Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) in Charlotte, NC: Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC

By Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC, Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center, Charlotte, NC · Last reviewed October 27, 2026

Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC uses CBP methods at Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte as one part of structural care for neck alignment problems and scoliosis. This page covers what CBP measures, what the controlled trials show, where the evidence is thin, and how it fits the phased care sequence at Clear Life.

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What Chiropractic BioPhysics is

CBP grew out of spinal modeling work by Donald Harrison beginning in the 1980s, including the cervical extension traction method he developed (Oakley et al., 2021). The Harrison spinal model sets target values for sagittal alignment, such as cervical and lumbar lordosis and head position over the trunk. A patient's standing radiographs are measured against those targets.

Treatment follows the mirror image principle: if the radiograph shows the head translated forward and the neck curve flattened, the adjustments, exercises, and traction position the spine in the opposite direction. The interventions are specific to the measured deviation, which is why baseline radiographs come first.

What the controlled trials show

The strongest evidence is for restoring cervical lordosis. A 2021 systematic review in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science found 9 controlled trials (6 randomized, 3 non-randomized) of cervical extension traction in patients with reduced lordosis and neck disorders (PMC8516614). Treated groups gained 12 to 18 degrees of radiographic lordosis over 5 to 15 weeks, after 15 to 60 sessions. Comparison groups without extension traction showed no lordosis increase. Both groups often had early pain relief, but the traction groups kept their pain and disability improvements up to 1.5 years, while comparison groups regressed toward baseline by 1 year.

One example: a 2022 randomized trial in the Journal of Clinical Medicine randomized 30 patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy to extension traction plus stretching or stretching alone for 10 weeks, with 2-year follow-up; pain and nerve root function measures were better in the traction group at all time points (Moustafa, Diab, and Harrison).

Evidence tier and caveats. These are controlled trials, which is a meaningful tier. Three limits matter in peer review. Most of the trials come from one collaborating group, as the group's own 2023 editorial describes (Harrison, Oakley, Moustafa). Deed Harrison, a co-author of the review and trials, is president of CBP NonProfit, Inc., and published disclosures list him as CEO of Chiropractic BioPhysics (ICMJE disclosures). And samples are small; 30 patients is typical. Independent replication by groups without a CBP affiliation would strengthen every claim on this page.

Ligament creep: what is measured and what is proposed

CBP's rationale is that spinal ligaments are viscoelastic: under sustained load they elongate over time, a property called creep. CBP protocols hold traction positions for set durations to load those tissues; one CBP case series prescribed 10 to 20 minutes of daily traction for that reason (adult high thoracic case series). The proposed result is lasting change in the tissues that hold the spine in its distorted position.

What the trials actually measure is radiographic alignment and symptoms. They do not measure ligament tissue. Radiographic change that holds at follow-up is consistent with the remodeling explanation, but I would not tell a patient that permanent ligament remodeling has been demonstrated in living human spines. The stabilization phase exists because alignment gains need muscular and postural support to hold.

CBP and scoliosis

For scoliosis, the CBP evidence is case-level. A 2017 case report described a 15-year-old with a progressive 27-degree thoracolumbar curve that measured 8 degrees after 24 treatments and home traction over 15 weeks (Haggard et al.). A case series reported reductions in three adults with upper thoracic curves (case series). Case reports show what is possible in individual patients. They cannot tell you how often it happens.

The sagittal plane matters in scoliosis care. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC's retrospective cross-sectional analysis of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, published in Cureus, reported loss of cervical lordosis across the patients studied, with cervical instability contributing to abnormal mechanics (doi:10.7759/cureus.91098). A separate case report followed a patient with pre-existing thoracic scoliosis and neurological signs after a motor vehicle collision; repeat radiographs after conservative cervical structural rehabilitation showed increased lordosis and reduced abnormal translation, and the paper states that causation cannot be established from a single case (PubMed 41783554).

At Clear Life, scoliosis is managed through the CLEAR scoliosis care program, and CBP-style sagittal correction is used inside that program when the neck or trunk alignment calls for it.

How CBP fits the care sequence at Clear Life in Charlotte

Care starts with weight-bearing radiographs, measured against the Harrison model, and with symptom and function measures. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC reads and measures each patient's radiographs; more on that in imaging, documentation, and diagnosis. He also holds CNMT and ARRT(N)(CT) credentials in nuclear medicine and computed tomography technology.

Treatment follows three phases. The mobility phase uses tools such as the Denneroll traction table, flexion-distraction, and the scoliosis traction chair. The adjusting phase uses structural adjusting by hand, drop table, or instrument. The stability phase uses body weight and lever arm systems, the Scoliroll and Denneroll orthotics, self-corrective exercises, and, for scoliosis, ScoliBrace when indicated. Repeat radiographs document whether alignment changed.

The trials above used 15 to 60 sessions over 5 to 15 weeks. Individual timelines depend on the deviation, the tissue response, and consistency, and a timeline is set only after the baseline measurements.

How CBP compares with other approaches

For ordinary recent-onset neck pain, multimodal care with manual therapy and exercise already has guideline support (Bussieres et al., 2016). CBP is a reasonable choice when the problem includes a measured alignment deviation, such as reduced cervical lordosis with persistent symptoms, and the patient wants alignment measured before and after care.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) chiropractor in Charlotte, NC?

Yes. Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC uses Chiropractic BioPhysics methods at Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center, 8814 Rachel Freeman Way, Suite 103, Charlotte, NC 28278. Care starts with weight-bearing radiographs measured against the Harrison spinal model. Call 980-368-0766 or book online.

What is Chiropractic BioPhysics?

Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) is a structural rehabilitation method developed from Donald Harrison's spinal modeling work beginning in the 1980s. It measures alignment on standing radiographs against the Harrison spinal model and uses mirror image adjustments, exercises, and extension traction in the direction opposite the measured deviation.

What evidence supports CBP?

A 2021 systematic review of 9 controlled trials (6 randomized) found cervical lordosis increased 12 to 18 degrees over 5 to 15 weeks with extension traction, and pain improvements held up to 1.5 years. Most trials come from one research group that includes CBP leadership, and samples are small.

Can CBP help scoliosis?

Evidence for CBP in scoliosis is limited to case reports and case series, such as a 2017 report of a 27-degree curve measuring 8 degrees after 15 weeks. At Clear Life in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC uses CBP-style sagittal correction within the CLEAR scoliosis care program.

How long does CBP structural correction take?

In the controlled trials, cervical lordosis changes were measured after 15 to 60 sessions over 5 to 15 weeks. Individual timelines depend on the measured deviation, tissue response, and consistency, and are set after baseline radiographs.

Does CBP permanently remodel spinal ligaments?

CBP proposes that sustained loading produces lasting change in viscoelastic spinal ligaments. The trials measure radiographic alignment and symptoms; none measure ligament tissue directly. Alignment changes that hold at follow-up are consistent with that explanation, but direct tissue-level proof in living human spines has not been shown.

Is CBP covered by insurance at Clear Life?

Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte, NC is a cash-based practice and does not bill health insurance. Personal injury patients of Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC are treated on a lien basis, with no out-of-pocket payment at the time of care.

Sources

1. Oakley PA, Ehsani NN, Moustafa IM, Harrison DE. Restoring cervical lordosis by cervical extension traction methods in the treatment of cervical spine disorders: a systematic review of controlled trials. J Phys Ther Sci. 2021;33(10):784-794
2. Moustafa IM, Diab AA, Harrison DE. The efficacy of cervical lordosis rehabilitation for nerve root function and pain in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy: a randomized trial with 2-year follow-up. J Clin Med. 2022;11(21):6515
3. Harrison DE, Oakley PA, Moustafa IM. Editorial for Spine Rehabilitation in 2022 and Beyond. J Clin Med. 2023 (author affiliations and history of the trial program)
4. Published ICMJE disclosure forms for a CBP NonProfit-funded study (DEH as CEO of CBP and president of CBP NonProfit)
5. Haggard JS et al. Reduction of progressive thoracolumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by CBP mirror image methods following failed traditional chiropractic treatment: a case report. J Phys Ther Sci. 2017;29(11):2062-2067
6. The reduction of high thoracic scoliosis in adults by mirror image blocking: a Chiropractic BioPhysics case series. J Phys Ther Sci
7. Dick JM. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of abnormal cervical mechanics in patients with scoliosis. Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.91098
8. Radiographic sagittal alignment and neurological changes following conservative cervical structural rehabilitation after motor vehicle collision in a patient with pre-existing scoliosis: a case report. Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.104584
9. Bussieres AE et al. The treatment of neck pain-associated disorders and whiplash-associated disorders: a clinical practice guideline. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016;39(8):523-564

Related pages

• Spinal corrective care at Clear Life
• CLEAR scoliosis care program
• About scoliosis
• Treatment options
• Bracing for scoliosis
• ScoliBrace in Charlotte
• Imaging, documentation, and diagnosis
• Research and evidence
• Published research of Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC
• A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of abnormal cervical mechanics in patients with scoliosis
• Radiographic sagittal alignment and neurological changes following conservative cervical rehabilitation
• Radiographic sagittal alignment and kinetic chain alterations in geriatric patients with scoliosis
• Credentials of Dr. Justin M. Dick, DC
• Personal injury and auto accident care at Clear Life
• Questions and answers
• Book your evaluation