Monday, January 03, 2011
Chapman's reflexes
Chapman’s Points
Somatovisceral reflexes have received little attention yet are significant for physiologic regulation. Among the more important reflexes for regulation of physiology are Chapman's reflexes. In the late 1930s, Frank Chapman, D.O., first published his findings identifying specific neurolymphatic reflex points that correspond to particular organs and glands. There is a discussion of the diagnostic and therapeutic application of Chapman's reflexes in the text An Endocrine Interpretation of Chapman's Reflexes. Most of these points are located on the front of the body between the ribs next to the sternum and on the back along the spine between the spinous processes and the tips of the transverse processes. Palpation of Chapman's points can be used for assessment of lymphatic function with correlation to specific organs. Stimulation of Chapman's points can influence the motion of the lymph and can also influence visceral functions through nervous system reflexes. Stimulation of Chapman's points is performed by firm pressure in a gentle circular motion on the point. Owen thought that Chapman's reflexes exerted a particularly profound influence on the glandular system.43 Kuchera and Kuchera interpret palpatory changes in Chapman's points as indicating functional involvement of the sympathetic nervous system.
Patriquin gives practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment using Chapman's reflexes. For example, for irritable bowel syndrome, Chapman's reflexes for the colon are found along the anterior aspect of the iliotibial bands, a 2inch strip on the lateral side of each thigh. The anatomic location of the reflex ganglioform masses found can be correlated with specific portions of the colon. These can be treated with soft tissue kneading, a mechanical percussion hammer, or other types of vibration to produce a somatovisceral influence on the sympathetic innervation to the colon.
Some of the Chapman's points bear an obvious segmental relationship to the target organ. For example, the anterior point for bronchitis is the intercostal space between the second and third rib close to the sternum. The posterior point is located at the second dorsal (thoracic) vertebra, midway between the spinous process and the tip of the transverse process.43 On the other hand, some of the Chapman's points bear little obvious relation to the target organ. For example, the anterior points for the eye problems of retinitis and conjunctivitis are located on the front of the humerus.
It is not clear how Chapman's reflexes actually work physiologically. Some have a segmental relationship, but some are aberrant (e.g., the eye-humerus reflex cited above). Patriquin is uncomfortable relating Chapman's reflexes to autonomic responses, because in his view, the autonomics, by the time they reach the surface, tend to be quite diffuse (the thermodiagnosis
movement, which relies on surface temperature findings to make specific diagnoses, would tend to counter this). Chapman's reflexes, on the other hand, are very localized, small, distinct areas. Patriquin also notes that Chapman himself saw the reflexes as neurolymphatic, but this could not be confirmed by biopsy. Patriquin admits, "I think we're trying to influence the visceral disturbance by treating some part of a reflex arc, even though we haven't the foggiest notion what reflex arc it is."
Despite the unclear anatomic justification for Chapman's reflexes, there is a solid experimental physiologic basis for regulation of visceral function by manual surface stimulation and inhibition. Sato explored somatic-autonomic reflexes in animals. Sato and his colleagues, working with anesthetized animals, traced reflexes from various types of mechanical, thermal, and chemical
stimulation of the skin to visceral effector organs including the heart, stomach, sweat glands, bladder, and adrenal medulla. For example, heart rate can be increased in anesthetized cats by stimulation of any one of a variety of skin areas. This reflex is produced mainly by an augmentation of cardiac sympathetic efferent nerve activity. Similarly, in the anesthetized rat, Sato demonstrated inhibition of gastric contractions by stimulating the abdominal skin. Conversely, noxious stimulation of a hind paw sometimes augments gastric motility, mediated by reflex facilitation of gastric vagal efferent nerve activity.
