Definitions:

Meningeal (adjective) – referring to the covering of the brain and spinal cord, which protects and positions the spinal cord inside of the bony spinal column.

Adhesion (noun) – referring to two surfaces that stick together that should not under optimal physiological conditions.

Release (noun) – referring to action of getting rid of an adhesion through manipulative force.

Adjustment (noun) – the action that the body takes to correct itself with regard to proper spinal alignment during AND after a Meningeal Release.

Taking tension ‘out of the inside’ of the spine is probably the most important thing that a Chiropractor can do and yet is rarely done. Unfortunately, it is rarely taught and even more rarely practiced in regular Chiropractic practice. First a little bit of basic Chiropractic principle that is vital in understanding what I will write about on Meningeal Adhesions ahead.

When physical stresses (either sudden or long term) attack the structure of the body, and they are in great enough force that it cannot be absorbed efficiently by body, then effects take place. The main effect of this is something called a Subluxation. A subluxation is simply a bone of the spine that is out of its regular alignment enough to affect the nerves that travel between them. These nerves communicate to and from the brain (master control) to the entire body’s functions. So when the bones misalign enough, the nerves are affected in their communication, and over time, can develop much dysfunction in the body. These things include digestive problems, sinus irritation, and the more generally thought of ‘Body Pain’. Much of this dysfunction can arise slowly and hence get past our radar, until it’s suddenly a bigger problem that we must now see a specialist about. Unfortunately conventional “wisdom” guides individuals to see first a medical specialist, who will undoubtedly prescribe some form of medicine or surgery to mask the actual problem – a body not in proper communication with itself.

Now back to Meningeal Adhesions. To get, and HOLD, an adjustment, it must be complete. Traditional Chiropractic, without addressing the meningeal adhesion, is going to work for some, and not for others for this exact reason – Meningeal adhesions must be released.

Let’s take a look at what a Meningeal adhesion actually is. Dr. Breig, a neurosurgeon who studied neurological diseases in cadavers in the 50’s and 60’s, discovered the meningeal adhesion. What is interesting is that he also found them in his non-neurological diseased patients as well, the regular population. A Meningeal Adhesion is a stuck portion of the outside meningeal layer of the spinal cord, on the inside of the spinal column bone structure. It is caused over time, by inflammation and contact of the two surfaces. This creates tension on the inside of the spine, which then throws traditional Chiropractic adjustments out of place again, in a relatively much shorter time period, then if the tension was also taken out at the same time.

So this really is an article on one of the few essential pieces of the puzzle to HOLD a re-alignment procedure of the spine (see “Chiropractic Engineer for Hire” for another piece of the puzzle). Results are there to be obtained and the talk is true – ‘Help is possible’ – as told by traditional Chiropractors. It’s just not as certain when you leave out the VITAL pieces of the puzzle.