The Founding Story

SOT® Methods was founded by Dr. Major B. DeJarnette, an engineer who was severely injured in the early 1920’s. He sought treatment from conventional medicine, which failed to produce satisfactory results. Finally, he found help from a doctor who was both a chiropractor and an osteopath. He then went on to complete degrees in both chiropractic and osteopathy.

Dr. DeJarnette spent hours with each patient doing research. He found what he called ‘indicators’ on the body, which he was able to systematically correlate with imbalances in the patient. He discovered that after successful treatment, these indicators diminished or disappeared.

He noted many significant relationships between different parts of the body, the most important being between the sacrum (tailbone area) and the occiput (back of the head), out of which developed Sacro Occipital Technic™.

The Seven Systems of SOT® Methods

• The first three systems are called Category I, II, and III. Each category has indicators that help the doctor to determine the structural state of the body, particularly the three different distortion patterns of the pelvis as it relates to the cranium. These indicators are found all over the body, so the whole body must be evaluated. No two patients are alike.
• The fourth system relates to indicators on part of the trapezius muscle (the upper back) that determine if and where there are imbalances on the spine itself.
• The fifth system is the occipital fiber system. The occipital fibers are indicators of organ imbalance in the body, which are corrected by Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique (CMRT). If both the organ and the spine are treated, the imbalance has a better chance of healing. Nutritional and lifestyle changes are often required to make lasting improvement.
• The sixth system describes the gentle treatment of the cranium. The cranium consists of many bones connected by joints called sutures. During normal breathing, the small movement in these joints acts as a ‘pump’, circulating the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid). This fluid needs to circulate freely for optimal health of the nervous system.
• The seventh system includes treatment of the extremities, including feet, ankles, knees, hips, wrists, shoulders, elbows and hands. These structures are also subject to imbalances which can be corrected using SOT® Methods adjustment techniques.

Our doctors are members of The Sacro Occipital Research Society International (SORSI), the governing body of Sacro Occipital Technic™.