"Every chiropractor is an artist", she explained, "choosing different pieces of over 160 techniques to create his or her personal style of chiropractic adjusting." In order to understand how ABC differs from other chiropractic techniques, and why it can be especially useful for patients with MS, a quick look at the evolution of ABC is necessary. The theory behind Advance Biostructural Correction is based on the research of Dr. Alf Breig, a neurosurgeon who conduced 20 years of research related to the effects of stress placed on the covering of the spinal cord (dura) and the related soft tissue structures. Dr. Breig found that in his subjects with MS, the spinal cord was pulled over the inside of the spinal canal, resulting in the cord rubbing against the bones. As a result, the meningeal covering of the spinal cord was being tensioned, irritated and rubbed inside the canal. Dr. Brieg developed an invasive surgery technique to correct the improper posture. Only 3 of Dr. Breig's patients had MS and the surgery done on these patients (in the late 60's and early 70's) to correct the spinal cord and alleviate their symptoms met with nominal success. Years later, in the 1980's, Dr. Jesse Jutkowitz, a chiropractor, read the research conducted by Dr. Breig and decided that correction of the spinal cord and meningal covering surrounding the spinal cord could be better addressed through chiropractic than through surgery. He developed his own chiropractic technique, which focused on releasing the stress in the meningeal soft tissue structures and spine, and called it Advanced Biostructural Therapy (later changed to Advanced Biostructural Correction). Unfortunately, Dr. Jutkowitz also insisted that MS and other similar degenerative neurological diseases were caused by biomechanical problems, and attributed to Dr. Breig's research findings much more than the original author intended. The medical community felt that Dr. Jutkowitz had fundamentally misrepresented Dr. Breig's work. Because of this, Dr. Jutkowitz's ABC technique received scant attention or interest in the medical world. The ABC technique refused to die, however, and slowly acquired more adherents over the next decade. Chiropractors and patients were skeptical about this new treatment and wary of trying what seemed to be one more crackpot theory in a world full of "miracle cures". But those who did begin to work with it were pleasantly surprised at the results. In the past few years its promotion and acceptance have slowly grown. The chiropractors using it are focusing on the technique and its results, rather than the controversy surrounding its creator and his statements. "Every person with MS who has come here has been skeptical that chiropractic could help their symptoms", says Dr. Markos, "but the results won them over. All chiropractic techniques work to some degree", she adds, "but I have had more success with MS patients with this technique than any other." When asked about the cost of treatment and what is covered by insurance Dr. Markos replied, "Most insurance currently pays for chiropractic only when the patient has acute pain that can be associated with the spine. They don't cover chiropractic for chronic diseases. This means that most patients with MS must either pay for chiropractic care out of pocket, receive care for acute pain that can be associated to the spine, or have insurance that covers a larger scope than stated above. Every patient must understand the specific coverage of the insurance policy that they have chosen." Dr. Markos works with her patients whose insurance coverage falls short to negotiate fees and payment plans. "I know a lot of people who just kept paying for it out of pocket after the insurance lapsed", says Larry Conaway. "They just felt it was worth it." For most of her MS clients there is no question about the gains. One woman with MS, who had fairly obvious gait and balance problems, tired easily from walking and suffered from a multitude of other symptoms, saw immediate results in her posture, gait and balance. Dr. Markos remembers asking her how she was doing when she came in for her second adjustment. "Look at me", her patient replied, and began walking back and forth in the waiting room. Then she stood on one leg exclaiming "I have MS!". http://www.msakc.org/Articles/AdvancedBiostructuralCorrection.htm