The Stoplight System: A Smarter Approach
In today’s fast-paced world, people often seek quick fixes for pain relief—but true healing happens when the body is ready to receive it. This is why I developed the Stoplight System, a revolutionary approach to chiropractic care that ensures every adjustment is given at the right time, in the right way, for the right person.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach to spinal adjustments, the Stoplight System categorizes each patient into Green, Yellow, or Red Light levels, based on neurological readiness, muscle tone, and spinal function. This allows for a safe, effective, and individualized treatment plan that optimizes healing and prevents unnecessary force on the body.
🚦 The Stoplight System: What It Means for Your Adjustment
Each patient’s nervous system and spinal state are assessed before an adjustment. Based on muscle tone, structural tension, and neurological function, patients fall into one of the three categories:
🟢 Green Light – Ready for a Full Adjustment
✅ Nervous system is balanced and responsive
✅ Muscles and joints are receptive to movement
✅ Patient is likely to experience optimal benefits from a standard, full-force adjustment
💡 What This Means for You:
• You are cleared for a traditional, hands-on chiropractic adjustment using techniques like Diversified, Gonstead, or Thompson Drop.
• Your body will respond well to manual manipulation with minimal resistance.
🟡 Yellow Light – Caution, Adjust with Care
⚠️ Neurological or muscular tension detected
⚠️ Spine shows mild resistance to forceful adjustments
⚠️ Patient may experience some discomfort or tightness
💡 What This Means for You:
• Instead of a traditional high-force adjustment, you may benefit more from a low-force or instrument-based technique, such as:
• Activator Method (gentle, targeted adjustments)
• Drop Table Adjustments (less impact on joints)
• Flexion-Distraction (spinal decompression techniques)
• You may need additional soft tissue work, such as IASTM, trigger point therapy, or cranial release.
🔴 Red Light – Do NOT Adjust Yet
❌ High muscle tension or neurological stress detected
❌ The nervous system is overactive (fight-or-flight mode)
❌ A forceful adjustment may cause more harm than good
💡 What This Means for You:
• Your body is not in a state to handle a manual adjustment today, and forcing it could lead to pain, spasms, or delayed healing.
• Instead, we focus on resetting the nervous system first:
• SOT Blocking & Network Spinal → Helps balance the autonomic nervous system.
• Arthrostim Adjustments → Low-force techniques that stimulate spinal receptors without high velocity.
• Vibroacoustic Therapy & HRV Monitoring → Helps calm the nervous system and prepare the body for future adjustments.
🔬 Why This System Works: The Science Behind It
The Stoplight System is based on functional neurology principles, recognizing that the nervous system controls everything—from muscle tone to pain perception.
💡 Research shows that spinal adjustments work best when the nervous system is receptive. Adjusting a stressed or resistant spine may activate muscle guarding, making the adjustment less effective—or even counterproductive.
By working with the body’s natural state, rather than against it, the Stoplight System enhances patient outcomes by ensuring:
✔ Safer adjustments with minimal risk of discomfort
✔ More effective healing with longer-lasting results
✔ Better nervous system balance, reducing pain and dysfunction over time
🛠️ Ready to Experience the Stoplight System?
At Auracle Chiropractic, we’re redefining what chiropractic care can be. Instead of a cookie-cutter approach, we tailor each adjustment to your body’s current state, ensuring you get the safest, most effective care possible.
📅 Book an appointment today to experience the Stoplight System firsthand! 🚦💆♂️
📍 Auracle Chiropractic – Wonder Lake, IL
📲 Call/Text: (815)-728-7049
