Principles of Axial Stability Method

Here are some of the basic concepts underlying Axial Stability Method Chiropractic (ASM). Click on the descriptions below to read more in-depth articles about the roles each concept plays in Axial Stability Method.

1. What is Axial Stability?

Axial stability is the effectiveness by which the core of the body manages the challenges of gravity.

2. Biomechanical Injury

The cerebellum and other unconscious parts of the central nervous system process biomechanical information. Injuries can interfere with this information processing and leave confusion within the brain-body system. We call this confusion "biomechanical injury".

3. Compensation Strategies

When injury occurs, the body does its best to restore its functioning. But when the body can't fully return to its pre-injury condition, the strategies that it adopts instead are "compensation strategies". When left untreated, compensation strategies can accumulate over a lifetime, with increasing consequences for health.

4. Triad of Equilibrium

The visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems interact together to monitor the position of the head and cervical spine. Restoring functioning of this "Triad of Equilibrium" is a critical part of the ASM approach.

5. Proprioceptive Maps

Proprioceptive maps are a critical part of the body's capacity for fluid movement. An ASM treatment can help the body restore these maps.

6. Gentle Touch in ASM

ASM uses a handheld chiropractic adjusting instrument called the Activator. We use the Activator on its lowest setting. We believe that at this setting, the tool operates primarily to deliver information to help the brain-body system to restore optimal biomechanical functioning.