Bayside Chiropractic - Blueflash Photography 041

Our Doctors use Sacro-Occipital Technicc Chiropractic also known as SOT® Methods. Sacro refers to the sacrum, which is the bottom part of the spinal column. Occipital refers to the occiput, which is the bone at the base of your skull. So SOT® Methods focuses on the relationship between your sacrum and your occiput and how that relationship affects your overall functioning.

SOT® Methods is a marriage of osteopathy (cranial and organ therapy) and chiropractic (spinal and extremity work). This Technique gives patients an advantage in their pursuit of wellness due to its comprehensive whole body nature.

SOT Logo

The Founding Story

SOT® Methods was founded by Dr. DeJarnette, an engineer who was severely injured in the early 1920’s. He sought treatment from conventional medicine which failed to produce satisfactory results. The doctors who were able to help him were an Osteopath and a Chiropractor. He then went on to complete degrees in both chiropractic and osteopathy because he felt the combination was what helped him.

Dr. DeJarnette spent hours with each patient doing research. He found what he called ‘indicators’ which he was able to systematically correlate with imbalances in the patient. He discovered that after successful treatment these indicators diminished or disappeared.

He noted many significant relationships between different parts of the body, the most important of which is between the sacrum (tailbone area) and the occiput (back of the head), out of which developed Sacro-Occipital Technic.

Woman receiving chiropractic care

The Seven Systems of SOT® Methods

  • The first three systems are called Category I, II, and III. Each category has indicators that help the doctor to determine what structural state the body is in, particularly the three different distortion patterns of the pelvis as it relates to the cranium. These indicators are found all over the body, so the whole body must be evaluated. No two patients are alike.
  • The fourth system relates to indicators on part of the trapezius muscle (the upper back) that determine if and where there are imbalances on the spine itself.
  • The fifth system is the occipital fiber system and Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique (CMRT). The occipital fibers are indicators of organ imbalance in the body, which are corrected by CMRT. If both the organ and the spine are treated, the imbalance has a better chance of healing. Nutritional and lifestyle changes are often required to make lasting improvement.
  • The sixth system describes the gentle treatment of the cranium. The cranium consists of many bones connected by joints called sutures. During normal breathing, the small movement in these joints acts as a ‘pump’, circulating the fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). This fluid needs to circulate freely for optimal health of the nervous system.
  • The seventh system includes treatment of the extremities, including feet, ankles, knees, hips, wrists, shoulders, elbows and hands. These structures are also subject to imbalances which can be corrected using SOT® Methods adjustment techniques.

Our doctors are members of SORSI – The Sacro Occipital Research Society International, the governing body of Sacro Occipital Technic.