Glenn Robinson offers a practice in Lawrence called Network Spinal Analysis, touted for helping relieve pain and stress.

Glenn Robinson offers Network Spinal Analysis at his office, 3320 Peterson Road.

Do you suffer from allergies, headaches, depression, insomnia, backache or other physical and emotional ailments that keep you from functioning at full capacity? Do you feel generally stressed out and find your body, mind and spirit disconnected? If so, you might be interested in a therapy that’s created waves across five continents.

Network spinal analysis (NSA), also called network care, claims to promote one’s ability to attain higher states of wellness even if one is already healthy. Researchers at the University of California School of Medicine have referred to NSA as a “stress buffer” since recipients develop lifelong strategies to diminish ailments caused by uncontrolled stress.

Q: What is NSA, and who developed it?

A: It’s a “networking” of various chiropractic and energy techniques developed by New York chiropractor Dr. Donald Epstein in 1982. Through meticulous observations of the body, during times of disease and health, Epstein noticed how accumulated storage of stress and trauma in the body affected spinal alignment, posture and the person’s overall well-being. By using gentle, specific touches in a consistent sequence along the neck and spine, he engaged the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex (sometimes called the “higher brain”) and saw two “healing waves” develop. The breathing wave changed breath patterns and caused deep relaxation. The somatopsychic wave (opposite of psychosomatic) caused undulating spinal movements and released deep-seated spinal and body tensions. According to Epstein, these two waves stimulate the body’s own innate healing powers, enable it to “self-organize” and develop new strategies leading to physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. As the spine recovers mobility and releases tension via these waves, overall health and well-being continues to improve and produces what many patients call life-changing results.

Q: Where can I find an NSA practitioner or more information?

A: Lawrence’s sole practitioner, Glenn Robertson, offers free demonstrations monthly on the second Tuesdays at his office, 3320 Peterson Road. Robertson graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College in 1993 and used traditional chiropractic techniques in his practice. In 1999, while attending a chiropractic conference in Colorado, he observed some practitioners using NSA without much explanation.

“I’m fairly skeptical by nature and had a pretty reductionist approach to medicine,” he admits.

“What I saw at that conference was outside my rational understanding and comfort level. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and couldn’t understand how just giving the body the right amount of information and such a light touch at the right time started it working to find its own healing solutions.”

After mulling for six months, he decided to step outside his comfort zone and attended his first NSA training in Colorado.

“Within six months of using NSA I saw more incredible changes than I’d seen in seven years of using traditional chiropractic,” he says.

He provides traditional chiropractic treatments when asked, but says about 70 percent of his patients are looking for something more.

“They want something beyond the absence of physical symptoms and want to take charge of their health at all levels,” he says. “NSA gives them the tools to do that.”

Mark and Penny Valladeres from Kansas City have used NSA for two years and extol its benefits.

“It’s very calming, and Mark got allergy relief straightaway,” Penny Valladeres says.

Lawrencian Bobby Jackson has been using NSA since 1999.

“Network provides a different type of wellness, and it’s really opened me up in different ways,” Jackson says.

“I fell from a high building onto my tailbone and suffered major spinal compression. I got one traditional treatment immediately, followed by NSA a couple of times a month. It’s worked wonders and restored my mobility and general health.”

Q: What can I expect during an NSA treatment?

A: A personal health history will be taken.

• Remove shoes, keep clothes on, and lie face down on a comfortable padded table.
• There may be two or three people being treated at the same time (but privacy can be arranged.)
• Robertson will palpate your neck and spine with firm and light hand touches.
• He’ll touch you gently on the neck and lower spine.
• He may lightly touch other spinal areas at intervals and encourage you to breathe into tension spots.
• You’ll find your breath changing to a gentle but deeper “wave pattern” and find your body moving involuntarily as it releases tension. Each body is unique and movements vary to reflect that uniqueness.
• You may find yourself (or hear others) laughing or crying as tension releases.

Q: How long does it take and what does it cost?

A: Treatments take from 20 to 30 minutes.

• Initial consultation, spinal exam and first treatment: $40
• Regular follow-up visits: $35
• Insurances that cover chiropractic pay for NSA.

Q: Drawbacks?

A: Three treatments weekly are recommended in the first weeks to help the body move through phase one to the next level of healing. Initially it seems expensive, and requires a time commitment.