The following is a reprint from the A.U.C.C.O. Journal VECTOR Fall 1999 Volume 2 number 4

Chiropractic in the Twenty First Century
By Roy W. Sweat, D.C.

"The chiropractic profession will develop doctors of chiropractic that do specialized chiropractic services."

We will not have just chiropractors that specialize in orthopedic or x-ray programs but there will be specialists in chiropractic treatment.

We will have chiropractors that are board certified and/or diplomates in the different areas of the spine.

The chiropractic profession will have a referral base within its own field. The board certified or diplomate specialist will correct their areas of expertise and then return the patient back to the referring chiropractor.

The patients of the chiropractic specialists will have dramatic improvement of 50 percent or more in four weeks or that specialist will order MRI's, CT Scans, or other examinations and consultations with other doctors.

Florida and some other states have laws that chiropractors cannot say they are specialists. These laws must be changed.

No one in the medical, dental, osteopathic or any other profession has ever stated that chiropractors cannot specialize.

There are a few self appointed chiropractors within our own profession that have passed these
laws that chiropractors cannot specialize.

Chiropractic is over 100 years old and we have many doctors that have done extensive studies in certain areas of the spine. Imagine the medical profession having laws saying their doctors cannot specialize.

The occipital-atlanto-axial Complex (the head and top two spinal vertebrae) is comprised of diarthroidial (freely moveable) synovial joints, which have no intervertebral disc. The remaining vertebrae from the axis down to the sacrum are united by intcrvertebral discs and are classified as symphyses. J.V. Basmajian, M.D., states in Muscles and Movements, 'The vertebral column, the great stabilizer of the trunk, also embodies mobility. However, the mobility is limited by the various ligaments, articular facets, spinous processes, intervertebral discs and other indirect factors. Although the total range of movement of the spine is wide, movement between adjacent vertebrae is quite limited, except for the first two cervical vertebrae (the atlas and axis)."

The atlas has articulations above with the occipital condyles and below with the axis superior facets. There are no interosseous locks in the atlas articulations and there is more range of motion in this area than any other part of the spine. In the atlas area we have the brain stem, the vertebral arteries, and the C1-C2 dorsal nerve roots.

One of the major purposes of the spine is to support the weight of the head; and when the weight of the head becomes off center or leaves vertical, the lower areas begin to shift and compensate to maintain the center of gravity for the entire body. The center of the head and shoulders are always maintained over the center of the feet. When we adjust and correct the atlas we change the orientation of the head and cervical spine. The lower areas shift back to a neutral or normal vertical position. Many leg length inequalities can be corrected by adjusting the atlas.

In the future, all adjusting procedures will be based on and conform to the architectural
structure and anatomy of the joints involved. In the Atlas Orthogonal Adjusting Program we use low forces in the adjustment and "Light is Right".

White and Panjabi state in Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine, "the C1-C2 articulation is the most complex and difficult to analyze." Adjusting the atlas and upper cervical area is not a simple procedure. It is as delicate as the most complicated brain surgery and it requires an
endless process of study and discipline.

Adjusting the atlas is the most rewarding thing in the world. The greatest pleasure is to see people recover their health and enjoy life. The next best thing to creating life is to be able to help improve and extend life.

In my opinion, the second most important area of the spine is L-5 with its articulations, above with L-4 and below with S-l. Ninety percent of the disc problems in the lower back are at L-4 disc or L-5 disc. The second greatest range of motion is the spine is in this area of L5. I think any joint in the body can be traumatized, injured, or develop lesions.

When I opened my office in 1950 the chiropractic slogan was, "Everything has not been included unless chiropractic has been included." Let the slogan for the twenty-first
century be "Chiropractic First, Side Effecting Drugs Second, and Irreversible Surgery Last"!!!

Chiropractors cannot let insurance companies determine the fate of chiropractic. Chiropractors cannot let insurance companies determine the fees of chiropractic services.

Chiropractors must educate public that health is the most important issue in the world to them
and they should use conservative, non-invasive chiropractic first.

I recommend to the Doctors of Chiropractic that they specialize in the occipital-atlanto-axial Complex (OCP-C1-C2).

Dr. Roy Sweat is the founder of the Atlas Orthogonal technique and is in private practice in Atlanta, GA.