• Thompson JE
• Bockhold H
• Blum CL

• Chiropractic
• Open Access Document
• Palpation
• Sacro Occipital Technique

Introduction: Sacro occipital technique (SOT) uses occipital fibre analysis and treatment (OFT) to find regions of the body that have interrelationships through direct musculoskeletal and/or indirect reflex to the occipital region, spinal segments, and possibly to visceral referred pain pathways used with chiropractic manipulative reflex technique (CMRT). The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if experienced SOT doctors could palpate occipital fibres on canines and if it could be determined that certain fibres were more prominent on one side or the other.

Methods and Intervention: Three canines occipital fibres were palpated by 11 experienced SOT doctors that had no knowledge of each dog. The doctor would palpate subject one, two, and three without anyone else in the room, except for the canine’s owner and the doctor gathering answers to survey questions.

Results: All doctors in this study reported that they could palpate occipital fibres on the three canines, however the number of fibres palpated was inconsistent, with the number 7 being the most common finding (6 of 11 doctors).

Conclusion: This study is the first attempt to demonstrate palpable occipital fibres on a canine. Future study is needed to better address the questions asked as well as determine how to gain clearer data. Since there have been no other studies to date published on the palpation of OFT in animals, this pilot study is an important first step.

Author keywords: Sacro occipital technique - SOT - Chiropractic - Occipital fibres - Palpation - Reliability - Validity. 

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