Entrainment Contact or Impulse

An entrainment contact is a low force contact or a rapid, high velocity, low force impulse or thrust applied to the soft tissue overlying the spine or to an extremity in order to advance the progression through NSA Levels of Care. The force is applied to assist the higher brain to gain awareness of spinal tension and lack of tension (ease) patterns. It promotes the development of an emerging strategy, integrating energy and information within the nervous system. The intent is to advance Spinal and Neural Integrity and wellness.

The force is applied to develop the Respiratory or Somatopsychic Waves™, the frequency entrained spinal oscillators, and/or coordinated segmental rhythmic motion. The force is applied either at a Spinal Gateway™ or to influence a Spinal Gateway™; this is at a segmental region where the spinal cord and vertebra have direct or indirect attachment to the dura mater. In this context, free energy refers to the region overlying the spinal articulation where an oscillation, or vibration, of the muscles and/or articulation can be palpated and/or visually observed. The observation would be one of specific differentiated segmental motion. There is no hypertonic musculature in the vicinity of this region, and the motion appears unrestricted. A region of "bound" energy would be an area of tension. It is intended that the brain's attention will be drawn to the area of high tension, as this will be an area associated with the "neural fragmentation syndrome." There is no therapeutic or corrective intent associated with the contact, nor is it considered a form of spinal manipulation.

Levels of Care

NSA is currently applied through three Levels of Care. A fourth level is under development. To monitor each level for efficacy, specific outcomes are evaluated for both the patient (or practice member) and practitioner. Outcomes of NSA Care show a large number of its recipients exhibiting a self-entrained response to NSA force applications, which may involve a combination of Respiratory and Somatopsychic Waves™ and occasional emotional discharges (Blanks et al., 1997). Observations suggest that these responses are associated with developing new emerging properties within the spine and nervous system. It is proposed that these properties then influence various organizational and neurophysiological processes.

The clinical assessment portion of NSA Care requires an understanding of human anatomy, particularly the spine, encompassing contemporary spinal anatomy described in readily available general anatomy, spinal anatomy, and surgical anatomy texts. A functional perspective of spinal anatomy and physiology is presented, exceeding the exposure commonly experienced in the professional school setting. This view integrates several processes and implicates others as participants in the maintenance of a homeostatic spinal system. All instances involving specialized anatomical and physiological considerations are noted with appropriate references. An understanding of the Spinal Integrity Subsystems and the ability to gather evidence of their functional

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