FGTCNC Services

Functional Neurology

“Any man could, if he were so inclined, be the sculptor of his own brain.” – Santiago Ramon y Cajal

The brain/nervous system is the most important organ system in the body maintaining control and directing all other parts and systems of the body in an orderly and synchronized fashion. Like a computer, the brain processes information it receives from the body and sends a response back based on the feedback it receives.

It was once believed the brain cannot change after maturity. Neuroscience however has established the brain can learn throughout one’s entire life. This concept is named neuroplasticity, where brain function can change through specific, repetitive action and develop more efficient pathways for the brain to communicate. Brain health is integral in every area of physical, chemical and emotional well-being. When the relationship between the body and the brain becomes dysfunctional, subtle changes occur in the nervous system and result in symptomatology in physical, chemical or emotional health.

A functional chiropractic neurologist differs from a medical neurologist in that traditional medicine is looking for disease processes of the nervous system and pathologies (i.e strokes, lesions, tumors etc). Unless pathological findings are observed in patients, little to no treatment options are available. In our experience, patient suffering from symptoms associated with various neurological conditions generally do not have pathological neurological findings but rather functional dysfunctions and imbalances of the nervous systems which can be addressed.

Functional neurology is a field of study that achieves successful results by applying evidence-based procedures and current understanding of neuroscience and neuroplasticity, using a wide array of therapies or applications, to increase and enhance human functioning without use of drugs or surgery. Therapeutic activities and exercises are derived from disciplines such as neurology, orthopedics, optometry, physical therapy, and chiropractic. Some examples of the multifaceted treatment approach and skilled rehabilitation include: ocular and visual therapy, vestibular therapy, balance and coordination retraining, auditory/color therapy, aroma therapy, electrical and vibration therapy, laser therapy, gait retraining/therapy, sensory motor integration, rhythm and timing training, primitive reflex retraining, postural training, mindfulness and breathing techniques and cognitive rehabilitation.

At Fitness Genome Tayebjee Chiropractic Neurology Center we use individualized comprehensive evaluations, other diagnostic testing and cutting-edge treatment modalities to assess the function of the brain/nervous system and examine ways in which the brain and body are communicating—or rather, not communicating. This unique perspective enables us to objectively understand and effectively manage a wide variety of complex neurological conditions. We believe there is a bio-individuality to the nervous system, just as individual as a fingerprint and even those with similar symptoms may require different treatments specific to the patient who is being treated.

We are specialized in working with various symptoms associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e. ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Dyslexia), neurodegenerative disorders (i.e. early Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease) and traumatic and vascular injuries (i.e Traumatic brain injuries, Post-Concussion Syndrome, Strokes, Hypoxia, Whiplash). Some common symptoms functional neurology can offer answers for include:

• Balance disorders
• Dizziness/vertigo
• Dystonia
• Headaches/Migraines
• Insomnia/sleeping difficulties
• Tremor Disorders
• Neck pain
• Numbness/tingling
• Tinnitus
• Chronic pain syndromes
• Movement disorders
• POTS/Dysautonomia
• Poor Focus and Concentration
• Peripheral Neuropathies

Whether you are recovering from an injury, dealing with a chronic disease, or just want to perform better athletically, fine tuning your brain is essential for optimal health. Call us with questions or to book your neurological evaluation.

Functional Medicine

“It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver” – Mahatma Gandhi

Functional Medicine is a model that seeks to promote wellness and helps to prevent, identify and address the root cause of diseases and not just the symptoms. Functional medicine addresses the body as a whole connected network of systems and not a collection of independent organ systems.

We are in the midst of a chronic disease epidemic. Chronic diseases are not self-limiting, meaning they do not heal by themselves. In fact, chronic diseases only worsen over time. Our current medical model is geared to treating the symptoms. Functional Medicine on the other hand asks different questions and looks to uncover the underlying cause. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions.

Through a patient-centered, system-oriented approach, functional medicine finds the physiological processes that are out of balance. This is accomplished by understanding the patient’s timeline and looking at the interactions between genetic, environmental, diet and lifestyle factors. A combination of laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques may be used to aid in this process. By identifying the core clinical and physiological imbalances and supporting the expression of health, we can design and tailor treatments that supports the individual’s unique needs. This can be achieved through supplements, customized nutritional plans, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques

At Fitness Genome Tayebjee Chiropractic Neurology Center we use functional medicine approaches to empower patients to take accountability for their own health. With this knowledge and education, we believe each individual can reach their greatest potential, attain vitality and live a healthier and happier life.

Functional Medicine can help with symptoms associated with:

Functional Nutrition – Food as Medicine

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” ~ Thomas Edison

We are seeing a rise in patients suffering from chronic diseases every day. Many of these chronic conditions, metabolic disturbances, autoimmune diseases and inflammation are a perpetuated and/or heightened by diet, nutrition and other lifestyle factors.

There is a huge deficit in nutrition education in the mainsteam health care model. At Fitness Genome Tayebjee Chiropractic Neurology Center, we believe in empowering patients through education about the state of their health. We use functional nutrition to adequately assess nutrition status and to offer a personalized approach to nutritional therapies that will address the factors underlying chronic disease. No two individuals are the same, thus we gather information and assess objectively, through clinical history, evaluation and laboratory analysis the nutrition status of each individual. Using this information, we implement, monitor, set individualized goals and follow up regularly to support the patient’s return towards optimal health and improved function.

Our customized interventions range from healthy dietary choices, individual macro and micro nutrient demands, phytonutrient diversity, meal prep, appropriate meal timing, lifestyle modifications, sleepy hygiene, home and personal care and much much more. Today we see many generic plans and protocols. While these can be helpful, we often hear patient say “I tried it but it did not work.” OR “I felt good for a while, but then…” Our tailored functional nutrition and lifestyle counseling is focused on empowering you to take a stand for your health, make informed and educated decisions and regain optimal health by restoring proper physiological functioning of the body.

Functional Nutrition Can Benefit:

• Asthma and Allergies
• Detoxification
• Diabetes and blood Sugar
• Digestive Issues
• Fatigue and Adrenal Stress
• Gluten Sensitivities
• Headaches
• Pain and Inflammation
• Skin Issues
• Weight Management
• And much more

B.R.A.I.N.S. Sport Performance Program

“What the mind believes the body achieves.” – Anonymous

• B – Balance
• R – Reaction time
• A – Accuracy
• I – Imagination
• N – eNdurance
• S –Spacial awareness / Speed

B.R.A.I.N.S. is our sports program geared towards achieving optimized athletic performance. No matter what your sport may be, there are constants across all great athletes. Many of those constants can be traced back to the athlete’s exceptional brain performance. How can you know that these great athletes possess great brain capabilities? Looking across the components in B.R.A.I.N.S. all these components are regulated by highly functioning brains. Athletes such as Lionel Messi, Roger Federer, Stephen Curry, Tom Brady all genetically gifted with great athletic attributes, but none of them would qualify as the most athletic gifted athletes among their peers.

Looking at Lionel Messi, he possesses tremendous lateral quickness yet he is diminutive in size. He also possesses the ability to process information at an accelerated rate versus his peers enabling him to see three or four moves ahead of his opponent which explains his superior reaction time and knowledge of body in space. Additionally, his brain’s capacity allows him to be much more proactive versus reactive on the pitch conserving energy and allowing for heightened endurance especially at the end of games.

In Roger Federer’s case, he possesses outstanding fundamentals. His brain’s ability to feel and balance himself within the confines of a tennis court distinguishes him from his contemporaries and his feel and touch at the net makes him arguably the greatest volleyer of all time. Additionally, illustrating his brain’s great capability is his imagination which creates the opportunity for something you have never seen before every time he steps out there.

Stephen Curry has changed the game of basketball in a way few others have. His long-distance marksmanship/accuracy can be traced to his ability to anticipate defenders while maintaining his concentration making him an unstoppable force despite what many would consider ‘small’ by NBA standards.

As Tom Brady demonstrated by his NFL combine performance, he is certainly not physically gifted to play quarterback in the NFL but his ability to speedily process information, reading defenses while progressing through routes make him the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.

At Fitness Genome Tayebjee Chiropractic Neurology Center we understand the brain’s potential and our B.R.A.I.N.S Sports Program is individualized to helping you gain an edge at whatever your sport or pursuit may be. Through the use of measurable cutting-edge technologies along with a baseline testing, athletes have worked one on one with Dr. Nisreen to be examined and treated.

Chiropractic Care

“The power that made the body heals the body.” – Dr. BJ Palmer

The word “chiropractic” means “to be done by hand.” Chiropractic is a health-care profession that focuses on the spine and other joints of the body, collectively the musculoskeletal system, and its intimate connection to the nervous system. The chiropractic adjustment is a safe, effective, drug and surgery free, hands on alternate to maintaining optimal health. The purpose of the adjustment is to restore joint function through a specific and controlled force to ultimately reduce joint restrictions and improve function, movement and performance.

Tissue injuries such as traumas from an accident or fall, or less obvious insults from improper lifting of a heavy object, overexertion, poor posture for an extended period of time and other stressors can negatively impact the spine and other joints and can cause joint restrictions (also referred to as “subluxations.”). These injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and reduced function. Adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing tissues to heal.

In addition to focusing on the prevention, diagnosis and conservative care of spine-related disorders chiropractors have broad training in therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, soft tissue therapies as well as provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

Chiropractic care can help with:

• Back pain and injuries
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Disc Problems
• Ear Infections
• Headaches and Migraines
• Hip, Knee and Ankle Problems
• Neck Pain
• Posture
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Shoulder, Arm and Hand Problems
• Sports Performance and Injuries
• Stress
• TMJD
• And much more…..

*Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other health care providers.

Chiropractic care is safe for children. A child’s health is undoubtedly of the utmost importance to any parent. Pediatric chiropractic adjustments are gentle and adapted to the patient’s age and needs. Parents often want their children to experience the benefits of chiropractic care beginning early in life due to “micro-traumas” during their day to day activities. Micro-traumas can occur:-

• After birth, as birthing procedures can put tremendous pressures on a child’s spine.
• At regular milestone intervals during the first year of life, such as learning to hold the head up, sit up, crawl, stand and walk.
• When your child takes a fall. Children take numerous tumbles while jumping or running around, when learning to ride a bike, and during their activities of daily living at home, school and on the playground.
• When your child participates in athletic activities – such as a tackle on the football or a header during soccer practice

In children, chiropractic care can help with:

• Colic
• Constipation
• Fever
• Ear ache
• Coughs and colds
• Back and neck pain
• Growing pains
• Bed wetting
• Headaches
• Poor posture
• Scoliosis
• Allergies
• Asthma

Just as cavities develop in your child’s teeth without symptoms, joint restrictions can be present without causing pain. It is important to visit your chiropractor for a check-up even when they are no symptoms. With regular adjustments and nutritional counseling on diet and exercise, your child will also learn good health habits that will be of benefit for a lifetime.

Cranial Adjusting/Chiropractic Care:

There are twenty-two bones in the cranium. Eight of these bones protect and encircle the brain and fourteen make the bones of the face. The cranial bones do not fuse and remain separate throughout our lives. Where two bones meet is called a suture, and is a complex joint that provides sliding between bones and contain numerous blood vessels, nerve fibers, and connective tissue. At birth, these cranial bones are not fully formed so as to allow a child to pass through the birthing canal. As the infant passes through the birth canal, the bones slide over one another and re-expand afterwards to resume their normal positions. This physiologic compressibility minimizes brain damage and allows for maximum brain capacity.

During the first year of life, the brain undergoes a rapid rate of growth approximating these bones closer together but remaining in constant motion. Inhalation and exhalation cause rhythmic movement between each of the cranial bones and fluctuates the underlying cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF). This pumping mechanisms of CSF nourishes the brain and spinal cord.

When the bones of the skull are moved out of their proper alignment it causes the CSF underneath to become stagnant. Furthermore, the membranes that line the skull, the meninges, may become twisted and compressed. This in turn puts unnecessary tension on certain areas of the brain depending on which cranial bone is affected.

https://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/programs-services/unicoronal-synostosis.cfm

Cranial adjusting techniques can restore alignment to the bones of the head and face through precise pressure applied by the doctor’s hands or an adjusting instrument over or near the junctions (sutures) of the bones. It is very safe and gentle for children, in fact, pressure can be as gentle as touching an avocado to see if its ripe!

Cranial adjusting therapy can also benefit those with:

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Learning disabilities
• Learning difficulties
• Behavior issues

Some other causes of cranial dysfunction area:

• Concussions or a violent blow to the head
• Whiplash injuries during an auto accident
• Heading a soccer ball or repetitive impacts in football and other sports

Other Services

Ocular Therapy

Eye exercises and training to enhance our eyes ability to be still when they need to be still and move correctly when they need to move. Your eyes and brain work like a periscope for a submarine. Your eyes send back signals about what they see and your brain moves your eyes to look at what it wants to see.  If the signals between the brain and the eyes don’t work like they are supposed to the eyes won’t know where to look and move around when they should be still. This, in turn causes issues relating to balance, dizziness, nausea, hand-eye coordination, reading speed/comprehension, light sensitivity and fatigue. Ocular exercises are performed to enhance visual processing skills, focusing ability, convergence ability, depth perception, visual-spatial skills and tracking, Also, these exercises are used to integrate the visual and vestibular integration that controls balance and proprioceptive system (touch), auditory system (hearing) and kinesthetic system (movement). These training can help enhance reaction time, eye-hand-body integration and visual-spatial skills.

Cold laser therapy

Used to improve active range of motion, to increase blood flow, reduce inflammation and increase activation, improve joint stability and coordination of the involved areas.  In the research, cold lasers have been shown to increase mitochondria production that increase healthy cellular activity. This is achieved through photobiomodulation in with a non-ionizing electromagnetic energy triggers photochemical changes within cellular structures that are receptive to these photons to stimulate a biological response. The mitochondria are particularly receptive to this process and they perform the function of producing cellular energy called “ATP”. ATP provides energy to drive many processes in living cells, e.g. muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and chemical synthesis.

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the leading contribution to the sense of balance and spatial orientation for the purpose of coordinating movement with balance. People with vestibular disorders often experience problems with vertigo, dizziness, visual disturbance, and/or imbalance. The vestibular system communicates with the eyes called the vestibulo-ocular reflex. This allow for the eyes to fix on a moving object while staying in focus. The vestibular system also affects balance as it communicates with postural and stabilization muscles. When communication between these reflexes are affected, symptoms can arise. Vestibular rehabilitation can include gaze/ocular and head movement exercises (see above), balance rehabilitation, repositioning maneuvers e.t.c.

Functional Movement Training and Therapeutic Exercises/Activities

One-on-one training with the purpose of increasing and maintaining strength, endurance, range of motion and improving passive/active ranges of motion and flexibility of a specific loss of ability

Neuromuscular Re-education

Encompasses a plethora of exercises that area aimed to improve movement, balance, coordination, kinesthetic sense, posture and/or proprioception for sitting and/or standing activities and improve dynamic movement strength and flexibility.

Gait retraining/Cross Crawl Movement Retraining

Brain dysfunction or injury can lead to gait related issues affecting balance, strength, movement and proprioception. Learning or re-learning how to properly ambulate in a heel strike, stance, and toe-off pattern comprises gait rehabilitation. Additionally, cross crawl movement retraining reinforces the skills we use in opposition such as crawling, walking, running, and swimming and stabilizes the pelvis while mobilizing the shoulders. Cross Crawl movements are essential for the communication between the sides of the brain and important in developing physical coordination skills i.e. hand to eye coordination.

Manual therapies (M.A.T, GRASTON, A.R.T)

M.A.T – Muscle Activation Technique

A.R.T – Active Release Therapy

M.A.T is based on muscle testing that drives a brain to muscle connection allowing you to function at a higher level without compensations and aimed at improving range of motion. A.R.T/Graston are a soft tissue modalities that focuses on relieving tissue tension via the removal of fibrosis/adhesions which can develop in tissues as a result of overload due to repetitive use. These techniques are aimed to reducing musculoskeletal pain.

Percussion/Vibration Therapy

Used to increase the functional performance and range of motion and decrease inflammation and muscle spasm. Also stimulates the lymphatic systems with increases immune system activity. Vibration therapy sends information directly to the brain and can aid in increasing awareness to muscles and joints

Electrical therapy

The somatosensory system is the part of the sensory system that relies on touch to experience sensation; sensations of pain, pressure and vibration are all somatosensory experiences. This therapy relies on low- dose electrical stimulation to try to recover sensory loss, or to fatigue a muscular adhesion or contraction by applying an electrical countercurrent.

Sensory Motor Integration

A modality used to synchronize the relationship between the sensory systems of the body and the muscular system to increase communication and coordination within the sensory-motor circuit. It can help improve reaction time, hand eye speed and reaction time, enhance cognitive ability, refine sensory motor skills and improve hand eye coordination & peripheral awareness.

Rhythm and Timing Training

Precise timing is critical for human performance. Timing is responsible for the synchronous communication of our brains’ network system that connects cognitive processes and sensory-motor system. Rhythm and timing training use auditory and visual feedback to improve on motor planning and sequencing skills, coordination, and symmetry. Improvements rhythm and timing can affect attention, processing speed, memory, athletic performance and much more.

Primitive Reflex Remediation

The human brain is divided into two halves – the right & left hemispheres and a brainstem. The development of the brain occurs in a bottom/up fashion. That is, structurally from the ground up beginning with the brainstem and managed functionally from the top down by the right and left hemispheres of the cortex. The brainstem is the first to develop and is considered the “primitive brain” which controls automatic functions such as digestion, breathing etc. The cortex which is the right and left hemispheres combined is the conscious brain which is responsible for higher brain functions and advanced skills such as decision making, behavior, reading and writing etc.

The primitive brain – the brainstem – is the reflexive part of the brain and develops first because is responsible for automatic, involuntary movements necessary to a baby’s survival in the first few weeks of life or so called “training wheels”. As the cortex develops its goal is to train, equip, resource, integrate, and further develop the skills and functions in a top/down fashion and allows conscious rather than automatic/reflexive/subconscious functions. As such, these reflexes are eventually inhibited allowing proper development of the nervous system and when they persist past the first two years they are considered abnormal and interfere with top/down development.

As normal cortical neural development occurs, a progressive inhibition of the brainstem’s primitive reflexes and progressive development of new skills such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, speech and strengthening postural reflexes necessary for crawling, walking, balance, coordination, are advanced. Children, and even adults, with present primitive reflexes may demonstrate challenges with development of motor, sensory, academic, social and behavioral systems and has been attributed as a factor in neuro-developmental disorders. The severity of this neuro-developmental delay depends upon the strength and number of the persistent primitive reflexes, as well as other factors. Remediation is designed to inhibit these reflexes to allow for proper development and its goal is to foster and promote efficient and optimal function for life.

Mechanical traction

A type of traction to open the individual vertebral segments, decrease spasm and increase mobility, circulation and nutrition to the involved spinal joints.

Stretching

A post isometric muscle relaxation technique and a physician assisted muscle stretching technique used in the involved areas to release fibrosis formation in the joints and muscle groups, to increase range of motion, and reduce pain.

Rock Taping

Athletic tape similar to elastic therapeutic tape, applied to the skin to aid in pain reduction, restoration of lymphatic flow, proprioception, and/or holding a particular muscle or joint in place to prevent further injury.

Brain Tap

A self-help tool that is NOT a substitute for treatment by a psychologist. The application is designed to break negative thought patterns through positive affirmations to improve motivation and energy, reduce stress, and shifting focus to the positive aspects of an individual’s life.

Flexion/Distraction – COMING SOON

A technique applied to reverse intervertebral disc pressure thereby increasing rehydration of the affected disc and relieving nerve compression.

Off Vertical Axis Rotational Device (OVARD) – COMING SOON
Targets the vestibular system, which affects balance, spatial orientation and movement. As the name suggests, this cutting-edge technology literally rotates the patient, who sits in a chair that spins in a precisely controlled manner. The specific angle, roll, and speed depend on the patient’s motion profile. This rotation stimulates the vestibular system to encourage neural activity in parts of the brain that have been affected by illness or injury.