What is the S.O.S?
The S.O.S. stands for Sub-Occipital-Soother or “Stills-Original-System”, the first Osteopathic technique employed by the founder of Osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still. Sub occipital Traction.

Dr Michael. C. Nelson. D. O. found that applying this technique to the base of the head (sub occiput-the occipital bone is the base bone of the skull) was very effective for Tension headache, migraine and neck pain relief and started thinking about ways people could do this at home, to supplement their treatment program.

Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. is made from firm but giving polyurethane with a non slip base, and can be used on or against most surfaces. The S.O.S. can be used on all areas of the back and neck for pain relief, general self massage and wellbeing.

This simple device stimulates blood supply, breaks up lactic acid from chronically contracted muscles, easing tender spots and returning the user to an easier mechanical picture.

What is the S.O.S. mainly used for?
The S.O.S. is mainly used for tension headache, migraine management and neck pain relief. The S.O.S. can be used for Thoracic and low back pain relief as well. Many people have reported excellent results with turning Sciatic pain OFF and easing their low back pain after long drives.(see testimonials) With regular use the results are astounding!

Who is Dr Nelson?
A Melbourne Osteopath, trained in the U.K. at the European School of Osteopathy. Qualified in 1981, worked in private practice and lecturing in technique to French Physiotherapists in England, before returning to Australia and work in sports medicine clinics in and around Melbourne. Started to develop the S.O.S. during the late eighties-early nineties with a strong interest in headaches, the S.O.S. developed into what it is today. Dr Nelson sees private patients at home but devotes most of his time to getting the S.O.S. out to people.

Does it need power?
NO. The S.O.S. requires no power supply or batteries - it just requires a little relaxed movement from you.

Will it help my MIGRAINE?
YES IT WILL. Migraine sufferers are so varied it is hard to generalize. The structural component – a muscle tightness that feels like a “vice like grip” on the head or the intense pain behind one or both eyes, can be affected by use of the S.O.S. Use less medication and be more in control of the attack than before. The main area to work on is the Thoracic spine, or rib cage area of the spine - not the neck. This encourages a more normal circulation and after a session in the Thoracic region THEN you lie down and put the S.O.S. under your Occiput for 15 - 20 minutes and do some deep breathing, this will release the tight muscles on and around your skull. Preventative use is a session before retiring at night - a better sleep is gained and there is more chance of waking WITHOUT a Migraine!

The S.O.S. will help alleviate the intensity of these facets of the migraine picture. The relaxation required to use the S.O.S. will help the migraine sufferer. The sufferer usually has an onset picture or trigger that they can recognize and if certain action is taken (like using the S.O.S. as above) turn off, or at least diminish the severity of an attack.

The S.O.S. is MOST helpful in this way, you can lessen the AMOUNT of medication you take –benefits for your health and pocket, and lessen the amount of time off work – debilitated. Take the S.O.S. to work with you….No power required, just a chair or the floor – use many times in a day – it will NOT rot your stomach and it wont break your bank.

Why you should NOT buy a MOTORIZED massager!

1) The motorized massagers are designed for a general massage “effect”. They are NOT designed and backed by an Osteopath, who took years and several versions, to get it right. The shiatsu massagers – although based on Shiatsu – are a LONG way from being what a Shiatsu therapist delivers, they are just rotating knobs. To perform Shiatsu correctly, there is great knowledge required as to which direction to rotate during massage. The general public does NOT have this knowledge.

2) They are made from plastic with small electric motors – such that, they ALL wear out very quickly, often in weeks! Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. is made from firm but giving polyurethane – with NO moving parts to wear out. A non slip base material allows you to use it against almost any surface for neck pain relief, headache and back ache.

3) The gears get stripped very easily, particularly if the user “leans into” the machine to get a good deep massage. Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. can take any amount of heavy use and come back to the original shape over and over again. Hundreds of hours of Massage, Shiatsu or Rolfing techniques to simulate!

4) You can only use them effectively up and down your spine. Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. can be used on ANY area of your back-shoulders and neck. Relieving tension headaches and greatly aiding migraine sufferers to limit the debilitation and medication.

5) Massaging is only half the story. Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. performs an important technique, “Sub Occipital Traction” ALL professional physical therapist’s use a version of this technique (Osteopaths, Chiropractors and physiotherapists). Massaging will “Rub” an area of your spinal muscles – However, a lot of the time an inhibitory approach, applying pressure to a muscle across its fibers to put it on stretch, has a much greater benefit. The muscle “lets go” more easily, also, when performing the Sub Occipital Traction technique (Traction to the top of the neck/base of the head – which can ONLY be done with Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. NOT, a shiatsu massager!) The whole body receives a relaxation benefit that NOTHING else (other than a visit to your Cranial Osteopath), can do. Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. does this by “releasing” the soft tissues around the base of the head, so that a more normal flow of fluid in and OUT of the head can be established. More details can be viewed shortly, as the full article will be posted on the website soon.

6) Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. has six fingertips on the fingertip ridge and another two raised sections at the palm end. These two areas create a strong opposing force, allowing you to create traction on most areas of your back and neck – far more flexible than a machine.

Vertebral Arteries and the structural integrity of the neck - help with Dr Nelson’s S.O.S.

The structural health of the neck is not just the maintenance of muscles, but the maintenance of;

(1) The Ligaments that support the vertebrae. Ligaments have a minimal blood supply – unlike muscle tissue – Ligaments need deep massage and Traction to promote good blood supply and healing. Ligaments are the tissue system that binds bones together supporting joints and regulating their range of movement. Being poor in blood supply, they do not heal easily and are prone to calcium deposits, causing wear and tear arthritic changes to the vertebra. This can cause friction against the wall of the vertebral arteries as they pass through – wearing the wall thin and or, impeding the flow. The rhythmic traction and deep massage effects of Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. brings much needed blood supply to deeper lying ligaments and you can have as many sessions per day as you like.

(2) The Vertebral Arteries travel up through the vertebral foramina of each cervical vertebra. They enter the spine at the level of the 6th cervical vertebra (base of the neck) and travel up to the head where, to get into the cranium the vertebral arteries take, Two 90 degree turns to supply about two thirds of the blood supply to the brain - which needs a minute to minute supply of glucose and oxygen to maintain its normal function. The vertebral arteries supply the deeper, autonomic centers of the brain, if the blood supply is diminished to these areas we have all types of dysfunctional conditions arising – particularly as we age! I am not making any great claims of cures – what I am saying is that the S.O.S. can help maintain the structural integrity of your cervical spine and therefore the blood supply to your brain and the better that is – the better you are going to be getting older – as gravity grinds us ALL into the ground 'the Inexorable factor'. People forget that GRAVITY is the main reason we need 8 hours sleep a day and that our “Rigging” is our best way to pass that force, with as little wear and tear as possible.

The area known as the 'Sub Occiput' is the level of the neck where the spine articulates with the base of the head, or cranium. The S.O.S or Sub Occipital Soother is designed to give traction and deep inhibition to this area – based on the original Osteopathic technique, Sub Occipital Traction, developed by the Founder of Osteopathy – A.T.Still. This area has many structural components that can affect our function. The Carotid sinus, situated at the top of the Carotid arteries (the arteries that carry the other third of the blood supply to the brain). This collection of nerves controls the feedback information from the hearts pumping for regulation of blood pressure.

The 10th cranial nerve 'The Vagus Nerve' leaves the cranium in this region and is one half of the control on the hearts rate of beating. Deep inhibition in this region can slow the rate of the heart – the greatest relaxation tool. The vagal nerve supplies rhythmic nerve impulses/control to the motor functions of most of the gastro-intestinal system, our 'peristalsis' or gut “motion”.

Again, I am not making any great claims of effect on blood pressure etc, what I am saying, is that there are so many control mechanisms in the Sub Occipital Region, that its normal structural integrity is very, very important to the normality of most of our 'Function'. The amount of muscle investment in the Sub Occiput is great – it needs to turn the head very quickly – with control, it needs to hold the heaviest part of our body on the top of two small condyles and not impair that blood supply or pinch those nerves……….These muscles are intimately connected to the muscle systems of mastication and all the emotional elements that the mouth and jaw can bring up – that makes us grind our teeth at night or clench so tight we wake with a pounding headache…..The Sub Occiput can be tight when we go to bed, impairing our sleep and even tighter the next morning, the impairment of blood supply can be debilitating, the whole cycle repeating more and more intensely each day. The use of Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. just before bed can give some of the most rested – invigorating sleeps you can have – no drugs – no side effects – one payment!

The S.O.S. teaches you as well as treats you. It teaches you to breathe, deeply and properly while lying down on the S.O.S. giving that great feeling of oxygenation and full travel of the diaphragm, which in turn gives intestinal fitness. The S.O.S. most of all gives regular traction and articulation to the whole neck and upper back. This in turn gives better health to the arteries carrying your health giving oxygenated blood, gives health and fitness to the ligaments that support the structure and allows the unimpeded flow of that blood to the brain. ALL this helps fight the degenerative changes of age.

Dr Nelson’s S.O.S. is invaluable to our structural and general, well being.

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DEFINITIONS

Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are one-sided headaches that usually occur in or around one eye. They are typically of short duration, usually lasting several minutes to several hours at the most. They are named "cluster" because they occur in a group or series. The patient has tearing of the eye, nasal congestion, facial flushing, and constriction of the pupil on the side of the headache. The series may last several months, occurring more frequently in the fall and spring, and the headaches may disappear for several months or several years. Some forms of cluster headaches, however, occur chronically.

Migraines
There are several kinds of migraine headaches. They include:
- Abdominal migraine - a type of migraine in which the pain is over the upper part of the abdomen and lasts a few hours. It is most common in female children. Diagnosis is easily made because of the family history of migraine, the infrequency of the attacks, and the frequent simultaneous occurrence of headache. If it remains undiagnosed, however, the patient may be subjected to unnecessary surgery for abdominal complaints.
- Basilar artery migraine - a type of migraine that can occur in younger people, with the headache most often limited to the back of the head. The symptoms are caused by a diminished blood supply to the parts of the brain supplied by the basilar artery. Besides nausea, patients may have double-vision, unsteady gait, slurred speech and may seem confused. During the headache, many lose consciousness. Often these patients are mistakenly thought to be drunk or mentally ill. A previous history of migraine is helpful in making the diagnosis.
- Hemiplegic migraine - a very rare form of migraine in which there is paralysis of the arm or leg on one side of the body. The paralysis can occur before, during, or after the onset of a headache. There is frequently a family history of headaches with similar types of attacks. The attacks are usually temporary, but they may be prolonged and can cause some permanent paralysis.
- Menstrual migraine - a migraine that commonly afflicts women at ovulation or during their monthly periods. A drop in estrogen levels during these times may be a precipitating cause.
· Ophthalmoplegic migraine - a rare type of headache that occurs in children or young adults. Associated with the headache, there is paralysis of the third nerve and there may be drooping of the eyelid, dilation of the pupils, and paralysis of the eye muscles. This is a temporary type of migraine, and patients usually have a family history of similar attacks.

Sinus Headaches
The area affected by sinus headache is usually above the eyes (frontal sinus) or below the eyes (maxillary sinus). Sinus headaches often follow an upper respiratory infection which blocks the sinuses. The pain is caused by a stretching of the lining of the open cavities and the formation of pus within the sinuses that can't drain. Often the areas above or below the eyes, where the sinuses are located, are very tender. Acute sinusitis, associated with a fever and a blocked sinus, can cause acute head pain.

Tension Headaches
A tension-type headache is classified as a non-specific headache, which is not vascular or migrainous, and is not related to organic disease. It is caused by a tightening of the muscles at the back of the neck and of the face and scalp. Muscle contraction headache is a steady, mild headache, and is sometimes described as having a band-like distribution around the head. It can occur occasionally, or once or twice a month. The simple, episodic tension headache is often associated with fatigue and everyday stress. Sufferers rarely consult a physician for their headaches. Those who do seek the help of a physician have a chronic type of muscle contraction headache, which may be due to a psychological problem, hidden depression, or muscle spasms in the cervical or thoracic areas.

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CONTRA-INDICATIONS:
For any headache outside usual symptoms that comes on quickly and is quite severe or headaches that get progressively worse, consult your Doctor. Headaches can be the first signs of serious illness. Anyone with a raised intra cranial pressure should consult their Doctor or physiotherapist first before using!

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