SOT is a gentle, holistic chiropractic technique that focuses on the whole body. Not only does it improve the overall communication between the brain and the rest of the body, it enhances the fine balance between stability and flexibility.
The Two Ends?
SOT recognises the importance of the relationship between your sacrum, the base of your spine, and your occiput, the base of your skull.
Imagine holding the two ends of a towel lengthwise and then twisting them, over time the entire towel will be twisted, even though you’re not directly touching the middle of the towel.
Simply put, this is how your spine works. If there’s tension at either end of your spine, over time this can start to impact other areas as well.
The Sacrum
The sacrum is the keystone bone of the pelvis, and the pelvis is the foundation of your spine.
Your pelvis supports the weight of everything above it and transmits the weight to your legs.
This plays a pivotal role in your overall health, just as when you build a house you need a strong foundation, it’s the same for your body.
The Occiput
The occiput is the base of your skull; the group of bones that protect your brain. When you have tension in this area of your spine, it can not only reduce your flexibility but can also impact your cranial and spinal nerves.
So each SOT chiropractic adjustment is assessing your spine as a whole, recognising that your body doesn’t function as individual pieces.
Breaking It Down
Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF)
CSF is the fluid that surrounds and protects your brain and spinal cord. It contains nutrients essential to the functioning of your body as well as removing any metabolic waste.
The movement of your sacrum causes the CSF to pump up from the base of your spine, through your spinal canal towards your brain and throughout your nervous system. Similarly, the movement of your occiput pumps the CSF back down towards your sacrum.
For optimal health and healing, this ongoing repetitive action circulating the CSF is essential.
Your Spine and Pelvis
As mentioned earlier, your pelvis forms the foundational support for your spine. Your spine is responsible for holding your body upright, creating anchor points and connecting fascia that supports your muscles and organ systems; as well as protecting your nervous system.
Not only does your nervous system control every action in your body, it also controls every reaction too, and can only function fully when your structures are balanced and your pelvis is stable. This is what SOT aims to achieve.
SOT’s Three Categories
SOT acknowledges that our bodies adapt to the stresses we put on them, and that this adaptation, or in some cases failure to adapt, results in three different “categories”.
Category 1
A cranial-dural issue.
The sacroiliac joints have become misaligned, causing rotation of the hips and tilting of the sacrum.
This tilting reduces the pumping motion of the sacrum, reducing the circulation of the CSF.
This can then lead to reduced nutrients and increased toxicity in the nervous system, affecting the functioning of tissues and organs in the body.
To correct this misalignment, we use soft padded blocks placed in precise points under your pelvis. Together, your body weight, gravity and the motion of your breathing stimulate the nerve receptors helping to normalise your sacroiliac joints and increase the CSF flow.
This improves nerve nutrition and removes toxins, allowing your nervous system to function to its full extent.
Category 2
Sprain of the Pelvis
The ligaments holding the sacroiliac joint are stretched or sprained and the joint separates.
This disrupts the body’s weight bearing ability, stability and balance, impacting the nervous system and spine, particularly the knees, shoulders, neck, jaw and cranial system. A person in this state will often have recurring injuries.
To correct this misalignment we use soft padded blocks and your body weight to reposition and strengthen the sacroiliac joint and improve stability and balance.
Category 3
Lower Back, Disc and Nerves
The discs that sit between each vertebra act as shock absorbers as well as creating space between each bone for nerves to exit (these nerves go to your arms, organs, muscles and legs to name a few).
When our bodies are out of balance, the discs can become compromised, putting tension on the sciatic nerve and posterior fascial chain. This interrupts normal nerve function, affecting muscle tone, blood flow and oxygenation.
Using soft padded blocks we reduce the fascial tension, disc bulge and remove nerve interference.
“The blocks do not insult or traumatise. They gently coax parts back into position and function.”
- Dr De Jarnette, Founder of SOT