Are you sick of recurring problems? Have you wondered why you often feel tighter on one side of your body or noticed yourself more likely sway or fall to one side? Does one arm swing more when you walk or one leg roll out more when you lie down? Perhaps your head is full of endless thoughts about the past or future or you struggle to find words for what you want to say or do maths? Maybe you easily get anxious, depressed or emotional? Have you looked at the muscle tone in your face – is one eyelid ‘bigger’ than the other, one eyebrow higher, are you pupils a different size or is one side of your mouth lower than the other? Perhaps you are experiencing recurrent dizziness problems or vertigo which aren’t responding to conventional care?

These are some of the many signs that might indicate your nervous system is more active on one side than the other, which has consequences on health. Many people have these kinds of problems, suggesting underlying problems with the nervous system, which are often overlooked as being irrelelvant, though rarely they can be caused by conditions more suitable for medical intervention.  One of our doctors of chiropractic Louis Westerbeek has extensive post-graduate training in detecting and helping to try and remedy these kind of problems. He’ll of course recommend a referral to your GP, specialist or for a suitable scan if he thinks there’s a possibility your condition is better treated elsewhere.

Here’s what some of Louis’ patients have said:

 

What is Chiropractic Functional Neurology?

In a nutshell it works a bit like how an electrician works to find out what’s wrong with the electrical circuits in your house.

Chiropractic Functional Neurology utilises the understanding of how the nervous system works to improve the function of the nervous system and the affect this has on health.

It is an extension of the conventional chiropractic approach that has developed from the huge amount of research on the nervous system over the last 30 years.

Cells in the nervous system (neurones) require an optimal amount of stimulation, food and oxygen to function well. This is the use it, loose it but don’t abuse it principle. Nerve cells that are chronically underused loose their connections to the other nerve cells around them, become fragile, atrophy and can start to die off.

When neurones stop working properly, various systems in the body may start to malfunction. By determining which groups of neurones in the nervous system are not functioning well a chiropractor trained in functional neurology can perform treatments and prescribe self-help exercises and nutritional support to assist recovery.

Conventional neurology tends to search for the pathological lesions – areas of malfunction that may require medicines or surgery. Chiropractic functional neurologists utilise similar assessments to find physiological lesions – areas of malfunction that can be improved by chiropractic treatments, lifestyle advice and self-help exercises. The knowledge of the nervous system differs in its application, treatments and therapies.

The nervous system influences everything from movement and posture, to sensation, balance, co-ordination, pain, blood pressure, organ function, sight, hearing, smell, taste and immune function. The nervous system also affects the minds ability to think, pay attention, be aware, remember, problem solve, make decisions, plan, talk, read, write, learn, communicate, express emotions well and to orientate ourselves spatially.

Treatment may include conventional chiropractic treatments to enhance the proprioceptive feedback into the nervous system; movement based exercises, balance exercises, eye exercises, other sensory stimulation, mental exercise prescription, modifications to everyday living and nutritional approaches.

As chiropractors we often treat back and neck pain. A chiropractic functional neurologist focuses on the nervous system because physical symptoms often result from a poorly functioning nervous system. Research shows that ‘healthier’ nerve cells have more connections to other nerve cells and improve your body’s inner environment as well as improving your response to the external environment.

Like weak muscles, under-active nerves can become fitter with exercise. By stimulating the relevant area of your nervous system correctly it is possible increase connections between nerve cells (plasticity), leaving it healthier and more functional. If part of the nervous system is over-active we then treatments are provided to help decrease stimulation. If the nerves are stimulated without having the proper fuel little will happen – it’s like going to the gym on an empty stomach.

The beauty of the nervous system is that it can keep adapting to situations and reshaping itself.

For more about Chiropractic Functional Neurology watch a video here