These three body systems create support and flexibility in the spine while allowing the Central Nervous System (CNS) to control and regulate ALL aspects of life. Because the bulk of the CNS is encased in the spine, any significant dysfunction within the spinal column, most often caused by misaligned vertebrae, affects how the nerves communicate with the rest of the body.

Subluxations (misaligned spinal vertebrae) restrict the body’s natural movements and neural actions. When your spine or joints have been misaligned for so long they’re ‘stuck’, you’re more susceptible to injury and muscle/tissue problems. Even when your vertebrae have been misaligned for only a short amount of time, it impairs the CNS’s ability to communicate properly with the rest of your body. Once your body no longer receives signals from the CNS that something is wrong, your body no longer heals itself, deterioration begins and symptoms eventually appear.

The Insight™ Millennium obtains snapshots of the stresses placed on the spinal bones, muscles and joints due to subluxations. This state-of-the-art technology is able to see new, little problems before they become older, major problems. Most people only seek medical treatment after the problem has already been there for weeks, months or even years. It takes longer to heal old injuries than fresh ones and preventing injuries all together is the best way to go. So it’s in your best interest to get chiropractic treatments and scans regularly!

Why Does ProHealth Chiropractic administer these tests?

Our purpose for administering these tests is to detect and pinpoint abnormal function in the spine which cannot be seen on an x-ray or detected by human touch.

How long do the Insight™ Millennium tests take?

Dr. Robinson or a staff member can perform the tests in about 25 minutes. The time is incorporated with your initial and re-exams.

How often are the tests taken?

Every 12 visits.

Why is it important to have multiple scans?

Through periodic exams, we can easily monitor your changes or improvements and keep adapting your treatment plan to suit your body’s needs.

Do the Insight™ Millennium tests hurt?

Absolutely not. The tests do not utilize any needles, electrical shock or heat. They are simply receiving important information from your Central Nervous System.

How will these tests benefit me?

For years, a major concern of chiropractic patients has been “Why do I have to keep coming back when I’m pain-free?” or “How do I know I’m getting the proper amount of adjustments?” With the Insight™ Millennium tests, you’re now able to actually see the effects of the changes your body is undergoing during your chiropractic treatments.

Because of this technology, you’re able to understand why you need the type and frequency of care you’re receiving. These scans give you the confidence to stick with your chiropractic treatment plan because you know that your treatment plan truly has been made to suit your specific needs.

Here is more detailed information about the 5 scans and samples of what the scan results look like.

Thermograph

The first test performed is the thermal scan which measures temperature differences along the spine. Every patient should receive this scan since it gives us pertinent information that helps us determine your treatment plan.

Skin is the largest organ of the body. The blood vessels under the skin work as the body’s thermostat. In order to maintain an even temperature, blood vessels expand to release heat and constrict to retain heat. If your body temperature is 98.6 degrees, the left and right sides of your spine should both be 98.6 degrees.

When the communication between the nervous system and the blood vessels is disturbed, it causes the body’s thermostat to malfunction thereby producing an imbalanced temperature reading along the spine. These blood vessels are controlled by the same part of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that runs the organs and glands, known as the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). This thermal scan provides us with information to monitor the autonomic system for proper function.

The incredibly sensitive ANS can adapt immediately to stressors if it is functioning at its optimal ability. When it does react to stress, the ANS should fire off signals at the spinal nerve level in a symmetrical fashion. It has been documented that the continuous asymmetrical firing of these nerve impulses is a measure of neural Dis-Ease. This is a state known as dysautonomia. Because the ANS controls the caliber of the blood vessels, any interference to this system will show up as a variance in spinal temperature. Continued patterns of subluxation will cause dysautonomia and therefore thermal scans are significant in measuring the ability of the patient to regain a wellness state.

Surface Electromyography (sEMG scan)

The next test is the sEMG. Two sets of results are gathered from this one scan. The first “static” result determines how well your motor nerves are working by reading the electrical current found on the muscles. The next “symmetry” result is that of how balanced or unbalanced your spinal muscles are. Every patient should also receive this scan since it gives pertinent information that helps us determine your treatment plan.

Result #1 from the sEMG = static

The purpose of this test is to determine how your body is able to adapt to gravity at selected spinal levels. This test is performed in a sitting position. The muscles that lie on both sides of the spine must work to keep you sitting upright. Therefore, a certain amount of muscle activity is essential for a healthy spine. As nerve signals fire into the muscles “normal” and balanced pattern should be present. If the body/mind is constantly struggling to work against the subluxations and the degenerations a distorted pattern may appear.

It is most common to see mild, moderate or severe compensations due to subluxations in the spine. Too much activity can be noted as “guarding” as the body/mind defends and protects the nervous system from unusual gravity reactions. Indeed, sometimes the body/mind has compensated for so long that the muscles may appear to work in relatively normal ranges. With this result, Dr. Robinson must apply all the information gathered from all your tests to decipher through the situation and find the real problem.

Result #2 from the sEMG = Asymmetry interpretation

Muscle balance is extremely important because the vertebrae in the spine depend on the muscles to move properly. If one or more vertebrae are out of their normal position (subluxated), it disturbs nerve function. This disturbance creates muscle imbalance caused by an abnormal amount of electrical current in the muscles on either side of the spine. As a result of this disturbance, the muscles can become weaker or stronger, tighter or more fatigued than they are supposed to be. The abnormal muscle pattern on the scan reveals an increased amount of tension/pull on one side than on the other side – similar to a tug-of-war.

The software of the Insight™ Millennium takes the data of the static sEMG and correlates the amount of tension that is being applied to the spine at each measured segment. If muscles are actively pulling in an awkward, unbalanced manner then the computer will register this distortion as being mild, moderate or severe. More often than not, your pain patterns will be consistent with the asymmetry patterns detected by this scan.

Inclinometer

The third test, performed with a Digital Inclinometer, measures your flexibility or range of motion (ROM). We most often perform this test on patients who have had an auto, work or personal injury. When insurance companies or employers are paying for your care and rehabilitation, they like to see concrete examples of how Chiropractic Care is helping you improve.

Patients who have had long-term immobility of some part of the spine also benefit from this test. It can quite often be very comforting to see a visual chart of how much your range of motion has improved to verify how much better you feel after Chiropractic Care.

This test measures your spinal movement/flexibility as compared to a spine with a normal and acceptable range of motion. When there is abnormal positioning of the vertebrae (subluxation), it disturbs the Nervous system and causes abnormal, usually decreased, muscle function. This in turn causes abnormal, also usually decreased, range of motion and movement in the spine. The longer your motion is restricted, the more irritation occurs, the faster your body degenerates.

Algometer

The Algometry test measures tenderness along your spine. This test is particularly enlightening with patients who have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia since it gives you and us a clear, visual picture of your problem areas. Having a color photograph of your spine in your hand makes it easier to envision what Dr. Robinson tells you about how correcting the spine can help the body heal itself and decrease or potentially even completely rid itself of the constant fatigue and achiness.

This test is also beneficial for patients suffering from auto, work or personal injuries. When insurance companies or employers are paying for your care and rehabilitation, they like to see concrete examples of how you are improving.

Pulse Wave Profiler

This test, also known as “heart rate variable”, allows Dr. Robinson to determine your overall ability to adapt to your environment. This test looks at the timing of your pulse and determines the balance and tone of your nervous system. Proper balance and tone are associated with better adaptability and a healthy lifestyle. Low heart rate variability is associated with aging and poor heart health. Published research has shown that chiropractic adjustments have a beneficial effect on heart rate variability.