1. NUCCA Biomechanics
Palmer Nucca Club
By: Taka & Pat

2. The Purpose of the Adjustment
The purpose of a Nucca adjustment is to restore the spine to its normal biomechanical balance and to bring all structures back to vertical axis.
It is the understanding on how to direct a calculated force from the atlas down through resistance and allow the spine to correct to zero.
To measure the subluxation and measure the effects of the adjustment.

3. Four Components Of Biomechanics
Measure where it is
Visualize the path that the BODY has broken down in
Deliver a force to a specific point of application to overcome resistance
Know what to do if it doesn’t correct

4. Key Words Vector Resistance Force Reduction Pathway
Point of Application
Closed Kinetic Chain
Correction

5. More Breakdown of Terminology
CSL
Vertical Axis- Gravity with relation to the body
APL- Atlas Plane Line
Angular Rotation- the direction in the frontal plane of the cervical spine
Central Skull Line-The bisecting line through the patient’s skull that is the midpoint of the skull
APL
Angular
Rotation

6. What do we learn from this model?
We learn two things: the precise vector or line of drive and the point of application.
The precision of the calculated vector is what cause the resistances to breakdown with little application of force.
The correct point of application will create a correct position.

7. To summarize…
If an adjusting force fails to overcome the resistances in a C1 sublux., it fails to be corrective.
The adjusting force must be directed exactly along a resultant that counteracts the resistances, doing this correctly greatly reduces the depth and force that is needed.
If the adjusting force is greater than the resistances than a greater misalignment can result, if to small then the misalignments are not sufficiently corrected.

8. How is this accomplished… A unique Model
The skull and lower cervical spine function as if on the rim of a circle.
This is important to understand what we are trying to accomplish when we make the adjustment.
We call this C/A – the point at which the skull and lower angle move at the different speeds, but the same distance.

9. Putting it all together
From a breakdown of the whole body
We calculate a vector
Than by applying a force at one point
At a specific point of application
Through a closed kinetic chain
Down the reduction pathway
To overcome resistance
And correct the misaligned spine

10. Patterns of mis-alignment
Through clinical experience Dr. Gregory found that people misalign in certain patterns. We call these the Basic Types.
There are Basic types and out of pattern types which are similar in there basic components but have structures moving in opposing and out of sequence patterns.

11. The Basic Types The basic types are: Basic type 1 Basic Type 2

12. But before we learn that….Headpiece placement
The position of the headpiece is critical in order to gain an optimal correction.
Remember the Point of application?
The headpiece helps facilitate the adjustment because it is fixed and stabilized during the adjustment, so that the adjustor’s corrective force can be controlled.

13. Headpiece Overview
The headpiece is divided into four areas: A, B, C, D

14. Headpiece Overview
We position the head according to the type of misalignment.
The more the skull is vertical the more support it needs during the adjustment so that it does not move.
A skull that is leaning away from the VA or towards the VA will be positioned differently in order to get the correction.

15. 52% Basic Type 1 Vector CG Resistance Characteristics of BT1
C1 laterality on the same side of angular rotation
The skull is parallel or toward vertical axis
C1 above parallel L5
To Correct this Misalignment
The vector will be above the c/a
Headpiece placement will be above the CG to overcome resistance on the right C1/C2 surface and close the left C0/C1 surface
Point of Application is R to L
Vertical axis
Pelvis
Right short leg

16. Other Factors: In the basic type 1 as with other types:
We need to visualize the skull and spine down to the pelvis as a three dimensional structure that responds and misaligns three dimensionally.
The short leg and weight bearing should be on the same side in a basic misalignment.
This forms a single reduction pathway.

17. 25% Basic Type II Resistance CG Characteristics of BTII Vector
R3(R5)
Resistance CG
Characteristics of BTII
Ipsilateral acute angles
C1 remains fairly horizontal
Laterality produced mainly by skull
Vector R7
To Correct this Misalignment
The vector will be below the c/a
Headpiece placement will be below the CG to allow the vector to overcome resistance on the right C0/C1 and the left C1/C2
Point of application L to R
Vertical axis
Left short leg
Pelvis

18. Again…Where do we brace?

19. Type 2 For a type 2 you could brace on C or you could brace on D.
Another thing to look at is the body position.
If there is a lot of rotation you can position the shoulders on the table differently to help reduce this factor of the misalignment.

20. 7% Basic Type III Resistance CG Characteristics of BTIII Vector
R4(R4)
Resistance CG
Characteristics of BTIII
No angular rotation
C1 remains horizontal
Laterality produced by skull tipping
Vector
To Correct this Misalignment
The vector will be below the c/a
Headpiece placement will be below the CG to allow the vector to overcome resistance on the right C0/C1
Point of application R to L
Vertical axis
Pelvis

21. Again…Where to brace?

22. 14% Basic Type IV Vector CG Resistance Characteristics of BTIV
R5(R2) CG
Resistance
Characteristics of BTIV
C1 laterality on the same side of angular rotation
The skull is tilted away from the vertical axis
C1 above parallel L4
To Correct this Misalignment
The vector will be above the c/a
Headpiece placement will be below the CG to overcome resistance on the left C0/C1 surface
Point of Application is R to L
Vertical axis
Pelvis
Right short leg

23. Again…Where to brace?

24. Type 4
In a type 4 we have to see what percentage of the misalignment is head tilt and what percentage is angular rotation.
If there is more head tilt then we have to place the mastoid support more below the skull’s center of gravity.
If we have more angular rotation then we have to brace the skull closer to the center of gravity to take out the angular rotation.

25. Practice Examples What is this type? How do we correct it?
Type 4 Head Piece on (C) or (D)

26. What is the type?
How do you correct it?
Type 3 Head Piece on (D) or (C)

27. What is it and how would you correct it?
Type 1 Head Piece on (B) or (A)

28. Finally, what would this one be and what is the solution?
Type 2 Head Piece on (D)

29. Final Outcome…To restore the BODY to anatomical zero and OPTOMIZE
Skull on the vertical axis
Final Outcome…To restore the BODY to anatomical zero and OPTOMIZE
a patients ability to HOLD a correction and Heal at the highest possible rate.
Level atlas & base of support
Body center on vertical axis
Level & non-rotated pelvis
Pelvis
Digital scales within 2% of body weight

30. Conclusion
“Better than 90 percent of the energy output of the brain is used in relating the physical body in its gravitational field. The more mechanically distorted a person is, the less energy for thinking, metabolism and energy.”
Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize Winner, Brain Research