How Sound Waves Are Revolutionizing Spinal Treatment?

This month in Back into Alignment Podcast, I had a pleasure to have a talk about Epic Technique as a healing therapy for spinal issues and more specifically for headaches, concussions and TMJ pain.

But what is called EPIC? “EPIC”, an acronym for Evolutionary Percussive Instrument Corrections. It is a chiropractic technique that focuses on the use of progressively advancing diagnostic and adjusting technology to correct the craniocervical junction alignment.

From scientific rationale, clinical protocols, and positive patient outcomes of the EPIC Technique spinal procedure I have learnt so much about this revolutionary therapy I was unaware of.

The connection of our brain and our body through the neck as a gateway goes beyond what we think.

The balance of the body’s nervous system is dramatically affected by the relationship of the craniocervical junction. Much of the balance of the body is determined through neurologic control called mechanoreceptor feedback loops.

The internal jugular vein (IJV) is the primary vascular drainage of the brain.

Increased intracranial hypertension can have a disruptive effect on the cranial glymphatic system which can negatively alter the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Who is Dr. Ernest Pecoraro?

Dr. Ernest Pecoraro, DC was a sought after physician having people travel from all over the world to see him at one of his five offices in New York City.  After 25 years of practice, he decided to retire, but decided to come out of retirement when his daughter was treated with the EPIC Technique to relieve the debilitating low back pain that caused her severe disability for three years. She was previously treated by several chiropractors, acupuncturists and medical doctors with no results. Her last hope was getting the EPIC Upper Cervical Care when a friend suggested she try it. 

The doctor corrected the misalignment of her Atlas vertebra, never treating her low back directly, and with the first treatment her low back muscles started to relax and her pain was 70% gone in 30 minutes.  This inspired him to go back to school and train to deliver the EPIC Technique.  Now, he is one of only three offices in the world that specializes and delivers this technique that has been getting miraculous results with this cutting edge soundwave technology.

Dr. Pecoraro explained the how and the benefits of applying soundwave therapy in the cervical.

When did this technique was discovered?

The EPIC technique is a direct genealogical descendant of the technique originally developed by the founding family of chiropractic. In 1895, Daniel David “DD” Palmer, DC first discovered and termed the spinal “subluxation”, defined as a condition of the spine where a vertebra has lost its correct juxtaposition to the extent of disrupting the nervous system function.

In the 1930s, John Grostic, DC, refined the radiographs and measured angles used to assess the cervical malposition, quantified these malpositioned vertebrae on a mathematical engineering platform.

In the 1970s, Roy Sweat, DC, developed a 2-axis, table-mounted, adjusting instrument that could deliver a percussive sound wave to align the upper cervical spine. He refined the line of drive measurement into a degree-specific calibrated adjustment, still using post adjustment examination and x-ray verification.

In 2001, Stan Pierce Sr., DC, and Stan Pierce Jr., DC, added further refinements to the radiographic analysis protocol to include data transposition between radiographs for anatomical clarity, methods to validate reference line determination and measurement accuracy, and evaluation methods to determine genetic abnormalities that would affect the understanding of each patient’s “normal” position into which they needed to be adjusted.

In 2014, Stan Pierce Jr., DC, launched a more aggressive evolution of developments in this lineage of concepts and technology. This technique is known as Evolutionary Percussive Instrument Corrections (EPIC) and is taught by Dr. Pierce Jr. and his team in numerous chiropractic institutions of higher education.

How does it work?

The EPIC technique protocol currently utilizes digital radiographic imaging. The EPIC digital x-ray protocol obtains a minimum of three images of a patient.

The EPIC radiographic analysis uses computer software programs consisting of physics and engineering mathematic formulas applied through contrast differentiation, multi-planar line assessment, dimensional transposition, and CAD overlays designed to assist the doctor with obtaining accurate calculations. Genetic malformations and structural misalignments are measured for each patient.

The EPIC radiographic analysis currently evaluates for 23 genetic asymmetries and/or anomalies to determine what a patient’s “normal” structural position should be. The EPIC analysis additionally measures four multi-directional misalignments through computerized analysis to determine the biomechanics of vertebral misalignment, the degree-specific line of drive for the adjusting trajectory, and the targeting location for the impulse.

The EPIC procedure aligns the craniocervical junction using a percussive sound wave impulse, rendered on a precisely calibrated line of drive (angle) that is accurately targeted to the C1 (atlas) transverse process.

The use of sound wave therapy has become more common in healthcare.

The EPIC spinal alignment procedure is expected to correct the craniocervical subluxation with the very first treatment.

Variables that could affect how long the alignment will remain in proper position include:

• time necessary for soft tissue morphology around the new structural alignment

• patient not protecting their craniocervical junction following the procedure

• patient experiencing a trauma

However, the EPIC procedure has four unique benefits in its application that tend to allow the alignment to “hold” for exponentially longer periods of time compared to traditional chiropractic care. These benefits include:

• the correction removes all four misalignments simultaneously and instantaneously

• the correction aligns a patient into their genetically normal position

• the correction improves/restores the vertical center of gravity of the skull over the neck

• the correction preserves the integrity of the ligamentous support system by maintaining all adjusting force applications to be performed within a patient’s normal range of motion.

Wether you are experiencing a spinal issue from neck, lumbar or lower back pain to migraines, headaches, TMJ issues and even concussions.

I hope this revolutionary technique can support your health journey.

If you are curious to learn more about this, I invite you to click in any of the videos above to listen to the entire talks with Dr. Ernest Pecoraro.

Thank you for your comments and support.

Reference:

Stan Pierce Jr DC. Scientific Rationale, Clinical Protocols, and Positive Patient Outcomes of the EPIC Technique Spinal Procedure, 2021