"Sacro" means "related to, or associated with," the sacrum. The sacrum is the foundation for the spine. The sacrum is often called the tail bone though this is not exactly correct. "Occipital" means "related to or associated with the occiput. Occiput means "the back of the head". So, SOT is a method of normalizing the relationship between the foundation of the spine and the top of the spine. It is this relationship and how these two bones get along with one another, that has been proven to be so important in the normal functioning of the brain and spinal cord.
SOT (Sacro Occipital Technique) is composed of highly accurate and effective clinical procedures. Dr. Major B. DeJarnette spent most of his life conducting clinical investigation into what works in chiropractic and what makes chiropractic work. Many of the experiments he first tried on himself so that he was aware of the results first hand. He also recruited others to be patients while he tested the procedures. By means of these repeated, peer-reviewed tests, he determined the true nature of the spinal misalignment and how it could most efficiently be corrected.
Getting rid of pain is important. At all times, during an SOT adjustment, the comfort of the patient is considered. But eliminating or killing the pain is not the main goal of a chiropractic SOT adjustment. The true goal of an adjustment, and particularly an SOT adjustment, is to normalize the function of the entire body. The central nervous system---the brain and spinal cord---is the avenue of approach. The brain and spinal cord are used for this purpose because all studies of the human body show that their function is the primary function of the body. They act to control all other functions of the body as well. So, normalization of this function is the primary goal. As this goal is obtained, the pain will go away. But elimination of pain is simply a side effect of normalizing the cranial sacral respiratory mechanism.
SOT has been shown to be clinically effective in thousands of offices worldwide This method of health care is constantly improving and finding new proof of it's effectiveness. Many of the other chiropractic techniques use principles that were originally discovered and written by Dr. DeJarnette. The validity of Dr. DeJarnette's research is proven every day by the practice of these techniques. Having been trained in Sacro-Occipital Technique, Dr. Beck will apply all of his skill, knowledge, and judgment to every adjustment he gives.
SOT works to a great extent by specifically positioning the body to use the weight of the body to correct the body. This occurs because of an interaction between the specific position the body is in and the motion of the body caused by normal breathing. Many times the patient will feel very relaxed during the adjustment and even take a nap. There is some pain when specific points of correction are located. This is more like a "good pain" than a "bad pain" and serves mostly to let the doctor and patient know that a point needing correction has been found.