Although its applications have been practiced for generations, functional neurology as a health care discipline is a relatively new concept. In recent years, functional neurology has gained significant momentum and wide acceptance as a proactive brain performance strategy and a powerful treatment option for disorders of the nervous system. The practice of functional neurology spans multiple disciplines including chiropractic, psychology, conventional medicine, optometry, audiology, and physical and occupational therapies.

Professor Frederick Carrick DC, PhD, MS-HPEd, Professor of Neurology and Senior Research Fellow BCMHR in association with University of Cambridge, UK, Global Clinical Scholar Harvard Medical School and Dean of Graduate Studies – Carrick Institute) is a man whose impact on the field spans academia, ground-breaking therapeutic approaches and as a sizeable footprint in research and literature. He is the founder of Functional Neurology and describes its impact as such; “The term ‘functional neurology’ was used to describe our goal of increasing human function – not just returning it but increasing it. When we talk about a functional approach to neurology we are simply talking about increasing human function or increasing the probability that people will be able to do all that they were destined to do or perhaps a little bit more,” explains Professor Carrick.

“It encompasses a very thorough neurological examination, which is not different to anyone else trained in neurology. The nervous system is the same. It’s not specific for a chiropractic neurologist, a medical neurologist or a dentist. The eye works only in certain ways [for example]. Our examinations are in-depth – more in-depth than some disciplines, perhaps less in-depth than others. They are very specific to the brain, central and peripheral nervous system in regard to environmental activations whether they be light, heat, cold, taste, smell, movement, or different sensations. We examine and quantify them so certainly our discipline is one of evidence base,” Professor Carrick elaborates.

Breakthroughs in neuroscience have since revealed that the brain is able to change and learn throughout one’s entire life, including after an injury or disease process. This ability of the brain to change in structure and function is referred to as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the foundation of how Functional Neurology works.Dr. Eason and associates utilize different approaches to enhance neuroplasticity down to the cellular level. The delivery of these approaches include physical medicine, functional medicine, functional neurology, conventional medicine and stem cell therapy.