The timeline for seeing improvements with Functional Neurology treatments varies from patient to patient, depending on the condition being treated, the severity of the dysfunction, and the individual’s response to therapy. In some cases, patients may begin to notice improvements within a few weeks, particularly if the therapies are targeting more acute or mild neurological dysfunctions.

For more chronic or severe conditions, it may take several months of consistent therapy to achieve noticeable changes. Since the brain’s plasticity is central to the process, improvements often come gradually as the brain rewires itself in response to the therapeutic interventions. Regular assessments are conducted throughout the process to measure progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.

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The B.R.A.I.N.S. program is designed for a wide range of athletes, from beginners to professionals. Young athletes can use it to develop foundational skills that set them up for success in their chosen sport, while high school and collegiate athletes can sharpen their skills to gain a competitive edge. Professional athletes looking to maintain or enhance their performance levels, especially those recovering from injuries, can greatly benefit from the program's focus on cognitive and physical rehabilitation. Even recreational athletes or those who participate in sports for personal fitness and enjoyment can find value in the program, as it helps them improve coordination, reaction times, and endurance, making physical activities more enjoyable and rewarding. The individualized nature of the program means that it can be tailored to the specific needs and goals of each athlete, regardless of age or skill level.

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The B.R.A.I.N.S. program enhances athletic performance by focusing on the connection between the brain and the body. It operates on the principle that the brain's ability to process and react to information directly influences an athlete’s physical capabilities. For instance, training to improve reaction time allows athletes to respond more quickly to stimuli, such as a tennis player reacting to a fast serve or a soccer player intercepting a pass. The program also strengthens balance and spatial awareness, critical for maintaining control and coordination in dynamic situations, like staying balanced while dribbling or maneuvering around opponents. By focusing on cognitive skills like imagination and mental endurance, the program helps athletes visualize plays and maintain focus even in high-pressure situations. This holistic approach means that athletes don't just rely on their physical attributes but also leverage their brain's ability to anticipate, adapt, and execute precise movements.

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During a NeurOptimal session, you’ll likely feel relaxed and calm. You’ll be seated comfortably, and sensors will be attached to your scalp and ears. You’ll listen to music through headphones, and the feedback occurs through brief interruptions in the sound whenever the system detects turbulence in your brain’s electrical activity.

Most people find the experience to be peaceful, and some even feel meditative or deeply relaxed. There’s no discomfort or effort required on your part—you simply listen to the music and let your brain do the work.

After a session, you may notice subtle changes in your mood, focus, or stress levels. Some people report feeling more relaxed, while others feel more mentally clear or energized. Over time, with consistent sessions, you may begin to notice more significant shifts in how your brain processes emotions, stress, or cognitive tasks. The effects are often cumulative, meaning that the more sessions you complete, the more profound and lasting the benefits can be.

Lifestyle-based therapy is an approach to healthcare that focuses on improving overall well-being through changes in daily habits and routines. It involves addressing factors such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and social connections to prevent or treat chronic conditions. Instead of relying solely on medications, it empowers individuals to take an active role in their health by making sustainable changes that improve both physical and mental health.

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Lifestyle-based therapy can benefit nearly everyone, but the specific recommendations may vary based on age, health status, and personal goals. For example:

• People with chronic illnesses may need carefully monitored exercise plans.
• Older adults might focus on balance and strength to prevent falls.
• Those with demanding schedules can incorporate time-efficient strategies like short workouts or meal prepping. By working with a qualified healthcare provider, individuals can adapt lifestyle-based therapy to their unique circumstances and achieve meaningful results.

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Absolutely. Lifestyle-based therapy addresses mental health by targeting factors like sleep, stress, and physical activity, which directly influence emotional well-being. For example:

• Regular exercise releases endorphins, which act as natural mood boosters.
• Mindfulness and meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• A healthy diet supports brain health, with certain nutrients like omega-3s playing a role in mood regulation. These changes, when combined, create a holistic approach to mental health improvement.

The B.R.A.I.N.S. Sports Performance Program is a comprehensive approach to enhancing athletic performance, focusing on six key areas: Balance, Reaction Time, Accuracy, Imagination, eNdurance, and Spatial Awareness. Developed by Brain Health D.C., this program is rooted in the understanding that high-level athletic abilities are not just a result of physical prowess but also the brain's ability to control, coordinate, and optimize these movements. The program aims to maximize athletes' potential by training their brain's adaptability and function, resulting in a more coordinated, aware, and agile athlete. Through a combination of neuroplasticity training, cognitive exercises, and physical drills, the program helps athletes sharpen their mental and physical edge, allowing them to reach new levels of performance.

Yes, Functional Neurology can be very effective for children with developmental disorders. Children with conditions such as autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and learning disabilities often have areas of the brain that are underdeveloped or not functioning at full capacity. Functional Neurology uses neuroplasticity-based approaches to stimulate and strengthen these areas, helping to improve behavioral, cognitive, and motor functions.

For example, children with ADHD may benefit from exercises that enhance focus, attention, and impulse control, while children with autism might undergo therapies to improve social communication and sensory processing. Because Functional Neurology offers a non-invasive approach and can be tailored to a child’s specific needs, it is a popular choice for parents seeking alternative or complementary treatments to traditional therapy or medication.

Treatment plans in Functional Neurology are highly individualized and tailored to the specific needs and neurological findings of the patient. After a comprehensive assessment, the Functional Neurologist will design a personalized therapy program that addresses the exact areas of the brain or nervous system that are not functioning optimally.

Each treatment plan may involve a combination of therapies, such as:

• Sensory stimulation therapies: Targeting specific sensory systems to enhance brain function.
• Eye movement exercises: To retrain the brain's control over eye movements and improve coordination.
• Cognitive and motor exercises: Designed to improve mental processing and physical abilities.
• Balance and vestibular rehabilitation: To improve stability and reduce dizziness. The frequency and intensity of therapies are adjusted over time based on the patient’s progress, making the plan dynamic and continually evolving.

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A typical NeurOptimal session lasts about 33 minutes. During the session, you’ll be seated comfortably, and sensors will be attached to your scalp and ears to monitor your brain activity. You’ll listen to music through headphones, and the neurofeedback will occur through brief interruptions in the music when the system detects brainwave shifts. The session is completely non-invasive, and you can relax, close your eyes, or even meditate during the process.

Functional Neurology relies on a variety of diagnostic tools and techniques to assess the function of the brain and nervous system. Some of the most commonly used tools include:

• Neurological exams: These include detailed assessments of reflexes, eye movements, balance, coordination, and sensory responses.
• Balance and postural assessments: Tools like computerized dynamic posturography can measure how well a person maintains balance and responds to shifts in posture.
• Vestibular testing: For patients with dizziness or balance issues, tests of the inner ear and vestibular system help identify dysfunctions.
• Video oculography (VOG): This technology tracks eye movements, which can reveal issues with the brain’s control over eye muscles and help diagnose concussions, dizziness, or other neurological problems.
• Heart rate variability (HRV): HRV tests can assess how well the autonomic nervous system is functioning, particularly in terms of stress response.
• Cognitive testing: Computerized or manual assessments are used to measure cognitive functions like memory, attention, and problem-solving. These tools allow Functional Neurologists to pinpoint areas of dysfunction and create tailored therapeutic plans based on individual neurological profiles.

Yes, Functional Neurology can be particularly effective for chronic conditions like migraines and dizziness. Migraines are often linked to imbalances in how the brain processes sensory information, and Functional Neurology therapies aim to restore proper function to these systems. This might involve retraining how the brain processes visual, auditory, or vestibular (balance) inputs.

For dizziness and vertigo, Functional Neurology focuses on the vestibular system, which controls balance and spatial orientation. Treatments might include vestibular rehabilitation exercises, balance retraining, and sensory integration therapies. These approaches help the brain adapt to or compensate for vestibular dysfunction, reducing symptoms of dizziness and improving balance over time.

By targeting the underlying neurological mechanisms of these chronic conditions, Functional Neurology can offer long-term relief, often without the need for medication.

Functional Neurology takes a highly individualized approach to neurological rehabilitation, focusing on retraining the nervous system to improve or restore function. The goal is not only to manage symptoms but to address the underlying neurological dysfunction. The approach starts with a detailed evaluation of how different parts of the brain and nervous system are functioning, including sensory input, motor output, balance, and cognitive abilities.

Once the functional deficiencies are identified, a treatment plan is developed to stimulate specific areas of the brain and nervous system through exercises and therapies tailored to the individual’s needs. Techniques used may include eye movement exercises, balance and coordination training, sensory stimulation, and cognitive drills. The idea is to engage the brain's plasticity, allowing it to "rewire" and recover function. This rehabilitative process is dynamic and continually adjusted based on the patient’s progress.

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NeurOptimal is not marketed as a treatment for specific medical conditions, but many people have reported benefits for a wide range of issues related to brain function. Some common conditions where NeurOptimal may provide support include:

• Stress and anxiety: By promoting self-regulation, NeurOptimal helps the brain manage stress more effectively, reducing feelings of anxiety.
• Sleep disturbances: Many users report improvements in sleep quality, including falling asleep faster and experiencing more restful sleep.
• Cognitive performance: NeurOptimal can help enhance focus, concentration, and mental clarity, which may benefit people dealing with ADHD or brain fog.
• Emotional regulation: Those struggling with mood swings, irritability, or depression may experience greater emotional stability.

Trauma recovery: Some users have reported relief from symptoms of PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. While NeurOptimal is not a cure for any specific condition, it can promote general brain wellness, leading to improvements in various areas of life.

Your microbiome plays a crucial role in nearly every aspect of your health. It's made up of trillions of microorganisms, primarily in your gut, that help with digestion, nutrient absorption, and maintaining a healthy immune system. A balanced microbiome supports proper digestion, helps fight off harmful bacteria, and even influences your mood and brain function through the gut-brain connection. When your microbiome is in balance, your body is better equipped to manage inflammation, regulate hormones, and maintain overall wellness. At Brain Health D.C., we recognize how important this balance is and work to support your microbiome through tailored nutrition and lifestyle approaches, helping you feel your best from the inside out.

Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the gut microbiome, which is the community of bacteria and microorganisms living in your digestive system. A healthy gut has a balance of beneficial bacteria that support digestion, immune function, and overall well-being. However, when this balance is disrupted—whether by poor diet, stress, medications, or environmental factors—it can lead to dysbiosis. This imbalance may cause symptoms like bloating, gas, digestive discomfort, and even impact your immune system and mood. Restoring gut balance is essential for promoting optimal health, and that’s something we focus on here through personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies.

Yes, NeurOptimal is a form of neurofeedback, but it differs significantly from traditional neurofeedback approaches. Traditional neurofeedback is typically condition-specific and requires a trained practitioner to analyze brainwave data, set protocols, and adjust training to target specific brainwave frequencies associated with particular conditions (e.g., anxiety or ADHD).

NeurOptimal, on the other hand, is a dynamic, non-linear system that doesn’t require the practitioner to set specific goals or target certain frequencies. It offers feedback directly to the brain in real-time, allowing the brain to adjust its activity on its own. This “brain training” is designed to improve overall flexibility and efficiency, without focusing on specific diagnoses or problems. Essentially, NeurOptimal allows the brain to correct itself organically, based on its inherent capacity for self-regulation.

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Toxins from our environment, such as chemicals, heavy metals, and pollutants, can disrupt your cellular function, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and even chronic disease. Functional Medicine identifies and addresses these toxic exposures through personalized detoxification programs and nutritional support. By improving your body’s ability to eliminate toxins and protect against environmental stressors, we enhance your cellular health, allowing your body to function more efficiently and regain balance.

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Functional Biochemical & Cellular Health focuses on optimizing the function of your cells and biochemical processes, which are the foundation of your overall health. When your cells are healthy and functioning properly, everything from energy production to detoxification and immune response is optimized. Imbalances in cellular health can lead to fatigue, chronic illness, and a weakened immune system. By addressing these imbalances at the cellular level, we can support your body’s natural ability to heal and thrive, ensuring long-lasting health and vitality.

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Yes, Functional biochemical & cellular health is particularly helpful in situations where traditional medicine hasn’t provided answers. Many chronic conditions or unexplained symptoms arise from imbalances in the body’s systems, which may not be detected through standard tests. By using a detailed assessment of your health history, lab work, and an understanding of your body’s interconnected systems, we can identify the underlying imbalances and create a personalized plan to restore your health and well-being.

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Functional biochemical & cellular health is a patient-centered approach that looks at the body as a whole, interconnected system. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, Functional biochemical & cellular health digs deeper to find the root causes of illness by examining lifestyle, genetics, and environmental factors. We focus on restoring balance in the body through personalized therapies, addressing everything from hormonal imbalances to chronic inflammation. It’s about creating a roadmap to lasting health and vitality.

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Your brain is the control center for everything you do, including how quickly you react, how you balance, and how efficiently you move. By improving your brain’s ability to process and respond to information, you become faster, more coordinated, and more precise in your movements. The B.R.A.I.N.S. program is designed to target these specific brain functions, giving you an edge over your competition and helping you reach peak performance.

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The B.R.A.I.N.S. program stands for Balance, Reaction time, Accuracy, Imagination, eNdurance, and Spatial awareness/Speed. It’s a unique, brain-focused approach to optimizing athletic performance. By enhancing the way your brain processes information, we can improve physical coordination, reaction time, and overall performance in your sport. Whether you’re an elite athlete or just starting out, the B.R.A.I.N.S. program helps you unlock your full potential by fine-tuning your brain-body connection.

Stress and poor sleep can wreak havoc on your body, leading to hormone imbalances, inflammation, and a weakened immune system. Even if you’re eating a healthy diet, these factors can hold you back from feeling your best. Addressing stress and improving sleep are crucial for healing and overall well-being. Through Lifestyle-Based Therapy, we’ll work on techniques that help your nervous system relax, promote restorative sleep, and balance your body’s response to stress so you can truly thrive.

Lifestyle-Based Therapy is about looking at the bigger picture of your health. It focuses on areas like sleep, stress management, physical activity, and even your mental-emotional well-being. These elements all contribute to your overall health and can either support or hinder your healing process. Together, we’ll identify areas where small, sustainable changes can create significant improvements in your energy, mood, and long-term wellness. It’s about creating a lifestyle that supports your body’s natural healing abilities.

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Absolutely! Many chronic conditions like gut issues, inflammation, or autoimmune diseases are deeply influenced by what we eat. Functional Nutrition takes a comprehensive approach to understand how your diet, environment, and lifestyle affect your health. By addressing nutrient deficiencies, supporting detoxification, and reducing inflammation, we can significantly improve your symptoms and overall well-being. It’s about getting to the root cause and giving your body what it needs to heal.

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Functional Nutrition goes beyond calorie counting or following a generic diet. It’s a personalized approach that looks at your unique biochemical makeup, health history, and current symptoms to address the root cause of imbalances. Together, we work to restore proper function in your body using targeted nutrition, rather than simply treating symptoms. Functional Nutrition empowers you to use food as medicine, helping you heal from within.

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Functional Neurology can be applied to a wide range of neurological and neurobehavioral conditions. Some of the common conditions treated include:

• Concussion and post-concussion syndrome: Functional Neurology is often used to help individuals recover from the lingering effects of a concussion.
• Chronic migraines and headaches: By addressing neurological imbalances, Functional Neurology can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.
• Dizziness and vertigo: Functional Neurology helps patients with vestibular disorders that affect balance and coordination.
• Movement disorders: Conditions like Parkinson's disease, tremors, and dystonia can benefit from functional neurological approaches to improve motor function.
• Developmental disorders in children: Autism, ADHD, and other developmental delays are often addressed through neuroplasticity-enhancing therapies.
• Chronic pain and neuropathies: By rebalancing the nervous system, Functional Neurology can alleviate chronic pain syndromes.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Therapies aim to restore cognitive and physical function after brain injury.
• Learning disabilities: Functional Neurology can help with conditions like dyslexia and processing disorders by improving brain function. This approach is also used for balance issues, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline, including early stages of dementia.

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Functional Neurology treatments are typically non-invasive and focus on stimulating the brain and nervous system through natural means, without relying on medications or surgery. Therapies include sensory stimulation, physical exercises, eye movement training, and cognitive drills, all of which are aimed at improving neurological function through natural processes.

While Functional Neurologists may work alongside other healthcare providers who prescribe medications, their treatments do not typically involve pharmaceuticals. Instead, they focus on using the body’s own ability to heal and adapt, making it an appealing option for patients looking to avoid invasive treatments or medications with side effects.

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Functional Neurology is a specialized approach to treating neurological disorders by focusing on how the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system function as a whole. Unlike traditional neurology, which often focuses on diagnosing and managing neurological diseases with medications or surgery, Functional Neurology emphasizes the dynamic functioning of the nervous system. It aims to improve or restore function through non-invasive therapies that leverage the brain's plasticity, or ability to adapt and reorganize.

In traditional neurology, the primary focus is on structural abnormalities, such as tumors, strokes, or nerve damage, and the goal is to manage symptoms, often with pharmaceuticals or surgery. Functional Neurology, on the other hand, looks at how various systems of the body are working together and addresses imbalances that may not be evident on MRI or CT scans but still contribute to dysfunction. The emphasis is on restoring optimal neurological function through individualized, often non-invasive, therapeutic techniques.

NeurOptimal is a type of advanced neurofeedback system designed to optimize brain function by using real-time data on brain activity. It works by monitoring your brain’s electrical activity through sensors placed on your scalp. When the system detects any patterns of instability or turbulence in your brain’s electrical signals, it provides feedback in the form of auditory cues, typically through music or sound. These interruptions gently signal the brain to self-correct, leading to a more balanced and regulated state.

Unlike many treatments that target specific symptoms or conditions, NeurOptimal focuses on training the brain to be more flexible and resilient, which can enhance overall well-being. By doing this, the brain can better manage stress, improve cognitive function, and address emotional imbalances, essentially allowing it to reorganize itself and function more efficiently.

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Neurosensory integration (NSI) therapy utilizes a touchscreen, fully customizable program that integrates the three primary senses of tactile information, vestibular (inner ear) function, and proprioception (muscle and joint information). Through a combination of eye movements, balance, and sensory input this program corrects and improves sensory processing disorders from a wide variety of conditions. The patient may complete these therapies standing, seated, or standing on a foam pad. 

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Neurological rehabilitation is a therapeutic approach focused on helping the brain and nervous system recover from injury or dysfunction. It is rooted in the science of neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections throughout life. When the brain is damaged by conditions like stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological disorders, neuroplasticity allows it to adapt and compensate for lost functions. Neurological rehabilitation leverages this capacity by using targeted exercises and therapies that retrain the brain to regain movement, coordination, cognitive function, and sensory processing. Through personalized treatment plans, patients can improve their quality of life and restore neurological function over time.

RPSS or repetitive peripheral sensory stimulation is an electrical therapy used to activate the lower brain stem, the part of your brain responsible for control of your automatic functions like breathing and digestion. This part of your brain is also responsible for the calming responses in your body. RPSS is typically applied to the tongue to activate cranial nerves IX and X (hypoglossal and vagal) and also to the branches of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) that sends sensory information to the entirety of your brain stem. You will feel light pulsations on your tongue and face that feel a little bit like a tickle, or applied to skeletal muscle it will feel similar to a TENS unit. This therapy applies sensory information to the brain stem to better regulate the motor output of the higher function region of the brain, the cortex. 

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Neurofeedback a.k.a. neurobiofeedback uses small electrical conductors applied to the ears and scalp to collect and reorganize real-time brain activity (called electroencephalography) when combined with specific sounds played through headphones to improve self-regulation of brain pulsations. Higher frequency brain pulsations (i.e. brain waves) are reduced to lower frequency brain waves through a computerized program to aid in sleep, deep meditation, and calming responses in the body. You do not feel anything while the electrodes are attached. The session is typically run for 30 minutes and involves reclining in a cool, dark room for that length of time. Bonus: if you feel drowsy and want to take a nap, go for it! The system does not require consciousness to be effective.

An ionic foot cleanse is a non-invasive, medical-grade technology used to remove toxins from your body. Toxins are endocrine and vascular disruptors that can affect the function of your organs and hormones. The feet are submerged in warm water and ions are pulsed through the water. The uses for this therapy are threefold: 1) to cause a relaxation response in the body from the outflow of ions; 2) the separated OH- and H+ ions act similarly to magnets in the water and attract the heavy metals and toxins in your bloodstream, removing them through the soles of your feet; 3) salt and other particle detoxification. Do not be alarmed if the water changes color during your session – the color change is due to the salts added to the water before usage and the corrosion of the metals as they are removed from your body. 

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BTracks Balance Testing provides objective, measurable assessments and retraining of the sensory and voluntary motor control of balance. With visual biofeedback on either a stable or unstable support surface, it is used to assess patient’s performing tasks ranging from essential daily living activities to high-level athletic skills. This balance test assesses the three major systems that feed into the motor cortex of the brain to maintain an upright posture: your visual system, your vestibular system (inner ear), and the information from your muscles and joints that feed into the coordination center of your brain, the cerebellum. Scores are compared to other applicants in the same age, sex, and activity level groups – so a 10-year-old boy is not compared to a 35-year-old male athlete. 

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RightEye testing tells our practitioners about the functionality of different part of the brain through motor system of eye movements. To be clear, this test does not assess ocular function (i.e. the function of the optic nerve or the occipital/visual lobe) but rather the control of eye movements governed by different regions of the brain. The test takes just a few minutes to perform, but offers vital information on brain function that will be used to tailor therapies specifically to your individual case.

An adjustment is a technique where a chiropractor or doctor of osteopathy applies a quick, corrective thrust to a joint that is out of its proper position. When a joint is misaligned, this interrupts blood, lymphatic, and neurological flow within the body. Adjustments are not specific for just the spine; they can be applied to the joints in your extremities (hands, feet, shoulders, etc.) and to the joints in your skull called sutures. The goal of an adjustment is to improve motion and physical function as well as reducing any pain around the joint. If you’ve ever turned your head or rolled your shoulders and heard a “pop”, that was an adjustment! However, please keep in mind that as one joint becomes misaligned the neighboring joint can become hypermobile – or move too much to compensate for the lack of movement in the other joint. When you self-adjust and hear the “pop”, you are likely moving the hypermobile joint and not the joint that is actually out of place. The adjustment (sometimes referred to as a manipulation) specifically corrects the misaligned joint. Additionally, do not be alarmed by the popping noise that sometimes occurs when a joint is repositioned. Sometimes the pop will happen, and sometimes it won’t. If the noise does not occur, that does not mean the joint wasn’t repositioned. The sound is caused by nitrogen being released from the joint – nothing more. The popping sound is called a “cavitation” and its presence or absence is dependent on the level of nitrogen in your system at the time of the adjustment and is not an indicator of whether or not the joint moved. 

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The junctions of the skull (called sutures) are made of dense fibrous tissue that when the joint spaces are improperly aligned can lead to headaches, migraines, and sinus congestion. Adjusting these sutures – either by the hands of a chiropractor or using a chiropractic adjusting instrument called an activator – will re-align the bones in the skull and relieve these symptoms. Cranial adjusting is also effective in ensuring that molding (appropriate skull development after birth) occurs for proper brain growth. The posterior fontanelle (or “soft spot”) closes around 2 months and the anterior fontanelle closes around 18 months. While these “soft spots” are necessary to ensure the baby’s head can fit through the birth canal, it is equally important to make sure they form properly with their developmental milestones. 

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Dry cupping is a therapy that dates back to Ancient China and Egypt. A glass, silicone, or earthenware dome is attached to the skin via suction to lift the skin away from soft tissue. This helps with pain reduction, blood and lymphatic flow, and inflammation reduction. Cupping can also be used as a form of deep tissue massage.