First, I took a complete history and was a good listener. There is no reason for me to reinvent the wheel and recommend what has not worked in the past. Standard to all new patients in my clinic I order an essential fatty acid ratio lab test to measure inflammation. The AA : EPA ratio came back at 17.2. Ideal normal is 1.5.
Her Vitamin D was 37 ng/ml and my clinic baseline is 65 ng/ml. Supplementation was provided for correction and to maintain proper values for life.
On first visit I take x-rays that are not symptom-based but system based. Two x-rays of the cervical/upper body and two x-rays of the lower body/pelvis. Upon looking at her x-rays, there was structural asymmetry, but her degeneration was not to the point I would be concerned with her lifting weights.
I then began my strength and range of motion exam called
Fitness Integration Technique (F.I.T.)®. A toes to nose 3D Brain/Body Map™ evaluation (again not just symptomatic based). No matter the symptom, F.I.T.® involves examining and scoring "keystones" of the body. Once I am done with testing the keystones (of the brain, neck, shoulder, low back, pelvis, sacrum, and extremities) I will cross-reference (known as two pointing by my muscle testers) of how each area can be involved with the symptom. The connections are generally very obvious to the patient.
Gale's myotome tests of the shoulder displayed weakness and created pain. Many tests were unable to perform because her symptomatic arm was unable to be elevated from the side. She held her arm as if wearing a cast. I could do tricep, teres minor and C8. When I asked Gale to move her shoulder upon her own action, it created stabbing pain that would cause her to guard her whole body and cringe. I proceeded to progress through the
3D Brain/Body Map™ Evaluation (F.I.T®) which involves neurological, structural and soft tissue asymmetry of every major axis. The findings are then referenced to normal vs. abnormal score, x-rays and specific chiropractic findings.
X-ray revealed a slight anatomical short leg, severe scapula misalignment and more. When I temporarily corrected the anatomical short leg using a shim, Gale noticed approximately a 20% decrease in pain and an increase in range of motion. She was surprised how that could have any effect on her shoulder, but it did. When I placed a Serola sacro-iliac belt on Gale, she experienced a 90% increase in range of motion and a similar decrease in pain. Her expression was as if she saw a ghost; speechless, jaw dropped, aw struck, and eyes wide open perplexed. I took the belt off, and immediately, her symptoms returned to stabbing and her shoulder immobilized. Her grimacing pain expression returned. I repeated the difference in results that the sacro-iliac belt created a couple of times. Belt on and immediately belt off, to show Gale it is not a magic trick but an indicator that would help me correct her issue that has been overlooked for decades. Gale and I knew her pelvis was involved with her shoulder symptom. I explained how I was going to create a Brain/Body FIT™ program to help her shoulder by including the effect I had identified by her sacral-pelvic injury. Percussion on trigger points, Erchonia laser therapy to heal the chronic connective tissue injury of the pelvis and to help the inflammation out of her symptomatic shoulder faster. I created a specific clinical exercise program to help correct her long term chiropractic imbalances and prepare her for competitive lifting and of course ninja specific chiropractic adjustments for Gale's current needs.
On the day of her exam we signed up for a powerlifting meet she wanted to compete in which was in seven weeks. Two weeks later she was 100% pain free, trained properly with elite supervision and had a successful powerlifting meet (she won!) completely pain free.
Gale is nearly 72 years old now and has competed numerous times each year. She owns all of the Georgia state powerlifting records from age 55 - 75. Yes, she is so strong she has out lifted every 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 and 70-75 year old female in the history of Georgia at age 71. That is 20 state records currently, and she has broken each of them three times. She has won USA nationals and this year a world championship in Tokyo. Gale is published locally and nationally on accomplishments and is an inspiration to all who come in contact with her. She encourages everyone to "Realize Your Potential," and that starts with getting the proper exam and an integrated program of correction.
