The North Pole Stretch for the Correction of Anterior Curves and Compressions of the Intervertebral Disks, Especially in the Cervical and Upper Dorsal [Thoracic] Regions with Tense Muscles

In 1914 this move was taught by me as a new discovery, in the Ecclectic [Eclectic] School of Drugless Healing, then located on Madison Street in Chicago.

For this correction the patient lies on his back on the table, perfectly free and relaxed so he can slide up or down with the rhythmic extension stretch, applied through the occiput by the operator who stands at the head of the table. There should be no strapping down of the patient. All parts of the body must be free to move in rhythmic unity with the breath while the contact on the head is held as a mild extension. No force is used. Cushions are placed under the head, sufficiently high to reverse the anteriority of the cervical and dorsal [thoracic] curves, and under the hips for the anterior lumbar vertebrae. The patient's head is tilted so that the chin rests on the chest when making the contact, to further correct the anterior cervical curve. The patient breathes deeply and slowly while the contact is held as a gentle stretch for the duration of two or three deep inhalations, which is sufficient for the average patient. One with a short, tense neck may require a little more time for relaxation.

During this stretch the patient does most of the correcting himself by deep breathing and natural expansion of the chest from within outward. And this is the simple correction of anterior vertebrae. There should be no haste nor stress. It is a relaxation movement by means of the patient's own effort in conjunction with the operator's placing the body in a corrective position. A few minutes spent in this manner, with rest intervals in between each breath, will do much to unify the patient's own energies and his physicial [physical] structure. That is the principle behind this move or stretch. It relaxes fascia, meninges and articular fixations in an easy and natural way.

In very sluggish conditions the resulting increased circulation may react in momentary dizziness. In such cases, stop there with that particular correction until the next visit. When the circulation is restored to normal, that symptom will no longer occur during treatment.

This correction is not used for long or loose necks, but short and tense necks with anterior dorsals [thoracics] and fifth lumbar vertebrae [L5] do need it.

This is a structurally corrective move and must be done