Arlen’s atlas therapy is a gentle manual procedure that is classified as manual medicine. It involves a reflex and regulatory influence on the autonomic and peripheral nervous systems through a gentle manual impulse technique on the transverse processes of the first cervical vertebra (synonyms: atlas; C1).
Indications (areas of application)
- Bronchial asthma
- Atopic eczema (neurodermatitis)
- Dysmenorrhea (period pain)
- Functional tuning of internal organs, skin and connective tissue.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (synonyms: GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux disease); gastroesophageal reflux; reflux esophagitis; reflux disease; Reflux esophagitis; peptic esophagitis) – inflammatory disease of the esophagus (esophagitis) caused by the pathological reflux (reflux) of acid gastric juice and other gastric contents.
- Herpes zoster
- Kiss syndrome (Kiss stands as an abbreviation for: upper cervical-induced symmetry disorder) – disorders of posture in infancy and early childhood, which is said to lead to a number of behavioral disorders [the existence of a Kiss syndrome in the sense of a clinical picture is not considered proven].
- Muscle imbalance, v. a. also in spastic children.
- Obstipation (constipation)
- Paroxysmal tachycardia (sudden, seizure-like onset of greatly accelerated cardiac activity)
- Pain conditions in the musculoskeletal system
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Condition n. whiplash
The procedure
In the area of the Atlaś, the muscles and tendons of the cervical spine are densely supplied with nerves. Furthermore, in the immediate vicinity of the Atlaś are the inner ear, the temporomandibular joint and various cranial nerve exits from the cranial fossa. In addition, at the level of the atlas is the entrance of the spinal cord (medulla spinalis) into the spinal canal (spinal canal) of the spine with countless interconnections of the pyramidal tract and the cranial nerve nuclei.
With atlas therapy, central body functions such as muscle tension, balance and pain processing can be positively influenced via these neck nerves in close proximity to the brain.
Traditionally, an a.-p. radiograph of the cervicooccipital junction was considered essential for determining the therapeutic impulse direction in Arlen’s atlas therapy. This may be replaced by the clinical 3-sign test for determining the therapeutic atlas impulse direction, which consists of three diagnostic steps:
- Palpatory evidence of circumscribed induration at approximately the C2 level, to be located between the semispinalis capitis and splenius capitis muscles (side-to-side comparison).
- Palpatory evidence of the flat millet-sized, not infrequently sulcate induration at the cranial end of the “mastoid notch” (side comparison).
- Functional arm length test (FALT): if a deviation from baseline findings is demonstrated, the FALT is positive.
The doctor uses his middle finger to apply short impulses that are transmitted through the lateral processes of the atlas to the respective neck nerve, which creates a different pattern of perception in the patient’s brain. Atlas therapy thus influences the state of tension of the muscles and the function of the internal organs, and at the same time the nervous, and indirectly the hormonal function.
There are no typical treatment risks for atlas therapy, as the technical procedure is performed without traction, rotation or extension of the cervical spine. It is considered a very gentle technique. This therapy method is also frequently used in children.
Benefits
Atlas therapy relieves and eliminates acute, chronic or recurring pain conditions. You will benefit from the gentle and immediately effective procedure if used regularly.