I have been adjusting with the Atlas Orthogonal technique for the last 18 years. I initially heard about the technique through my friend, Matthew Sweat, DC. Sweat and I were classmates at Life Chiropractic College. I had received a rather hard rotatory manipulation to my cervical spine by another student in the college clinic. This rotatory manipulation relieved my headache, but I ended up with severe vertigo that was getting worse by the day. I ended up not being able to drive my car, and I couldn't even walk down the halls at school. It was difficult for me to concentrate due to the dizziness. I was considering withdrawing from chiropractic college due to this condition.

Sweat told me that I needed to see his father, Roy Sweat, DC. Dr Matt loaded me into his car, and he took me to the Sweat Clinic. After an examination and x-rays, Roy Sweat adjusted my cervical spine with the Atlas Orthogonal Percussion Adjusting Instrument. The dizziness was completely resolved after the first adjustment, and I vowed to Dr Sweat that I would learn this technique.

I opened my practice in Tallahassee, Fla, in May 1992. I bought two Spinalight Atlas instruments at that time. Spinalight was the company that was producing the instrument for the Sweat Clinic and other physicians using the Atlas Orthogonal technique. These instruments were good, but they had a somewhat archaic appearance. After a few years, I bought two tables from a company called Wuestec. These tables had a much more modern and professional appearance. I continue to use these instruments in my practice today; however, they are more lightweight than the newest instruments. These tables had some problems at one time, but they were resolved quickly.

The table has a leg-check grid that slides out to aid in the essential leg-check observation that is used pre- and post-adjustment.

Noticeable Improvements

The newest instruments that I have recently acquired are produced by a company called Advance Engineering in Atlanta. The owner of Advance, Bill Guest, was very familiar with Sweat. I believe that he has some family members who are patients of a physician who uses the Atlas Orthogonal technique. Guest looked at the instrument and commented on it. He worked closely with Matthew and Roy Sweat to develop the M2 Classic Atlas Orthogonal Percussion Adjusting Instrument. I believe that his company did a fine job in the production of this instrument under the direction of Matt and Roy Sweat.

The instrument itself is very impressive at first glance. The lines of the instrument are very modern and almost futuristic in appearance. The table fits in a room that is about 10 feet by 10 feet. Its length can accommodate anyone from a very small child up to someone much taller, such as a professional basketball player. The table is wide enough to fit a very obese patient quite comfortably. The table has a leg-check grid that slides out to aid in the essential leg-check observation that is used pre- and post-adjustment. This leg-check observation is used to determine if the patient is in need of an adjustment, and also to determine if an adjustment was adequate so that it reduced the subluxation present in the cervical spine. The grid has the patient's left and right side marked, as well as 1/4-inch rectangles that enable the practitioner to document the measurement of the legs before and after the adjustment.

The M2 Classic Atlas Orthogonal Percussion Adjusting Instrument features an improved motor and an improved lock for the rotational vector.

The upholstering is good quality as well. On our particular instruments, there were some seams that looked a little strained and were pulling apart slightly. Guest said he would get us new tops for the tables, and the problem will be remedied easily.

In my opinion, the actual instrument is truly a thing of beauty. It doesn't have any of the old-looking hardware on it. The Spinalight table had what one of my patients called a "greasy pole" for the height adjustment. This is not the case on the new instrument. The height adjustment is polished steel and is quite appealing.

The motors in the instrument are also improved. They are extremely quiet and fast. They also stop very crisply when you take your finger off of the control switch. The actual "trigger" for the instrument is on the top of the head of the instrument. This is a great improvement from the old floor actuator, which had to be stepped upon to deliver the adjustment. This actuator is also very crisp in delivering the adjustment. The rotational vector is exceptionally easy to set. The lock for the rotational vector is better on this instrument than on previous models, and it stays locked if the instrument power is off. There is also a light-emitting diode (LED) light that enables you to see the setting on the rotational factor. The table also comes with an optional digital readout that, in my opinion, is not necessary. However, it is a nice and impressive upgrade.

Curb Appeal

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Overall, the entire table is a wonderful mechanical improvement from the last generation of percussion adjusting instruments. The "curb appeal" has been greatly enhanced from the last generation as well. It would be nice if the bottom part of the instrument could come in a variety of colors to match a particular office's décor. I believe that this would benefit individual offices cosmetically, but is certainly not a deal breaker if you use the Atlas Orthogonal. technique. The only thing that was a problem with this table was that the upholstery was lower quality than what I would have liked. However, as I said earlier in this article, Guest himself looked at the table and said that it was a problem. He is quickly resolving the problem for me. Obviously, the upholstery does not affect the actual workings of the instrument. However, a high standard of quality is very important when you are making a purchase of medical equipment that costs in the vicinity of $12,000. Guest seemed to agree and is making strides to correct this issue. I am very happy with all of the technical aspects of the instrument and would highly recommend the purchase of one of these instruments by those who use the Atlas Orthogonal technique.

Dennis G. Fiorini, DC, BCAO, practices in Tallahassee, Fla, and is president of the R.W. Sweat Research Foundation. Contact him at .