relieving
Pain in Arthritis, Muscles & Joints. This second book discusses
nutritional options for systemic pain patterns and it will be introduced in the
near future.
The Stop Your Pain Now!
book presents slightly watered-down versions of Nociceptor Stimulation-Blocking
technique (called Immediate Pain Relief technique), Set Point technique (called
Touch and Tap technique), and Location, Quality and Memory technique. These are all techniques I have successfully
used when advising patients on pain problems over the phone. Since the
techniques are so easily self-performed by patients, and the results are so
consistent, we decided to make them available to the public on a large scale.
This issue, we are offering special introductory prices on the Stop Your Pain Now! book and
tape. We think that many doctors, after
reviewing this book and tape, will want to make them available for their
patients. So we are offering
introductory maximum discounts for any quantity of
the Stop Your Pain Now! book
& tape package.
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NEW 100 HOUR AK SYLLABUS IN NC! Dr. Schmitt has designed a new, basic
100 hour course in applied kinesiology which will be sponsored by the North
Carolina Chiropractic Association (NCCA.)
The syllabus has been submitted to the
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MASTER CLASSES IN CHAPEL HILL: Advanced
courses for doctors are being taught by Dr. Schmitt in the training room of The
Center for Innovative Care, his
Dr.
Call contact
person to confirm details of seminars.
Schedule subject to change.
Dates Locations Titles Contact
2000:
Nov 4
Dec 1-2
2001:
Feb Austria Ski seminar
Dr. Joe Mulvihill
March 8-10 Steamboat Springs, CO
"Ski With Wally"#7
Dr. Schmitt
June to Dec NC Special100
Hr Basic AK Course 2-8 NC Chiropractic Association
For Information Contact:
Dr. Walter Schmitt,
Nutritional Seminar Promotions (760) 431-4253
Dr. Joe Mulvihill,