VOM: A Diagnostic Technology That Precedes Clinical Disease
By Wm. L. Inman BS, DVM
- Introduction
- What is Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation?
VOM as it is abbreviated is a diagnostic and treatment technology based on the neuro-physiological phenomenon known as the subluxation. The presence of this neurological interference is detected by eliciting a pathological reflex that is easily seen grossly on the patient by the practitioner and the client
- The misunderstood subluxation definition:
Throughout veterinary medicine the term “subluxation” is considered to be a “partial dislocation”. This is not the case. A subluxation occurs at the inter-neuronal cell body of origin in the dorsal horn of the segmental spinal cord.
- Subluxation and X-ray.
A subluxation cannot be seen on x-ray. It is an event that occurs in the nervous tissue and will not show up with any type of imaging available in the field to date. Radiographic evidence of the effects of the subluxation phenomenon can be evaluated grossly and on x-ray only 40% of the time.
- VOM pathological reads.
The VOM reads seen by eliciting a reflexive response with a spinal adjusting device are seen in every case of neuronal subluxation. They are called Neurological Subluxation Sign (NSS). It is this means of detecting 100% of all subluxations and evaluation of their reduction by ablation of these reads that is the basis of the VOM Technology.
- Application to disease processes and diagnosis.
In most every musculoskeletal disease we see in veterinary medicine today we can see a distinct pattern of subluxation as portrayed by specific diagnostic reads. These patterns are predictable and are reproduced every time a disease process is seen. It is the detection and recognition of these patterns that gives rise to the diagnostic power and reproducibility of the VOM Technology.
- History:
Over the past 18 years and represented by over 45,000 clinical cases (on file) the patterns for over 250 disease conditions have been recognized and tested for reliability. This technology was extensively examined by the Veterinary Board in my state and finally validated as a “valuable, safe, fast and effective healing technology”. In the last three years over 2800 practitioners have been trained in seminar given by Wm. L. Inman BS, DVM, and were able to effectively apply the technology the next day. Recently Modules Two and Three have been added and the completion of all three and the passage of a test and clinical competence will confer an accreditation ” Certified Veterinary Chiropractitioner (CVCP)”
- Success of the VOM Technology.
VOM has become as popular as it has due to its ease of application and its 100% reproducibility. The 93% case success rate enjoyed by VOM represents all clinical cases except animals that have lost deep pain or have been “down” with paresis/paralysis for over 6 weeks.
- Popularity of the VOM Technology in the field.
Due to its universality of application and simplicity, the VOM Technology has dominated the field in a matter of 2 years. The intensive modules that offered to train the practitioner allow a veterinarian or other professional to add a new specialty to his/ her practice in one weekend. The professional does not lose income due to time away from work.
- Profitability of the VOM specialty.
It has been found that the clinical practitioner can easily add $20-40K to a practice that uses the VOM Technology. This is almost straight profit and spins off tens of thousands of dollars in related revenue associated with its practice, (i.e. radiology, clinical pathology, anesthesia, pharmacology, hospitalization and even surgery) .
- Referral relief.
- Site of subluxation:
The location of the subluxation phenomenon is the interneuron of the facilitated spinal segment. It is at this location that the recurrent loop of the subluxation is held in place. The chemical mediators of subluxation, lactic acid, serotonin, bradykinins, H+ ions. Prostaglandins, P-substance etc.., propagate the subluxation phenomenon.
- Effects of subluxation.
With the chemical mediators of subluxation to help the body’s response to a subluxation is to cause vasoconstriction and increase skeletal muscle tonus via the Golgi tendon apparatus. These effects cause joint fixations, muscle and bone distractions, pain, swelling and lack of function. If allowed to persist, paresis, paralysis and bony changes will ensue.
- Mechanism of Subluxation reduction.
The subluxation is only a switch that can potentially be turned back on. This is simply done by providing adequate force to the interneuron through the mechano-receptor inputs into the dorsal horn. (Please see diagram). Note: this is mechano-receptor force, not motion.
- Manual adjusting and eliciting of the VOM Reads.
It is important to differentiate the difference between manual adjusting motion and the force delivered by the device. The former is too slow to demonstrate the reflexive read and the later will always demonstrate the pathological read if present. Manual techniques cannot be used for diagnosis.
- Palpation as a diagnostic technique.
For years manual palpation has been used to determine the effects of subluxation through recognition of bony distractions, taught or tender fibers, or limited range-of –motion.
This is an art at best and subject to individual interpretation by each practitioner making this approach more subjective than objective. VOM Technology reduces this diagnostic process to a totally objective and readily duplicable system. Palpation as a means to diagnose is not used.
- Anatomical Subluxation Sign (ASS)
This sign on the patient is evaluated with palpation as depicted above and is limited by subjectivity. Important to note that only 40% of all subluxations demonstrate anatomical subluxation signs.
- Neurological Subluxation Sign (NSS)
All subluxations produce neurological subluxation signs. Thus 100% of all subluxations can easily and objectively be located and evaluated using the VOM Diagnostic Technology and neurological subluxation signs.
- Sensitivity of the device.
The device can elicit a pulse that can detect subluxations in pets from the size of a hamster or a parakeet, up to a draft horse. The variability of the device’s force is due to the micro-adjustable collar that can titrate the force from 27.6 lbs. down to almost zero. It is interesting to note that the pulse needed in a very large horse is often the same as is needed for a very small dog.
- Application of the device in the human.
The device is really a dental instrument created to split a tooth. It has been modified and used in humans for chiropractic adjustment for over twenty years. It cannot be used in the human for diagnostic purposes, as diagnostic reads are not present in the human due to the presence of the common recurrent meningeal nerves. These nerves are not present or are not functioning the same in the quadruped, which is fortunate, as this situation allows the reflexive pathological reads that the VOM Diagnostic Technology is based.
- The VOM Diagnostic Technology is amazingly accurate. Diagnostic reading patterns are demonstrable weeks to years before radiographic and other diagnostic technique will verify. In some species, such as the cat, radiographic findings are not as readily seen making VOM reads a more reliable diagnostic protocol. When applying the VOM Diagnostic Technology the practitioner is made aware of disease conditions that would otherwise go undiagnosed.
VI. Validation by Other Diagnostic Techniques
- Other diagnostic techniques.
When VOM is compared with other diagnostic technologies such as Contact Reflex Analysis (CRA), Applied Kinesthesiology (AK) and many others, it is found that these energy techniques reflect the exact reads that VOM demonstrates, validating the VOM Diagnostic Technology.
- Radiology, MRI, Hematology, etc.
- A window of availability exists for diagnosis using the VOM Technology that is unique in the industry. We are able to diagnose and apply possible treatment to a disease condition in most cases weeks to years before clinical disease is discovered by conventional means. This is the amazing diagnostic value of the VOM Technology and cannot be understated. The VOM Diagnostic window extends from the onset of injury to well past the onset of clinical disease, (this could be months to years).
VIII. VOM Treatment Window
- The treatment window logically exists within the diagnostic window and extends well after the disease is diagnosed by conventional methods. The obvious value of the VOM Diagnostic Technology lies in the utilization of this treatment window
IX. Diseases Diagnosed and Treated with VOM
- Canine diseases and reading patterns:
- Canine Hip Dysplasia Syndrome, T-8-9-10, 4mo.-6yr.
- Canine Wobbler’s Disease, C-5-6-7-8, 6mo.-11yr.
- Anterior cruciate rupture or pre-rupture, L-4-5, 2yr.-14yr.
- Medial Patellar Luxation. L-4-5, 6yr.-14yr.
- IV disc disease (all types), C-2 thru S1 as indicated by reads, 4mo-16yr.
- Urinary and fecal incontinence, L-4-5, L-7, S-1, 6yr.-14yr.
- Avulsion of the brachial plexus, root signature, C-5-6-7-8-T-1, 6mo.-10yr.
- Degenerative Myelopathy Syndromes, T-10 thru L-7, 8yr.-18yr.
- Fibro-cartilaginouis embolism, As indicated by reads, 4mo.-10yr.
- Esophageal Achalasia, Megaesophagus, T-5-6-7, 8mo.-8yr.
- GI hyper-hypo-motility disease,1yr.-12yr.
- Chronic Ear and Eye Infections, left or right A-O joint
- Lick Granulomas, C-5-6-7-8 or L-4-5-6-7
- Many others including somato-visceral disease
- Feline diseases diagnostic patterns:
- Feline Hip dysplasia-like syndrome, L-3-4-5, L-7-S-1, 2yr.-21yr.
- Anterior Cervical Instability, AORA, AOLA, C-2-3-4, 2yr.-10yr.
- Caudal Cervical Instability, C-6-7-8, 3yr.-10yr.
- Mid-Thoracic subluxation patterns/somato-visceral disease. T-9-10
- IV Disc Disease, T-10 thru L-7
- Caudal lumbar disease and urinary incontinence, L-4-5, 5yr.-18yr.
- Sacral Disease and FX trauma, LSIS, RSIS, L-7, as needed
- Stifle Disease in the Cat, L-3-4-5, 5yr.-14yr.
- Neurodermatitis, Milliary Eczema, T11 thru L-7, 4yr.-13yr.
- Feline hyperesthesia Syndrome, T-11 thru l-7, 4yr.-13yr.
- Flea susceptibility, T-10 thru L-7, 4yr.-18yr.
- Feline Kidney Dysfunction and FUS, T-8-9-10-11, 3yr.-15yr.
- Megacolon, AOLA, AORA, LSIS, RSIS, S-1, 8yr.-12yr.
- Feline Infectious Diseases (See VOM Module Three)
- Feline Endocrine Disease (See VOM Module Three)
- Equine disease diagnostic patterns: (note: equine reading patterns and treatment adjustments are applied to the affected tissue as in bowed tendons, or in the affected leg like at the carpus and the hock, but are found to be held in place in the axial spine. The following is a list of equine maladies treated at the site of injury, the extremity, and finally at the axial spine that holds the problem in place.
- Bowed tendons
- Bog Spavin
- Bone Spavin
- Bucked Shins
- Splints
- Chip and Avulsion Fractures
- Osslets
- Ringbone
- Sidebones
- Bicipital Bursitis
- Shoulder Sweeney
- Curb
- Thoroughpin
- Spinal Strain-Sprain (back)
- Sacroiliac disease
- Many others
X. Acute Trauma: Diagnosis and Treatment Paradigms
- VOM as a means to reduce swelling from trauma.
The VOM subluxation reduction has as its main function a means of reducing swelling by the reversal of the vasoconstriction of the vasculature of the affected tissue and release of the muscular spasming associated with injury. It has been found that prompt VOM subluxation reduction is at least effective if not more so than the classic corticosteroid administration. The goal of acute shock management is to stabilize and reduce swelling in most cases and the VOM adjustments are often more effective than conventional approaches.
- VOM and conventional shock therapy.
- Reading patterns at the areas of the C-5-6-7-8 areas in the canine are commonly seen as a missed diagnosis or a hidden diagnosis in the canine. These cases often do not demonstrate a clinical disease and because of this goes undiscovered. Since this area goes unchecked for years, the body compensates for this neuronal miscommunication by system compensation and eventually these secondary compensations induce a disease condition that is discovered. The danger is that these diseases are thought to be the primary disease state when they are really being held in place by the caudal cervical instability. The caudal cervical instability-directed diseases are the most commonly missed diseases in veterinary medicine.
XII. VOM-Aided Diagnosis in the Canine, Feline. Equine and Bovine
- VOM as a diagnostic technology has and is being used internationally as an adjunct to conventional diagnostic techniques, or is being used by itself due to its exacting accuracy and its ability to diagnose disease months to years before clinical disease is seen. This author still uses other technique to diagnose but uses VOM for a quick and accurate “view” on what is happening or what is going to happen. VOM is sort of a diagnostic crystal ball.
XIII. VOM Treatment Application
- Of course the goal of all diagnosis is the possibility of quick and adequate treatment. The continued application of the VOM Treatment Technology is a logical extension of this diagnostic process. A number of practitioners have been using the VOM Diagnostic technology to find out what to treat and then use a manual manipulation technique to affect healing. Over a short period of time they have been found to resorting to the VOM Treatment Technology.
XIV. Invitation for VOM Materials and Training
- More extensive study and data is available through the International Association of Veterinary Chiropractitioners (IAVCP) and the series of hands-on VOM Seminars offered by VOM Seminars Inc. More information and registration for VOM Modules 1-2 can be obtained by contacting Wm. L. Inman BS, DVM at 1-800-527-9995 access code 11 or on the internet at drbill@vomtech.com.
- Certified Veterinary Chiropractitioner (CVCP)
