Inside Dr. Hiroya Nakamura's office, the toy gun-looking device sits in a holster.
For an increasing number of his patients, such as John Hauger on this afternoon appointment, it is a tool of destruction: the soft-spoken Elmhurst man is trying to kick a 35-year smoking habit.
And thanks to the "toy gun"-more properly known as an ArthroStim-he is well on his way.
Under the care of Nakamura, founder of Nakamura Chiropractic & Acupuncture in Schaumburg, Hauger in three months' time has reduced his cigarette use from 20 a day to less than one.
"I was happily surprised to see the connection from the cigarette to the mouth is pretty much gone," said Hauger, 52.
His cravings to smoke now "subdued," Hauger acknowledged, "I still have to deny smoking, but it's definitely helped."
Hauger stands in the middle of an examination room as Nakamura raises the ArthroStim toward his head.
The doctor pauses, then quietly tells Hauger, "Imagine yourself smoking." Aware that his imagination helps play a role in curbing his desire for cigarettes, the patient nods his head, closes his eyes and awaits the next move.
Moving the device to the side of Hauger's head, Nakamura squeezes the trigger and vibrations flow through the device and reach their mark. The doctor selects a few other spots on the back of Hauger's head, on his neck, upper back and left leg, then repeats the process.
On any given visit, the targeted locations may vary-it all depends on what Nakamura determines on the spot, based on the insight he has developed through years of chiropractic and acupuncture practice.
On this occasion, the ArthroStim process lasts fewer than 10 minutes and then it's onto the acupuncture portion of Hauger's visit, with Nakamura inserting needles in strategic spots to support smoking-cessation.
The ArthroStim is the brainchild of Dr. Tedd Koren, a world-renowned author, educator and chiropractor. With the Koren Specific Technique (KST), as the new technique is called, practitioners have enjoyed a breakthrough in spinal and structural care.
It is part of the "low-force chiropractic" movement that eschews the "popping" or "cracking" noises commonly associated with chiropractic treatment.
With the AthroStim, practitioners are able to quickly and accurately locate and adjust (or correct) the "root cause" of many health problems. An FDA-approved instrument, the ArthroStim delivers a gentle, low-force tapping.
Gentle and comfortable, the approach involves no "popping" sounds and no twisting or pulling.
Patients can be evaluated and cared for in any posture: standing, sitting, lying or position of injury or pain.
Benefits of this technique include:
- Patients often see immediate results or improvements.
- Long lasting, positive changes in posture, function and lessening of pain are often observed.
- Adjustments frequently last or "hold" longer.
Hauger doesn't quite know how it all works; he just knows that it's working for him.
"Try to explain invisibility," Hauger said with a shrug. "It's definitely helped."
He's not the only smoker who has benefited from Nakamura Chiropractic & Acupuncture, which began in 2002. Nakamura has helped at least a dozen patients overcome their nicotine habits. (The actual figure may be higher, though, as some patients don't check back in with him after receiving treatment.)
For years, he has used acupuncture to address the problem. But starting in early 2008, Nakamura added KST to his offerings.
"I am always looking for new ways to help serve my patients," said Nakamura. "This is one of the most exciting new developments in my practice over the last several years."
The ArthroStim has helped produce other beneficial results. A pain in Hauger's legs, for example, has disappeared and his knees and joints are feeling markedly better.
"My legs are more energized," said Hauger. "The flow is better."
"Nice side-effects," said Nakamura, smiling.
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