NUCCA Biomechanics
PALMER NUCCA CLUB
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.
2.
3.
4.
Measure where it is
Visualize the path that the BODY has broken down
in
Deliver a force to a specific point of application to
overcome resistance
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
CSL
• 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
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.
Basic
Type 1
R3
Vector
52%
CG
Resistance
Characteristics of BT1
L5
Vertical axis
1.
C1 laterality on the same
side of angular rotation
2.
The skull is parallel or
toward vertical axis
3.
C1 above parallel
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
Right short leg
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.
R3(R5)
Resistance
Basic
Type II
25%
CG
Characteristics of BTII
Vector
1.
Ipsilateral acute angles
2.
C1 remains fairly horizontal
3.
Laterality produced mainly
by skull
R7
To Correct this Misalignment
Vertical axis
1. The vector will be below the c/a
Left short leg
Pelvis
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
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.
R4(R4)
Resistance
Basic
Type III
7%
CG
Characteristics of BTIII
Vector
1.
No angular rotation
2.
C1 remains horizontal
3.
Laterality produced by skull
tipping
0
To Correct this Misalignment
Vertical axis
1. The vector will be below the c/a
Pelvis
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
Again…Where to brace?
Basic
Type IV
R5(R2)
14%
Vector
CG
Resistance
Characteristics of BTIV
L4
Vertical axis
1.
C1 laterality on the same
side of angular rotation
2.
The skull is tilted away from
the vertical axis
3.
C1 above parallel
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
Right short leg
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)
Skull on
the
vertical
axis
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.
Level
atlas &
base of
support
Body center on
vertical axis
Level &
non-rotated
pelvis
Pelvis
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