Insight Discovery Subluxation Station

1. Will the Insight tests hurt?

Absolutely not. The tests do not utilize any needles, electrical shock, or heat whatsoever. They are receiving important information from your Central Nervous System.

2. Why does Dr. Swolensky administer these tests?

The purpose for administering these tests is to detect and pinpoint abnormal function in the spine which cannot be seen on X-ray. Abnormal spinal function causes abnormal Nervous System disturbance. The 4-5 standard tests will measure:

1) Surface Electromyograpy (sEMG) - the amount of electrical current in the muscles.

Normal sEMG

 

Initial sEMG

 Follow-Up sEMG

White bars indicate normal areas of function.

Green bars indicate mild areas of abnormal function.

Blue bars indicate moderate areas of abnormal function.

Red bars indicate severe areas of abnormal function.

Your muscles are controlled by nerves. The SEMG measures how well the motor nerves are working by reading the amount of current found in the muscles. Subluxations, which are misalignments, disturb the function of the nerve causing an abnormal amount of electrical current flowing to your muscles. Abnormal tests are shown by colors other than white and asymmetrical bars widths.

2) Thermography - skin temperature along the spine.

 

Initial Thermal Scan

Follow-Up Thermal Scan

 

If your body temperature is 98.6 degrees, then the left and right sides of your spine should also be the same temperature. Your skin is the largest organ of the body and the blood vessels under the skin work as the body's thermostat. (They expand to release heat and contract to retain heat controlling the body's temperature.) When the communication between the Nervous System and the blood vessels is disturbed, it causes the body's thermostat to malfunction producing an imbalanced temperature reading along the spine. These blood vessels are controlled by the same part of the Central Nervous System that runs your organs and glands, known as the autonomic system. This thermal scan provides us with information to monitor the autonomic system for proper function.

3) Range of Motion - the flexibility of the spine.

The flexibility of your spine is an indication of spinal decay and actual aging. Increased spinal decay, also known as arthritis, is a common component of aging. We are also able to further identify areas of altered spinal biomechanics.

4) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - measures cardiac function and response.

Heart Rate Variability helps determine your overall ability to adapt to the environment. It measures the timing of your pulse and balance and tone of your nervous system. Proper balance and tone are associated with better adaptability and a healthier lifestyle. Low heart rate variability is associated with aging and poor heart health. Research has shown that our the type of care we provide in the office has a beneficial effect on heart rate variability.

The small blue dot that appears below the green box is the actual measurement in this case. That dot should be within the green box on the black line.

Outside the green box indicates shows a decreased variability. Yellow is mild, Orange is moderate and Red is severe. To the left of the black line indicates increased sympathetic tone and to the right indicates increased parasympathetic tone.

The combination of these tests leads us to the NSFI.

3. Why is it important to monitor the results? Dr. Swolensky wants the best results for patients like yourself. He can monitor your changes through periodic progress exams. It has been proven that a very slight amount of pressure (the weight of a dime!)* can disturb the communication of the Nervous System whether or not symptoms are present. How can Dr. Swolensky measure the results after removing pressure? The advanced technology of the Insight is vitally necessary to monitor how the nervous system is working. It is key to improving your health and well-being.

4. How will this test benefit me? For years, a major concern of the public has been, "Why do I have to keep coming back when I’m pain free?" or "How do I know if I’m getting the proper amount of adjustments?" Now you are able to actually see the changes, and it will be easier to understand the amount and type of care you are receiving. Because of this technology, Dr. Swolensky can provide a "tailor-made" program to meet your specific health needs. 

*Sharpless, SK: Susceptibility of Spinal Roots to Compression Block. NINCDS Monograph 15, DHEW publication (NIH) 76-998, 1975, pages 155-161.