**1. Introduction**

Chiropractic Biophysics® (CBP®) technique is a full-spine and posture correcting method that incorporates engineering and mathematical principles into a unique approach in the treatment of spine disorders [1–5]. CBP technique is best described as a 'structural' rehabilitation approach as opposed to 'functional' rehabilitation that typically encompasses physiotherapeutic modalities, stretching and exercises to regain function. The goal in structural rehabilitation is to restore the spine alignment and posture to as near normal as possible.

CBP operates on three main premises: 1. There is a normal/ideal static spinal configuration; 2. Abnormal alterations of the spine/posture result in abnormal function disrupting homeostatic balance; 3. Altered static spine/postural alignment results in abnormal dynamics [1]. The contemporary spine literature supports all three of these premises (See Section 4). CBP technique has published research on many facets of the technique including defining what normal/ideal spine alignment is, how to measure spine alignment parameters with reliable and repeatable methods, how to correct/re-align spinal displacements, and evidence proving correcting spine and postural displacements correlates with improvements in pain, disability and quality of life (QOL) measures (These studies are detailed later).

Herein, an overview is given of the scientific approach to treating spine disorders (i.e. subluxation) by the unique approach of CBP technique. A review will be given of the historical beginnings of CBP, rotations and translations of posture, the Harrison normal spinal model, radiographic analysis, posture and spinal coupling, the CBP protocol, clinical evidence of efficacy as well as the safety of the use of X-rays (The term 'X-rays' imply the use of plain radiographs throughout this chapter).

## **2. Historical beginnings**

Donald D. Harrison, who had a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Doctorate degree in Applied Mathematics developed a devote urgency to bring contemporary science to chiropractic. In the late 1970s, Harrison was the main instructor for the chiropractic technique named 'Pettibon.' Dissatisfied with the failure to produce spinal correction, he often incorporated his own methods in certain cases to better attain spine and posture improvements. It was in the treatment of one particular case (circa 1980) where he discovered that the body must be treated using the principles of mathematics; the term 'mirror image®' adjusting he later coined to describe these new approaches [1].

A 1974 paper by Panjabi et al. describes a Cartesian coordinate system for use in the description and study of joint biomechanics (**Figure 1**) [6]. Harrison was the first to apply this system of analysis to upright human posture (**Figures 2** and **3**). Harrison began discovering the rotations and translations of human posture in 1980. During the early 1980s, the analysis system evolved to incorporate a full spine analysis of the

#### **Figure 1.**

*A vertebra described in terms of rotations about and translations along the x, y, and z-axes on a cartesian coordinate system as proposed by Panjabi (courtesy CBP seminars).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102686 An Introduction to Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) Technique: A Full Spine Rehabilitation…*

#### **Figure 2.**

*If the head, thoracic cage, and pelvis are considered rigid bodies, then the possible rotations in three-dimensions are illustrated. Flexion and extension are rotations on the x-axis, axial rotation is about the y-axis, and lateral flexion is rotation about the z-axis (courtesy CBP seminars).*

head, rib cage and pelvis in three-dimensions. The technique methods continued to evolve with intellectual contributions from early practitioners of CBP including among others, Drs. DeGeorge, Gambale, Pope and Deed Harrison (founder's son).

One of the unique methods within CBP is the use of 'extension traction' to restore the normal cervical or lumbar lordosis (**Figures 4** and **5**). The first cervical extension traction was with use of an inclined bench that utilized a camlock and pulley system to hyperextend the neck by pulling on the forehead [7]. This is the traction used in the first CBP non-randomized controlled clinical trial (nRCT) that showed that no traction either by no treatment or only cervical manipulation but no traction resulted in no improved alignment, while the traction group (also receiving cervical spinal manipulation) achieved improved lordosis [7].

Further development in cervical traction involved the addition of a posteriorto-anterior (PA) pull through the mid cervical spine with simultaneous extension and distraction of the head while sitting in a chair, so-called 'Pope's 2-way' traction (**Figure 4**) [8]. A slight modification of this traction involves the use of a chin-forehead strap to add weight directly to the patients head as an extensioncompression 2-way traction (**Figure 4**) [9]. More recently, a cervical extension

#### **Figure 3.**

*If the head, thoracic cage, and pelvis are considered rigid bodies, then the possible translations in threedimensions are illustrated. Lateral translations occur along the x-axis, vertical translations occur along the y-axis, and anterior–posterior translations (protraction-retraction) occurs along the z-axis (courtesy CBP seminars).*

orthotic (Denneroll) has been shown to be effective at increasing cervical lordosis (**Figure 4**).

In the mid 1990s, Deed Harrison helped to develop precision vectors for lumbar extension traction (**Figure 5**), where the first nRCT showing lumbar curve restoration was published in the *Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation* in 2002 and concluded: "This new method of lumbar extension traction is the first nonsurgical rehabilitative procedure to show increases in lumbar lordosis in chronic LBP *(low back pain)* subjects with hypolordosis" [10]. A lumbar extension orthotic device by Denneroll is also used for lumbar extension traction (**Figure 5**).

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.102686 An Introduction to Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) Technique: A Full Spine Rehabilitation…*

#### **Figure 4.** *Cervical extension traction (courtesy CBP seminars).*

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Figure 5.
Lumbar extension traction (courtesy CBP seminars).
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#### *Complementary Therapies*

CBP technique is one of the most scientifically based posture and spine correcting techniques. There are many randomized controlled trials (RCTs), nRCTs, and well over 100 case reports/series documenting the improvement of diverse spine deformity patterns with concomitant reduction of pain, disability and increased QOL measures [11].
