Heese N, Distortion Patterns Involving Plumb Line Analysis, Am Chiro, Apr 1988; 10: :32-34

Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) distortion pattern analysis is the study of muscles in normal and abnormal situations and their resultant reaction to continued stimuli. By studying distortion patterns and comparing to the normal the determination is made for the proper adjustment so that the patient can overcome the abnormal. Distortion analysis is used as a specific indicator of the effects of the adjustment just administered. DeJarnette developed a four-footplace distortion analyzer with dual plumb strings, for precise measurement of the patient in the weight bearing position. The patterns seen when utilizing the distortion analyzer show the way the body is compensating to protect the patient from the primary subluxation. The great challenge in chiropractic is knowing how and why to adjust, but an even greater skill is knowing when not to adjust. If the patient positions to the right or left of the plumb line know the reason. Properly used SOT procedures are specifically accurate methods of adjusting the spine to systematically reverse the patterns of muscular distortion.