InSight™ Scanning Technology helps bridge the gap between known advantages of chiropractic adjustments and concrete measurements. Static and Dynamic Surface Electromyography (sEMG) is an essential part of the InSight™ system, providing a major piece of the puzzle of general well-being by assessing paraspinal tension. The sEMG exam evaluates the function of the muscles that support and move your spine. These muscles are controlled by the nerves running within it. This test measures how much energy is needed to maintain your posture and how it is distributed throughout the muscles. If too much energy is used when a spine is out of balance, this test score will be lower than normal. Over time, daily stress can continue to overwork these muscles, causing them to lose their support and mobility. This will also lower the score.
Muscle fatigue and poor energy distribution are signs of a person’s entire health being under stress. By precisely measuring muscle activity, your progress can be followed as your spine releases tension and you regain more control.
This technology reads electrical activity of the muscles (action potential) in order to measure paraspinal tension, similar to the use electromyography in EKG/heart rate measurement machines. The electric current pattern is a critical component of how your body functions. The muscles on either side of your spine should be balanced; if they are not working equally well, the body is forced to compensate, which takes energy. This imbalance can be monitored and tracked by our sEMG technology. Alterations in electrical activity in the paraspinal muscles can shed light on the muscular changes linked to vertebral subluxations. As such, chiropractors can use sEMG to establish a baseline for paraspinal electrical activity.
Although this sEMG is similar to EKG/heart rate monitors, it is important to note that these sensors are 1,000 times more sensitive. This enables them to read the electrical activity of paraspinal muscles, which is much weaker than that of the heart.
Once a scan is performed, two graphs are depicted from the information gathered. The first graph shows reveals the nerve to muscle connection among the paraspinal electrical activity, noting areas of muscle spasm, weakness, and fatigue as indicated by different colored bars. InSight™ uses a color coated system:
The baseline (or ‘healthy’ spine) to which all scans are compared to reveal bars along both sides of the spine that are white, they also show a nice pear-shaped pattern.
‘Healthy’
‘Stressed & Unhealthy’
Here’s an example of a patient that has presented to our office. Her name is Sandy and she initially came to our office with chronic migraines, allergies, and numbness in bother of her hands. She was officially diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and wanted relief of her symptoms. The first scan was the very first exam we had ever performed, and the second is a scan that was performed three months later after regular chiropractic care. Take a look at that difference!
Before
After
Three months after she began care her symptoms were relieved and she was no longer experiencing numbness in her hands, she also experienced relief in the intensity and frequency of her chronic migraines!
Remember that through the month of March we are offering FREE NERVE SCANS to you and your friends and family members!
She’s a Mom, has Doctorate in Chiropractic and loves helping people move from pain back to a healthy and active lifestyle.