As anyone above the age of 30 can attest, aches and pains are part of life’s routine. Most people learn to “live with” those aches and pains, as well as other maladies, as this quality of life becomes their “new normal.”
“I’ve learned to live with it,’’ is a common phrase; or “well this is ‘normal’ pain.
Dr. Daniel Hulsey says people need to know the difference between “normal’’ and “common.’’ These daily aches and pains might be common; however, they are not “normal.’’
Golfers of all skill levels certainly are part of the “learn to live with it,’’ community. In fact, it can be argued that golfers comprise most of that community, thanks to the constant twisting and turning of the back, shoulders and lower extremities. Flexibility wains and frustrations mount.
But Hulsey says it does not have to be that way. A U.S. Army Reconnaissance Sniper Veteran, scratch golfer and specialty chiropractor, Hulsey is a partner in Atlas Clinics in Pompano Beach, FL., one of only a handful of clinics in the country that use EPIC technique sound wave therapy to treat muscle and joint injuries. The procedure uses a percussive impulse generated by an electromagnetic striking device, to deliver a gentle, non-invasive, degree-specific force to the bones which protects your brainstem. The result, Hulsey says, is a correction to alter the first bone in your neck, (Atlas) or (C1) alignment.
That might sound intimidating, but the entire procedure – including consultation, neuro-physical examination, and pre- and post-X-rays – takes only about two hours. The EPIC procedure itself – a percussive impulse generated by an electromagnetic striking device – delivers a gentle, non-invasive, degree-specific force at a specified spinal location that adjusts to alter the C1 alignment. This region protects and regulates the communication from the brain stem to brain and body, as well as crucial blood flow structures.
Hulsey says it is not a “magical” soundwave, but it has the ability to adjust the bones accurately up to 1/100th of a degree. The accuracy and precision, Hulsey says, is what leads to substantial efficient healing.
Sound therapy has been used in the medical community for years. Atlas Clinics is using it now to save patients time and money and allow their body to heal at rapid rates compared to other therapies and modalities. Hulsey says, the correction focuses directly on the “Atlas” bone – the first of seven cervical vertebrae that supports the full weight of the skull.
“When this bone is misaligned, the body is thrown off balance,’’ Hulsey says.
The result might be everything from a stiff neck, headaches, sciatica to lumbar pain in the lower spine to even vertigo and tinnitus.
Hulsey says, even genetics – such as the way your bones have developed or misaligned from birth or injury can cause imbalance in the body. This can lead to one leg being shorter than the other – as many people have – can cause more wear and tear on the joints on one side of the body. But unless the pain becomes severe, many people believe it is a “learn to live with it’ kind of pain.
“Every step you take creates a deficiency when asymmetries and imbalance are present,’ Hulsey says. “Each time you stretch, run, or exercise there is more wear and tear on the body due to the asymmetries. The soundwave corrects the misalignment, turning off the ‘neurological spasm,’ which causes the body to twist and not hold traditional chiropractic adjustments.
“The reason we focus on the Atlas bone is because it’s protecting not only the brain stem, but the feedback loop where the body takes in information. It signals to the muscles how to respond.’’
For golfers, Hulsey says, an aligned Atlas bone helps create a balanced swing from the ground up.
“When I’m getting into the golf swing,’’ says Hulsey, who teaches golf privately, “the two biggest areas of my body taking information are my neck and feet. If you have one leg that is off – or the signals coming into your body are not sending the proper information, it makes it hard to stay through the shot balanced at impact.’’
It’s important to note, Hulsey said, that the EPIC technique, while producing almost instantaneous results, is not a replacement for physical therapy, or even regular chiropractic. In fact, it is a catalyst which lets the other modalities work more efficiently. With that said, patients commonly see their need for other therapies disappear after receiving the treatment for their Atlas misalignment.
“It’s a complementary treatment. We work in unison with your existing health care team to provide an incorporated treatment protocol to help maximize patient results across the board.’’
The EPIC treatment Hulsey said, holds for between six months and up to three years with occasional follow up exams.
“The private golf students I have, have received the treatment,’’ Hulsey says. “It’s made a huge jump in their abilities to get into different positions that they weren’t able to previously. One (student) was limited by tight hip flexors causing low back pain due to an Atlas misalignment. After the alignment within three days he noticed the spasm was gone, and he was able to properly rotate into the trail leg and make a full turn.
“We are so excited for this new technology and how it can drastically help golfers and all people.’’
Photo: Dr. Daniel Hulsey (left) and Dr. Samantha Carney
For more information, contact: www.atlasclinics.com 754-432-3653 [email protected] [email protected]