The Research that Validates Advanced BioStructural Correction

The Abc’s of ABC™ Series
The Research that Validates
Advanced BioStructural Correction™ (ABC™)
By Dr. Gabriel Russo
What happens to our mind, bodies and health when
our spinal cord and brain stem are stretched and kept under
abnormal tension is beyond irritating, beyond disrupting,
and beyond painful. It can have absolutely devastating
affects to our well being. is article discusses the little
known but significant dynamics of this occurrence, and how
it can be corrected.
To understand the effects that stretching of the
spinal cord causes, what follows is a series of quotes and
insights from Dr. Alf Brieg and Dr.
Shokei Yamada, both prominent
neurosurgeons. Dr. Brieg performed
extensive research on the human
nervous system and the surrounding
structures that connect to it, namely
the spinal column. He wrote a
groundbreaking book entitled, Adverse
Mechanical Tension in the Central
Nerous System (1978). Let’s set the
stage with the basics of neurological
functioning. Can you visualize the
brain and spinal cord as one single
functioning unit? e brain is directly
connected to the spinal cord, and from
the spinal cord nerves exit through openings in the spinal
bones and go out to every part of the body. This is the
central nervous system that communicates and controls all of
our body functions.
“Nerve fibers in the cord or nerve roots may
be overstretched. e most significant
consequence of overstretching nerve fibers is
impairment of their conductivity.”
By impairment of their conductivity, this refers to the ability
of the nerves to carry the life force, to communicate
effectively and send messages throughout the entire body.
A guitar player can make an enrapturing sound when the
guitar is tensioned to the proper tone. Likewise, our bodies
function optimally with a life sustaining flow of energy when
our brain and spinal cord are tensioned to the proper tuning.
As the above quote expresses, when the nerves in the spinal
cord and spinal nerves are stretched, it alters the way they
conduct their messages throughout the body. Brieg goes on
to state:
“...excessive changes in the cord may produce
measurable changes in motor, sensory and
autonomic function.”
Let’s go deeper into this and expound on each one
of these 3 major affects that occur when there are alterations
in the tension of the spinal cord. Motor function includes
muscular strength, muscular coordination, as well as balance.
Sensory changes refer to pain, tingling, numbness, as well as
other altered sensations. Autonomic refers to all of the
involuntary life functions of the body such as breathing and
respiration, heart function, digestion, perspiration, glandular
activity and hormone production, etc. is is a powerful
statement because stretching of the spinal cord causes
negative affects that encompass the wide range of human
functioning.
Let’s take a moment to clarify what stretching of the
cord means. e brain and spinal cord are covered by and
protected by a continuous sheath of elastic and fibrous
matter called the meninges. e meninges are made of 3
layers of tissue that contains the precious life fluid called the
cerebrospinal fluid and it bands the whole spinal column
into a cohesive single synchronous functioning unit
Under normal conditions, when our neck is upright
or extended back (in extension), the tension of the spinal
cord-brain stem is relaxed or slackened. When we bend
forward at the neck, this increases the tension of the spinal
cord, but this is a normal level of tension. Brieg determined
that the spinal cord can stretch 5-7 cm (about 3”) under
normal conditions. ere are two factors that can create
abnormal conditions that if not corrected can become
devastating. e first is an abnormal posture such as forward
head posture which causes a constant abnormal stretching of
the spinal cord and brain stem. e second factor is when
there are stuck points, called adhesions that also cause a
stretching of the spinal cord. More on this later.
In referring to the detrimental, or even devastating
affects that occur when the spinal cord is stretched, Brieg notes
that:
“ese are accentuated whenever the cord is
stretched, and may be reversed, and the symptoms relieved, if
stretching can be eliminated and the affected tissues are kept
relaxed . . . and if the nerve is not damaged, taking the
stretch off the nerve will relieve the symptoms and restore
normal nerve function.”
Neurosurgeon researcher, Yamada, has presented
material in a research article entitled Adult Tethered Cord
Syndrome (1) that corroborates Brieg’s findings.
“Tethering or stretching of the spinal
cord . . . results om fixation of the cord by
inelastic structures, such as . . . scar tissue
adherent to the spinal cord or nerve roots.”
is inelasticity or scar tissue is
call meningeal adhesions. is is the
second factor that causes stretching of
the spinal cord and brain stem. When
there are adhesions along the length of
the spinal cord, between the meninges
and the bones, there is a diminished
capacity for the spinal cord to stretch
because the sticking points effectively
decrease the length of the cord. Now
when we bend the head forward (into
flexion) there is an abnormal tension
and stretching of the spinal cord-brain
tissue that causes the kinds of changes in
function and symptoms that Brieg
mentions as quoted above.
Yamada goes on to say:
“Tethered Cord Syndrome [is]
manifested by severe back and
leg pain, a subtle onset of motor/
sensory changes and musculoskeletal
deformities.”
“Musculoskeletal deformities” can also be described as altered
posture as we have been discussing. is is quite significant
because most people have some manifestation of altered
posture that may adversely affect their health (see article
entitled, “Your Posture Affects your Health”).
Now here comes the kicker:
“. . . the manifestations of this syndrome
are readily reversible by untethering.”
If the adhesions can be released then the negative
consequences can be stopped. e way that Yamada
untethered the cord and helped people get better was by
surgery. e surgical procedure cut through a portion of the
spinal bone (called a laminectomy) to expose the meninges,
and then he would make an incision to free the scar tissue that
had created the adhesion between the spinal cord, bones, and
the meninges.
While Yamada performed surgeries to
untether the cord, ABC™ practitioners are able
to release meningeal adhesions without
invasive surgeries.
By recognizing the detrimental affects of the
altered tension of the spinal cord, and finding a
way to release the meningeal adhesions that
form and cause abnormal and prolonged
tensioning of the brain stem and spinal cord,
ABC™ practitioners begin the process of
helping people recover without surgery.
e next step in the process of care from an
ABC™ practitioner is to help a person’s posture
become more healthy because poor posture is a
part of causing and/or exacerbating the
stretching of the spinal cord, (and tethered
cord syndrome is one example of this). Once
the meningeal adhesions are released, the
bones that are out of place are adjusted. e
result is people’s posture changes in a way that
allows them to stand upright without effort.
is change in posture is monumental because
it allows a person to release the stretch on the spinal cord, thus
restoring normal function, ease of breathing, and clearing the
mind.
at is a huge result, and this is how ABC™ is able to
get the life changing results that it does.
1)Adult Tethered Cord Syndrome , Journal of Spinal Disorders: Volume 13(4) August 2000pp 319-323
Yamada, Shokei; Lonser, Russell R.* . Division of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University, School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California;
and *Division of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.