🧠Functional Neurology & Clinical Neuroscience: A New Frontier in Brain-Body Healing for Carmel, IN
November 8, 2025
🧠Functional Neurology & Clinical Neuroscience: A New Frontier in Brain-Body Healing
TL;DR
Functional Neurology is a specialized, evidence-informed approach that evaluates and rehabilitates how the brain and nervous system function with its communication to the body — not just how they look on imaging. Using advanced diagnostics and targeted, non-invasive therapies, a Chiropractic Neurologist or a Functional Neurologist can help patients recover from complex neurological conditions by retraining neural pathways and improving brain-body communication. This blog explains how and why it works.
🔍 What Is Functional Neurology?
Functional Neurology (FN), also known as Clinical Neuroscience, is a branch of neurological healthcare focused on function, integration, and performance—not just structural damage. Most often practiced by a Functional Neurologist or Chiropractic Neurologist or a chiropractor trained in clinical neuroscience. It uses non-invasive methods to evaluate how the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves are operating in real time.
Unlike traditional neurology, which focuses on diagnosing and managing disease through medication or surgery, functional chiropractic neurology emphasizes neurological performance, plasticity, and rehabilitation. This is particularly beneficial for patients with “normal” scans but abnormal function—those living with brain fog, dizziness, imbalance, or chronic neurological symptoms.
🧬 A New Lens: Functional vs Structural Neurology
| Traditional Neurology | Functional Neurology |
| Focuses on pathology (lesions, tumors, strokes) | Focuses on real-time functional performance |
| Relies on imaging and labs | Relies on clinical exam + functional testing |
| Often monomodal treatment (meds, referrals) | Multimodal treatment (neuro-rehab, sensory re-integration, metabolic support) |
| Reactive approach | Proactive and rehabilitative |
As a chiropractic neurologist, we don’t just ask, “What structure is damaged?” — we ask, “How is this person processing information, and how can we help the nervous system perform better?”
🧠The Core Philosophy: Brain-Body Integration
In functional chiropractic neurology, the brain is not seen as an isolated organ. Instead, it is in continuous dialogue with the body—receiving sensory input and producing motor and autonomic output. This is often thought of broadly as sensory-motor-integration.
Key systems we assess and support:
- Vestibular System – Balance, motion perception, spatial awareness
- Ocular Motor Control – Saccades, pursuits, VOR
- Proprioceptive & Somatosensory Systems – Joint and muscle feedback
- Autonomic Nervous System – Blood pressure regulation, HRV, pupillary reflexes
- Cortical Networks – Executive function, memory, attention, emotional regulation
- Metabolic & Immune Influence – Cytokines, gut-brain axis, neuroinflammation
This systems-based view allows board-certified chiropractic neurologists to uncover functional neurological and body imbalances that are often missed in traditional care.
🧪 How We Assess Neurological Function (What Makes Us Different)
At Nexus Neuro (Carmel, Indiana) our approach to neurological assessment is guided by the principles of clinical neuroscience and advanced functional diagnostics.
As a chiropractic neurology clinic, we use tools such as:
- VNG/VOG testing (e.g., Spryson Dx200 + NeuroAI) for eye movement reflexes
- Balance and postural analysis
- Autonomic testing (HRV, pupillometry, orthostatic responses)
- 12-point functional neurological exam
- Cortical and cerebellar hemispheric comparison
- Motor timing and reaction speed analysis
- Advanced labwork (gut-brain, immune mapping) when appropriate
These tools allow us to map dysfunction, track brain activity, and customize rehab—not based solely on symptoms, but on how the entire nervous system is processing.
🔧 What a Chiropractic Neurologist Does Differently
Once we determine where dysfunction lies—whether in the cerebellum, vestibular system, visual pathways, or autonomic centers—we apply targeted therapies to stimulate and retrain those pathways.
Our article on The Big Three highlights the connections between various systems and how we integrate them into treatment.
Our chiropractic neurology toolbox includes:
- Vestibular & Neuro-Visual Therapy/Eye Movement Therapy
- Chiropractic Adjustments with Neurological Emphasis
- Red Light & Class IV Laser Therapy
- SoftWave Tissue Regeneration Technology (TRT)
- NeuroAI software-driven rehab
- Rebuilder™ Nerve Stimulation & PEMF
- Whole-body Vibration Therapy
- Functional Medicine for Neuroinflammation & Gut-Brain Axis
As chiropractic neurologists, our goal is to restore functional integrity, not just manage symptoms.
đź‘Ą Who Benefits from Functional Chiropractic Neurology?
This approach is ideal for patients who:
- Feel dismissed after being told “your MRI is normal”
- Struggle with chronic dizziness, brain fog, or light sensitivity
- Have post-concussion syndrome, migraines, or movement disorders
- Experience imbalance, neuropathy, or sensory processing issues
- Want a root-cause, non-invasive strategy to recover brain-body function
We also regularly collaborate with:
- MDs, DOs, NPs, ODs, PTs and OTs for co-management
- Athletes and youth with performance or recovery goals
- Adults seeking neuro-prevention or cognitive optimization
- Those seeking Sports Performance and optimization
🧠Why Functional Neurology Is the Future
This is not “alternative” medicine—it’s neuroanatomy and neurophysiology applied differently. Backed by research in neuroplasticity and multisensory integration, functional neurology bridges the gap between traditional diagnostics and functional performance.
By addressing how the brain is functioning—and why—a functional neurologist can help restore coherence in systems that impact balance, cognition, and resilience.
đź“Ť Visit a Chiropractic Neurologist in Carmel, Indiana
At Schulke Chiropractic & Wellness Solutions, we combine the best of chiropractic, neuroscience, and advanced diagnostics to provide cutting-edge, personalized neurological care. As one of the few clinics in the world using platforms like Spryson’s NeuroAI, we help patients recover clarity, stability, and confidence—one neural connection at a time.
đź“ž Call today or click here to schedule with a board-certified chiropractic neurologist in Carmel, Indiana.