Adjustment:
A high velocity, low amplitude impulse delivered by the hand of a skilled physician trained to correct a biomechanical problem. This is a gentle, specific procedure in the most conservative of all approaches.

Bone Scan
The use of an isotope (technitium-99m methylene diposphate) contrast film to diagnose skeletal metastasis, infection, AVN, or an inconclusive fracture from a plain film.

Chiropractic:
The Latin definition is broken down into two words. The first half - "chiro" meaning hand, and the second half - "practic" meaning work. Chiropractic is really the combination of science based medicine, art, and philosophy. The focus is locating and correcting vertebral subluxations through gentle and specific chiropractic adjustments thus allowing your body to function at its optimum potential.

CT
Computed Tomography.
A noninvasive procedure, due to lack of ionizing radiation, to visualize and obtain physiologic data. Excellent for diagnosis of skull fractures or spinal cord stenosis.

DEXA
Dual Emission X-ray Absorptiometry.
This is the gold standard test to determine bone density and diagnosis of such conditions like Osteoporosis.

Diagnosis:
The specific name of the condition or ailment.

Differential Diagnosis
A comprehensive list of possible diagnosis.

IFC
Interferrential Current.
A physical therapy modality designed to: reduce muscle spasm, reduce edema, increase tissue healing, reduce pain, and break up scar tissue.

Manipulation: 
Might be thought of as similar to an adjustment without the use of precision, specificity or the correction of nerve interference. Therefore, it is not synonymous with chiropractic adjustment.

MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
A noninvasive procedure, due to lack of ionizing radiation, to visualize and obtain physiologic data. More soft tissue contrast and spatial resolution than that of a CT.

Narrative
A comprehensive report based on the history, physical exam, evaluation findings, treatment plan, chiropractic adjustment, and diagnosis of a patient. It may also include such information as X-ray interpretation or ancillary studies.

NMR
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
Invented in 1971 by Raymond Damadian to differentiate between healthy tissue and cancerous tissue.  The name was forced to change in the mid 1980's due to the negative connotation with the word "nuclear". Presently known as MRI.

Prognosis
The expected outcome of a specific condition based on treatment recommendations.

Surface EMG Scanning:
A painless, non-invasive procedure to measure and record the electrical signals given off by the muscles that attach to the spinal column. Electrodes are placed on the skin and their readings are shown in the form of a graph. Since one of the symptoms of nerve interference is abnormal muscle activity, the EMG is becoming a popular method for charting muscle spasms and spinal imbalance.

Thermography:
This procedure measures the temperature on the skin surface to locate inflammation of muscles and soft tissues. A special camera takes pictures, which reflect the different temperatures by displaying a range of colors on film. Thermography has been used to pinpoint spinal nerve and muscle stress.

Vertebral Subluxation:
Also referred to as nerve interference, is a misalignment of one or more of the 24 articulating vertebrae in the spinal column. This may cause alteration of nerve function and interference to the transmission of mental impulses, resulting in a lessening of the body's innate ability to express its maximum health potential.