What is the Pierce Results System of Spinal Analysis?

The History

The Pierce Results System, (formerly known as Pierce/Stillwagon, or PST) was developed by Dr. Walter Vernon Pierce Sr. It is a biomechanical analysis of spine kinematics (or spinal motion), utilizing “stress views” of the spine (flexion, extension, rotation, and/or lateral bending views where required) or videofluoroscopy (VF, or “moving x-ray” studies) to determine the loss of spinal function, which is at the core of the “vertebral subluxation complex”.

This system evolved from the earlier Pierce-Stillwagon technique (PST), which itself evolved from a core of chiropractic techniques, including Palmer HIO (Upper Cervical or Toggle Recoil Technique), Thompson, Logan Basic, and the Reaver system, with their reliance upon palpation, leg checks, and “pattern analysis” utilizing thermocouple (thermographic) instrumentation.

Dr. Pierce continued to evolve the analysis system until his untimely death on December 20th 1993.

As technology evolved, PRS practitioners began to adopt advanced methods for spinal analysis including the DT-25 then the digital paraspinal thermography scanner (Titron) for computerized thermographic assessment, VF and DDR.

Techniques for adjusting also advanced, coupling hand/manual adjustments with the drops of the Zenith adjusting tables and computer assisted instrument adjusting including iterations of the Sigma, Pulstar, and VSTAAR instruments.

The Legacy

As technology continues to advance and the ability to analyze the spine continues to evolve, the Pierce Results System still stands as the gold standard of analysis. Because it is an analysis system and not a technique, those that practice have the ability to collaborate and innovate in order to facilitate the best results for their patients. To honor the legacy of those that came before and educate those that will follow.