The Goals of VOM
The goal of VOM is to treat the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). This is a functional defect of a joint which causes neurological signs, or pain, that might not show up on an X-ray. The effects of VSC can include mobility problems, muscle spasm, neurological defects and inflammation.
Diseases related to the spinal cord has traditionally been treated with a combination of surgery and medication. Through the use of VOM, we now have another treatment modality to treat the spinal cord, thus helping all the organs in the body. VOM is a non-invasive and non-surgical way to dramatically minimize the effects of spinal cord dysfunction. In most cases the improvement is so significant that we can diminish the use of medications, sometimes even stopping them altogether.
The spinal cord is an extremely sensitive and complex part of the nervous system. In essence, it is an extension of the brain. Subtle changes in pressure on the spinal cord itself can cause significant changes in the body. The spinal cord is completely enclosed in bone for protection. To allow for movement, and to allow nerve branches to leave the spinal cord, it is flexible and has openings.
As the spinal cord moves from the brain down to the tail it sends out nerve branches (called nerve roots) that go to various organs. These branches are part of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The ANS is an extremely complex system of nervous connections that runs the length of the spinal cord. Nerves that branch off from these connections innervate all the important organs in the body. The ANS performs it magic without your conscious input.
Here are a few examples of the many things the ANS does:
- Dilates your eyes when you are scared
- Increases your heart rate when you are scared
- Contracts your stomach to allow food to move into the intestines
- Stimulates your pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes into the small intestines as food moves past
- Dilates or constricts blood vessels to the internal organs. This becomes an important point when we treat diseases of internal organs like the kidneys.
When the vertebrae in the picture above are misaligned only slightly there can be significant disruption to the spinal cord and the nerve roots as they leave the spinal cord. Correcting this problem is the goal of VOM.
Activator (spinal accelerometer)
This devices fires a very fast and concise force to the subluxated vertebrae. It takes at most 4 milliseconds to administer this force. The fast speed of the accelerometer, combined with its small mass, allows us to administer a concise force only to the problem area. Since there is no pain involved, anesthesia is not needed.
This is the manual activator:
