Questions About
Functional Neurology

Functional neurology is a healthcare specialty focused on assessing and rehabilitating how the nervous system functions. It emphasizes neuroplasticity — the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize — using non-invasive, evidence-informed interventions to improve neurological performance. At California Brain & Spine Center, care is led by Dr. Alireza Chizari, DC, DACNB, a board-certified functional neurologist.

Medical neurology (practiced by MD/DO neurologists) often concentrates on diagnosing and treating neurological diseases through medication or surgery. Functional neurology aims to optimize how the nervous system performs — identifying and addressing functional dysregulation through personalized, non-pharmaceutical strategies. The two are complementary, not interchangeable.

No. Functional neurology is intended to complement, not replace, traditional medical care. We routinely coordinate with your physician or healthcare provider so your overall care stays comprehensive and safe.

Yes. Children with developmental delays, learning difficulties, or neurodevelopmental differences may benefit from functional neurology approaches, with protocols tailored to the child's developmental stage. Evaluation always comes first.

Functional neurology has been applied to a range of conditions, including:

• Concussion and post-concussion syndrome
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Vestibular and balance disorders
• Migraines and headaches
• Neurodevelopmental differences (e.g., ADHD, autism)
• Movement disorders
• Dysautonomia
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Functional neurological disorder (FND)

Individuals with unresolved neurological symptoms, those seeking non-pharmaceutical options, and patients aiming to optimize brain function may benefit — especially people who've been told their tests are "normal" while daily life still isn't.

Functional neurology does not cure neurodegenerative diseases. It may help manage symptoms and support quality of life by optimizing the function of existing neural pathways — always as part of, not instead of, appropriate medical care.

Evaluation may include videonystagmography (VNG), computerized posturography, oculomotor testing, vestibular function tests, and neurocognitive assessments — objective measures that show how the nervous system is actually performing.

Depending on findings, care may include vestibular rehabilitation, oculomotor exercises, sensorimotor integration, cognitive training, balance and coordination work, and lifestyle modifications — often organized within the NeuroRevive Program.

Yes — completely. Treatment plans are tailored to your specific neurological findings, symptoms, tolerance, and functional goals. There's no one-size-fits-all protocol, because similar symptoms can have very different causes.

Progress is tracked through repeated assessments, patient-reported outcomes, and objective measures such as balance testing, eye-movement tracking, and cognitive performance — so you can see whether the plan is working, not just feel it.

It serves as an adjunct to traditional medical care, enhancing outcomes by addressing functional aspects of the nervous system that conventional treatment may not target. Coordination with your physician or healthcare provider keeps everything aligned.

Tools such as computerized diagnostics, neurofeedback-style strategies, and non-invasive therapies — including HBOT, PEMF, LLLT, and GammaCore — may be used to assess and support neurological function when clinically appropriate.