In 1997, something happened that changed the course of my life.
My mom was really sick. She had terrible migraines, high blood pressure, and a lot of other health problems. Two years prior, I had just finished chiropractic school, and I thought I knew how to help people like her. But the truth was—I didn’t. We tried everything I was taught in school. Nothing worked. Her pain didn’t go away. Her blood pressure got worse. And we were scared.
That’s when I went to a Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) seminar in New York. What I saw there blew my mind. These doctors were helping people in ways I had never seen. They weren’t just cracking backs. They were changing lives by correcting the spine and improving posture. That day opened my eyes.
I started learning everything I could about CBP. I got my basic certification, and years later, I became one of only a few advanced certified CBP doctors in North America.
Helping My Mom
Even with just the first few things I learned, I was able to help my mom. Her headaches stopped. Her blood pressure got better. And over time, her health improved so much. Today, she’s 82 years old and one of the healthiest people I know.
What Is CBP?
CBP stands for Chiropractic BioPhysics. It is a special kind of chiropractic care. It doesn’t just focus on pain. It focuses on the shape and structure of the spine. When your spine is in the right shape, your whole body works better.
Research backs this up. Over 350 studies have been done on CBP care. These studies show how posture and spinal alignment affect the nervous system, balance, strength, and even your brain.
At a CBP office, we don’t guess. We test. We check your posture. We look at how your body moves. We do strength tests, balance tests, and take X-rays from the front and side. This gives us the full picture. We compare your spine to what is normal and healthy.
Why Structure Matters
Your spine should be straight from the front. From the side, it should have three gentle curves. These curves help your body stay strong, balanced, and healthy. But life happens. We sit too much. We look down at our phones. We get into accidents. These things can change the shape of your spine.
When your spine shifts out of place, it puts pressure on your nerves. Over time, this can lead to things like:
- Disc problems
- Nerve pain
- Arthritis
- Loss of movement
- Fatigue
CBP helps fix those changes. We don’t just treat symptoms. We work to restore the spine’s natural shape.
How Do We Do It?
We use three main tools in CBP care:
- Mirror Image Exercises
If your head is forward, we help you do exercises that move it back. If your posture leans to one side, we do the opposite. These exercises retrain your muscles to hold better posture. - Mirror Image Adjustments
These are special adjustments done by advanced certified doctors. We place your spine in the mirror image of its current shape and do gentle, specific adjustments. This helps your brain understand the new, better position. - Mirror Image Traction
This is where we reshape the ligaments. These tissues hold your spine in place. Over time, bad posture makes them stiff and weak. We use gentle traction to hold your spine in the right shape for 15 to 20 minutes. This helps the ligaments change and hold the new, healthy shape.
These three tools—exercises, adjustments, and traction—work together to correct your spine.
Real People, Real Results
Just this week, I met another 82-year-old woman who was scared. Her health had gone downhill fast. She had been to many doctors and therapists, but nothing worked. After our first phone call, I was honestly worried I might not be able to help.
But she came in. We did a full set of tests and X-rays. To my surprise, I saw a spine we could help. When I shared this with her, she started to cry. She had felt hopeless for so long. Now, she had a plan. And more importantly, she had hope.
Stories like this remind me of why I do what I do.
Why Advanced Certification Matters
CBP takes time to learn. It’s not something we get in regular school. I had to leave behind some of what I was taught and learn new ways. Better ways. It wasn’t easy. But it was worth it.
If we want to help people in today’s world, we need to use today’s science. That’s why I often tell my patients, “You wouldn’t use an iPhone 3 today.” Even though it was great when it came out, we now have better tools. Healthcare should be the same. We need to upgrade our care.
The Research Behind CBP
Let me share just a few key findings:
- Harrison et al. (2005) showed that restoring normal neck curves improved symptoms and nerve function.
- Recent CBP studies show changes in brain activity and balance when posture improves.
- Patients with forward head posture showed improved respiratory and cardiovascular function after CBP care.
All of this is published through the CBP Nonprofit website and research team.
You Deserve Better Health
If you’ve been struggling to find answers, I want to encourage you. There is hope. Find a certified CBP doctor. If possible, find one who is advanced certified. We are few and far between, but we are here.
You can search the doctor directory at www.idealspine.com. Click on the menu bar and look for the “Doctor Directory.” Type in your location and find the nearest certified doctor.
And if you’re in Interior British Columbia, reach out to me directly. You can email me at 100plusliving@gmail.com, message me on Instagram at @dr.grahamjenkins, or find me on Facebook at Dr. Graham Jenkins BSc DC.
Your health matters. Your future matters. And I believe that with the right plan and the right testing, we can help you find a better path forward.
—Dr. J
