Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of normalizing a spine of an individual including identifying a first point on the spine that exhibits the greatest degree of spinal misalignment and the hemisphere of the misalignment. A second point on the back of the individual is identified using a measuring device to measure along the spine a calculated distance specific to the individual. The second point on the back is then translated to the front of the individual opposite the second point to identity a third point. Application of therapeutic treatment near the third point normalizes the spine. In one embodiment, the distance is calculated by dividing the height of the individual by eight.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/756,965, filed Jun. 1, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Pain management has become a significant struggle in the lives of many people today. Often pain is attempted to be controlled through medication, both through prescription and over the counter forms, with varying degrees of success. Other pain management techniques are also employed, including homeopathic remedies, chiropractic treatments, and acupuncture, to name a few. The efficacy of any type of pain management technique is determined by the skill of the practitioner, whether it be a medical doctor or acupuncturist, for example, and by the receptiveness of the patient to the treatment. 
         [0003]    Additionally, most types of pain management or control techniques work by treating the symptoms, or apparent source, of the pain. Massage therapy, for example, is directed to relieving soreness or tightness of particular muscles, and often causes increased discomfort or pain before improvement is felt. What is needed is a process, technique, or device that relieves pain without forcing a patient to feel worse before they feel better. The present disclosure is directed to just such techniques and associated devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure is directed to a therapeutic method for normalizing a spine of an individual including identifying a first point on the spine that exhibits the greatest degree of spinal misalignment and the hemisphere of the misalignment. A second point on the back of the individual is found using a measuring device to measure along the spine a calculated distance specific to the individual. The second point on the back is then translated to a third point on the front of the individual opposite the second point. Application of therapeutic treatment near the third point normalizes the spine. In one embodiment, the distance is calculated by dividing the height of the individual by eight. 
         [0005]    Further objects, embodiments, forms, benefits, aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure may be obtained from the description, drawings, and claims provided herein. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front diagrammatic view of a portion of the human anatomy, illustrating a correlation in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front diagrammatic view of a human form, showing the location of relationship zones in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D show the location and arrangement of relationship zones in the arm in accordance with the present disclosure, as the arm is held in different positions. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a front diagrammatic view of the head, showing the location of relationship zones in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side diagrammatic view of the head, showing the location of relationship zones in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a front diagrammatic view of a portion of the human anatomy similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating additional correlations in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side diagrammatic view illustrating relationship zones in the arm and the leg, and also showing a correlation in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a side diagrammatic view of another portion of the human anatomy, illustrating another correlation in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9A  is a back diagrammatic view illustrating a portion of the typical human anatomy including the spine, illustrating a correlation in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9B  is a front diagrammatic view illustrating a view of a human torso, illustrating a correlation in accordance with  FIG. 9A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a front diagrammatic view of the height measurement of a person between the top of the head and the sole of the feet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    The present disclosure describes unique pain management or treatment methods, techniques, and devices that operate under the theory that when muscles are relaxed and in balance, the skeletal system of the body will have a tendency to be aligned, and will thus be structurally strengthened. Skeletal alignment improves circulation of the vascular and the nervous systems, increasing energy flow throughout the body, which enhances and allows the body to better heal itself. 
         [0018]    Specifically, the present disclosure describes a process that from any specific pain location on the body, a series of specific related points can be found. When these related points are treated, either individually or in some combination, the pain felt at the original complaint point is alleviated or reduced. 
         [0019]    In order to describe this process, reference is made to  FIG. 1 , which shows a drawing  10  illustrating a portion of the typical human anatomy. Drawing  10  shows the head  12 , torso  14 , arms  16 , hands  18 , and the upper part of legs  20 . Also shown in  FIG. 1  is an overlay  22  of a pair of feet. Overlay  22  is scaled to provide a precise correlation between the dimensions of the feet and a particular part of the human anatomy, namely the torso. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , overlay  22  extends so as to completely overlay torso  14  thereby providing visible correlations as will be described below. Drawing  10  may be a photograph or outline drawing of an individual patient, and overlay  22  may be a scaled photograph or outline drawing of the actual feet of such patient. Drawing  10  may also be merely a representation of a typical or generic human form, with overlay  22  also being merely a representation of generic human feet. For purposes of explaining the pain treatment method of the present disclosure, the representations are equivalent. In practice, the skill of the therapist or practitioner may determine whether actual or generic patient representations are needed and used. Highly skilled practitioners may not require the creation of a drawing  10  and overlay  22  at all, as they may be able to visualize the feet to torso correlation for a particular patient. Less experienced practitioners or therapists, or those being trained or still learning the methods and techniques of the present disclosure, may find it helpful to create or refer to an actual drawing and overlay in order to understand the principles of the disclosure. 
         [0020]    As previously described, overlay  22  is scaled to match the vertical dimensions of torso  14  such that there is a correlation between the torso and the top  24  (toes) and bottom  26  (heel) of the feet, as well as correlations between the feet and the top of the shoulders  28 , the fifth metatarsal bone in the foot to the lower rib, the heel  26  to the top of the hip  30 , the waistline to the feet, the groin to the heel  26 , and the feet to the chest and abdomen. These correlations are formed as part of a locator system that is integral with the present disclosure. The locator system involves, in one component, a series of measurements that are developed for an individual patient to determine the location of the various points on the patient&#39;s body that are to be treated. The use of the locator system will be explained in the following paragraphs. 
         [0021]    In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, an individual (e.g., patient or client) presents themselves to a practitioner of the method of the disclosure with a problem or condition that is causing pain. In some cases the patient may be able to describe the initial event that originally caused the problem, but in other cases the patient may just know that some area of the body hurts or is sore. The practitioner then identifies, through sight or by touch, the spots or areas of tenderness or soreness on the patient&#39;s feet. There may be multiple points, spots, or areas of tenderness on the patient&#39;s feet. These points or areas of tenderness or soreness, referred to as congested areas, may or may not be related to each other, but typically the most tender spot will relate to that particular pain of which the patient is primarily complaining. The spot or area on the feet that is determined to be the most tender or sore is designated as the primary reference point. In  FIG. 1 , this is designated as point  32 . 
         [0022]    As described above, overlay  22  correlates the feet of the patient to torso  14 . By this correlation, point  32  on the feet of the patient physically corresponds to a spot or point on torso  14 ; in  FIG. 1 , this is illustratively shown as point  32 ′. This corresponding point  32 ′ is designated as the primary referral point. The patient will typically experience some degree of pain or soreness when the primary referral point is touched. Treating or working the primary referral point  32 ′, e.g., through massage, will relieve at least some, and occasionally all, of the original pain complained of by the patient. The locator system is used to identify additional points or areas of the patient&#39;s body which, when treated, will further relieve or alleviate the patient&#39;s original pain. These points or spots are designated as related referral points and helper referral points and are located as follows. 
         [0023]    With the patient lying down, the therapist or practitioner measures the height or length of the patient from the top of the head to the sole of the feet, i.e., the feet are held perpendicular to the body. This measurement is then divided by four to determine the distance between related referral points, i.e., the distance from the primary referral point to a related referral point and the distance from one related referral point to the next referral point. The distance between related referral points is also divided by two to determine helper referral measurement  67 , the distance from a related referral point to a helper referral point. One method of locating referral points is to measure whole number multiples of helper referral measurement  67  away from primary reference point  66 . Even whole number multiples, e.g., 2, 4, etc., locate related referral points while odd whole number multiples, e.g., 1, 3, etc., locate helper referral points. The body height or length measurement is recommended to be made with a metric (i.e., base  10 ) ruler or measuring tape for ease in calculating the related referral point and helper referral point distances. Treating or working each referral point, whether it be a primary referral point, a related referral point, or a helper referral point, will act to reduce or alleviate the pain experienced by the patient. However, merely knowing the distances between referral points is not enough to accurately locate those points on the patient. The additional information that is needed is described as follows. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     related 
                     . 
                     referral 
                     . 
                     measurement 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     height 
                     4 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   1 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
             
               
                 
                   
                     helper 
                     . 
                     referral 
                     . 
                     measurement 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         related 
                         . 
                         referral 
                         . 
                         measurement 
                       
                       2 
                     
                     = 
                     
                       height 
                       8 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   ( 
                   2 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0024]    Referring now to formulas (1) and (2), the calculations for the related referral measurement and the helper referral measurement are expressed as mathematical equations. Referring to formula (2), the helper referral measurement can be calculated by either dividing the related referral measurement by two or by dividing the height of the patient from the top of the head to the sole of the feet by eight. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , the measurements and calculations discussed above are illustrated.  FIG. 10  depicts a front view of person  60  including top of the head  61  and sole of the feet  63 . Height H is the distance between top of the head  61  and sole of the feet  63 . Related referral measurement  69  is determined by dividing height H into four equal lengths, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0026]    Once the distances between the various referral points are calculated, placement of the actual referral points is made by using the calculated distances and measuring within the particular body zone in which the primary referral point is located. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a human form diagram  34  with body zones identified in accordance with the present disclosure. Diagram  34  comprises a plurality of longitudinal body zones that progress laterally from the median plane. Central zone  36  begins at the top of the head and follows a path through the torso and includes an inner region of each leg and each foot. Symmetrical zones  38 L and  38 R are located on either side of central zone  36 , followed by symmetrical zones  40 L and  40 R, symmetrical zones  42 L and  42 R, and symmetrical zones  44 L and  44 R. The arms  46  of the human form in diagram  34  comprise zones flowing from the head and neck. These zones run diagonally across the vertical zones in the torso and also directly correlate to the respective zones in the rest of the body described above. These zones are identified as zones  48 L and  48 R,  50 L and  50 R,  52 L and  52 R,  54 L and  54 R, and  56 L and  56 R. The zones of arms  46  can be seen more clearly in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Each zone defines a particular shape or contour along diagram  34 . In accordance with the present disclosure, each related or helper referral point will be located within the same zone as is their primary referral point. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is apparent that primary referral point  32 ′ is located within zone  40 L. Each of the related referral points and helper referral points identified by use of the locator system previously described will therefore also be located within zone  40 L. The various zones as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  are illustratively shown as being well defined with sharp or precise delineations. In practice, however, the crossover between one zone and another may be less sharp, but an experienced practitioner will be able to accurately separate one zone from another through treatment and patient feedback. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the zones of the head. Although the head zones are continuations of the body zones illustrated in  FIG. 2  and consequently are correlated to the body zones, the head zones have particular shapes and define much more specific regions than do the zones that comprise the body, as is particularly apparent in  FIG. 5 . For that reason, treatment of the head for purposes of pain management requires precision in the locating and defining of the particular zone in which the relevant referral points are to be found. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  illustrates one example of how various referral points can be located on an individual or person  60 . The representation of person  60  in  FIG. 6  illustrates the previously described zones of the body, head and arms, as well as a scaled overlay  62  of the feet of person  60 . As described above, a point of soreness or tenderness in the feet of person  60  defines a primary reference point  64  on overlay  62 . This correlates to a primary referral point  66  on the torso of person  60 . As can be seen, primary referral point  66  is located within zone  42 R. Therefore, all related referral points will also be located within zone  42 R. There may, of course, be other areas or points of soreness that define other primary reference points or primary referral points that are located in other zones, but the referral points associated with primary referral point  66  will all be located within zone  42 R. 
         [0029]    Related referral point  65  is identified and its location determined by measuring one related referral measurement  69  below primary referral point  66  within zone  42 R using measuring device  71 . (Note that other related referral points can also be located above primary referral point  66 , if space permits.) Helper referral points  68  and  70  can be identified and their location determined by measuring one helper referral measurement  67  above and below primary referral point  66  or related referral point  65  within zone  42 R using measuring device  71 . The locator system can also be used to find additional helper referral points from helper referral points  68  and  70 . Treating the various related referral points through massage, manipulation, heat, or other therapeutic means, singly or in combination, will relieve or lessen the soreness associated with primary referral point  66 . By treating the helper referral points as well as the primary referral point, pain relief can be realized while avoiding repeated painful treatment or manipulation of only the “sore spot.” 
         [0030]    The pain management method of the present disclosure therefore can be used to relieve pain without subjecting the patient or client to the added pain of the treatment itself. For this reason, the disclosed pain management method can be used on babies and individuals having low pain tolerance or acute localized pain without aggravating the source of the pain. 
         [0031]    Related referral points can be directly correlated from the feet to the torso, from the head or the legs to the torso, or from the torso to the head or legs. Due to a difference in scaling factor, the locator system does not permit direct correlation to and from the arms. However, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the arm  72  of a patient or client can be physically correlated or scaled to the patient&#39;s or client&#39;s leg  74 , such as along illustrative transfer or correlation lines  76 , for example, such that referral points located in the leg can be transferred to the arm, within the corresponding zone (e.g., zones  78  and  78 ′), for treatment, or points of soreness in the arm can be transferred to the leg where the locator system will then allow direct correlation to the primary referral point  66  on the torso, and subsequently, other body parts to locate the related referral points such that treatment of such referral points will act to alleviate the pain or soreness in the arm. 
         [0032]    The previous description has explained the correlation between tenderness or soreness along the bottom of a patient&#39;s feet with a source of pain or discomfort in other regions of the body. Human form diagram  34 , depicted in  FIG. 2 , illustrates that the spine and the inside of the feet are all in zone  36  and that the left foot is in the left hemisphere and the right foot is in the right hemisphere.  FIG. 8  illustrate a correlation of the spine to the feet. An area of discomfort, or “sore spot,” along the inside of the feet can be correlated to skeletal pain in the spine or back.  FIG. 8  depict an overlay of foot  88  superimposed on spine  84 . From the depicted overlay, it is possible to translate pain in the inside of foot  88  to a specific area or location along spine  84  that is causing the associated body or skeletal pain. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 8 , sore spot  86  along the inside of foot  88  correlates to a primary referral point  86 ′ on spine  84 . Using the locator system described above with respect to primary referral point  86 ′ on spine  84  will lead to the identification of related and helper referral points that, when treated, will aid in the overall reduction of pain and discomfort felt by the patient. 
         [0033]    Another embodiment of the disclosure is depicted in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  which show drawing  90  illustrating a portion of the typical human anatomy including spine  91  illustrated in  FIG. 9A . This embodiment deals with normalizing the spine using the same overall techniques described above. With the patient lying on their stomach, the therapist or practitioner observes the spine to find the point at which the spine is exhibiting the greatest degree of misalignment, which is illustrated as point  92  in  FIG. 9A . The therapist or practitioner also notes whether the spine at point  92  is being pulled to the right or left hemisphere of the torso. 
         [0034]    The therapist or practitioner then measures up (or down) one helper referral measurement  67  from point  92  to point  94  in zone  36  and either physically or mentally marks point  94  on the back. The actual treatment area  94 ′ is on the front of the torso, directly opposite point  94 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0035]    The therapist or practitioner then works treatment area  94 ′ on the front of the torso. The therapist or practitioner interacts with the patient to verify the exact location by degree of tenderness or soreness and then works that area until the tenderness/soreness subsides. Zone  36  (the zone the spine is in) extends to both the left and right hemispheres of the body. The therapist or practitioner works in the same hemisphere of the body that the spine is pulled towards at point  92 . By relaxing the tight muscles that are pulling the spine to either the right or left hemispheres of the torso, the spine is allowed to normalize by reverting to its normal, straight, position. 
         [0036]    The therapist or practitioner then rechecks the alignment of the spine with the patient lying on their stomach. For some patients, the spine will normalize itself very easily. In other patients, it may take several iterations of the process described above to fully normalize the spine. After each iteration, the therapist or practitioner rechecks the spine for the point of greatest misalignment. If a new point of misalignment is discovered, this creates a new treatment point  92  and thus, a different treatment area  94 ′ as detailed above. 
         [0037]    Spine normalization, as described herein, when used in conjunction with the other embodiments described herein, may provide an overall reduction of pain related to other treatments and for some patients, spine normalization increases how long the benefits of other treatments last. Thus, it is preferable to use spine normalization as the first treatment applied to a patient. 
         [0038]    While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes, modifications and equivalents that come within the spirit of the disclosure provided herein are desired to be protected. The articles “a”, “an”, “said” and “the” are not limited to a singular element, and may include one or more such elements.