Chiropractic Thermography

Chiropractic Therography: for Nervous System Health

Chiropractic thermography is an advanced, non-invasive imaging technology designed to evaluate the nervous system. This cutting-edge technique enables specialists to detect heat patterns that may indicate neurological dysfunction. A 1987 report by the American Medical Association (AMA) on Neuro-Muscular-Skeletal Thermography highlighted its effectiveness, bringing thermography into mainstream healthcare as a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring neurological conditions. By analyzing hyperthermic (hot) and hypothermic (cold) patterns, thermography provides essential insights into neuromuscular function and nerve-related disorders. Notably, chiropractors have utilized thermography as a diagnostic tool since the 1920s, further reinforcing its role in assessing nervous system health.

How Chiropractic Thermography Helps Diagnose Neurological Conditions

Chiropractic Thermography plays a vital role in detecting a wide range of neurological disorders. Conditions commonly diagnosed using thermographic imaging include:

Radiculitis
Peripheral neuritis
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Upper motor neuron lesions
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Other nerve-related disorders

Healthcare providers, including neurologists, chiropractors, and physical therapists, utilize thermographic neurology to enhance their assessments and improve patient outcomes.

Read the AMA Council’s Report on NMS Thermography

Thermographic Imaging and Nervous System Health

The nervous system is responsible for regulating essential body functions, including skin surface temperature. Millions of nerve endings within the skin help manage blood flow and capillary function, making temperature patterns an important diagnostic tool.

When the sympathetic nervous system is overactive, it may lead to vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow and causing localized cooling (hypothermia). Chiropractic thermography accurately maps these temperature fluctuations, allowing healthcare professionals to detect signs of nervous system dysfunction.

Using Thermography to Detect CRPS and Neuropathy

One of the most significant applications of thermographic neurology is in diagnosing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). This condition is characterized by abnormal nervous system responses that result in irregular temperature changes in affected areas.

Specialists use Cold Stress Testing to evaluate the nervous system’s ability to regulate temperature effectively. This method helps detect neurological abnormalities and assess pain syndromes more accurately.