Chiropractic Neurology

Chiropractic neurology is a fast-growing sub specialty within the profession and requires approximately 3 years of additional postgraduate study before a doctor may become board eligible. After successfully passing a specialty board examination, chiropractic neurologists earn the title “DACNB” – Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board. They must then undergo yearly re-certification in order to maintain their board certification status. The ACNB is the only chiropractic specialty board to achieve NOCA/NCCA accreditation, the highest level of accreditation for specialty boards. NCCA standards exceed the requirements set forth by the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Typically, a chiropractic neurologist may serve in a similar consulting manner as a medical neurologist; only their treatment applications do not include drugs or surgery. Because of differing treatment approaches, certain conditions may respond more favorably from one discipline to the other. In addition to manipulation, a chiropractic neurologist may also utilize brain-based therapies such as auditory stimulation, visual stimulation and forms of biofeedback to specifically affect certain neuronal pathways and promote neuroplasticity.

Additionally, they may counsel patients about nutrition to provide further support to the nervous system during care. Since no two nervous systems are completely identical, treatment by a chiropractic neurologist tends to be highly individualized and very specific from patient to patient. Many chiropractic neurologist's choose to focus on treating movement disorders, dystonias, and rehabilitating stroke patients as well as patients with head injuries. Others devote their practice to treating patients with other brain-based conditions such as ADD/ADHD, autism and behavioral disorders. For patients in whom certain neuronal pathways have been damaged or destroyed, function can often be regained by facilitating alternate neuronal pathways to take over.

In other instances, existing pathways that aren't working efficiently can be stimulated to improve certain functions.