Common Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques You Must Know
Most people believe that going through a chiropractic adjustment can be frightening because of the popular cracking sound that it lets out during the procedure. They disregard the power that these treatments carry. In actual fact, chiropractic adjustments are a natural, drug-free method, a way to help people who experience pain within certain areas and parts of their body to feel more at ease and gain more mobility. It may be complicated as you may think of, but when chiropractors are able to align your spine properly, the nervous system will be working correctly, while significantly reducing the strain on one’s back and neck.
A chiropractic adjustment can be very effective at restoring joining function and mobility, leading to an increase in range of motion while reducing the pain. This therapy is often used to treat the neck, back, shoulder, and even headaches, and other minor ailments as well. Overall, these treatments and adjustments help the body to heal itself.
These adjustments involve a variation of techniques, and are applied depending on one’s condition. There are over a hundred types of adjustment techniques used by all of the chiropractors over the world. And usually, a chiropractor will only focus on and utilize 8 to 10 approaches in their practice. But though there are several types of techniques, all of them share the same purpose and goal. The most common goal of usual chiropractic techniques is restoring and enhancing joint functions, which leads to resolving joint inflammation and pain reduction. Some examples of the techniques include spinal manipulation, which is an approach that exerts some controlled and sudden force; and spinal mobilization, which can be gentler than the manipulation itself.
Spinal Manipulation
The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when they are asked about their understanding of chiropractic treatments is the loud cracking sound that the bones make when exerting controlled force on a certain area. This is the technique that chiropractors usually do for bones, and is referred to as the spinal manipulation procedure. It is the most common chiropractic adjustment technique that most chiropractors are able to perform. This is also in line with manual therapy and spinal mobilization, both having the purpose of relieving pressure on joints, reducing inflammation, and improving nerve function.
The goal of spinal manipulation is similar to the direct or rapid thrusting technique. Their purpose is to restore and improve joint function, and both leave a loud bone cracking sound whenever chiropractors apply force to certain areas of one’s body. The entire procedure also combines moving and jolting joints, massage, exercise, and physical therapy. It is designed not just to alleviate pressures and improve nerve functions, but also to treat other disorders like menstrual pain and sinus problems.
Gonstead Technique
Following the spinal manipulation procedure, one of the common adjustment techniques that chiropractors use would be the Gonstead technique. This type of chiropractic adjustment is specifically designed for spine-related issues, used to bring back the normal disc alignment and restore maximum mobility, thoroughly analyzing the spinal region then realigns the spine carefully to reduce pain and inflammation in the affected areas. What differentiates this technique from others would be the specificity of the contact point on the chiropractor’s hand, as the focus is to address the problem areas as specifically as possible.
This procedure is a hands-on technique that can be performed with the patient sitting up, or lying on their side. This is the suitable position that chiropractors recommend when performing the Gonstead technique. This is because it often involves adjusting the low back or pelvis. Chiropractors also use this approach, like any other chiropractic adjustment techniques, to realign joints, reduce pain and stiffness, and increase mobility.
Diversified Technique
Similar to the Gonstead technique, the diversified adjustment procedure is performed to adjust the spine and extremities. This technique is referred to as the direct thrust technique. It is also considered to be a commonly used technique. It involves accurate and exact hands-on thrusts aimed at restoring proper movement and alignment to the spine. The chiropractor performs a rapid thrust to different parts of the spine. It also relieves tension around the area and allowing issues and fluids to restore proper movement, circulation, and spinal alignment.
The diversified technique has 3 purposes. This method is used to restore spinal alignment, repair joint dysfunction, and to ensure proper movement and mobility. As this technique uses extremely precise hands-on thrusts, chiropractors will be able to bring back the spinal alignment in its normal state, and increase a patient’s range of motion that are affected by misaligned joints and bones. This process also produces a cracking sound that most people get frightened about. But this is only caused by letting the gas out that is released. When the joint is pushed past the motion range. The diversified technique is generally used on patients going through a lumbar disk herniation. This causes neck and back pain, whiplash, headaches, and even misaligned bones or joints. And so, the procedure instantly relieves pain. But it still imposes quite a risk compared to other manipulative methods because of the high force employed.
Activator Technique
Chiropractors do not only use their hands to perform chiropractic adjustment techniques. They do not just exert pressure and thrusting with controlled force using their hands. With the activator technique, chiropractors also use hand-held adjusting mechanical instruments. These deliver gentle impulse into the vertebral segments of the spine. The force that this instrument lets out feels like a light thumping feeling. It is used to treat everything from low back pain to some other conditions including headaches and migraines. This can be a perfect choice as it is not that uncomfortable. Especially for elders who will go through chiropractic adjustments.
The device used in this technique is called an “Activator”. This is commonly used by chiropractors if patients opt for a gentler impulse. Especially to the extremities, or the vertebral segments of the spine, restoring motion to a targeted spinal vertebra or joint. The activator is a spring-loaded device that has the power to adjust the tone of the nervous system. They can be used to treat several conditions by gently pushing it back to its normal state of alignment, preventing further injury.
This technique can be effective because the instrument chiropractors use works fast before the muscles tense up and resist treatment. Chiropractors are advising patients with migraines or other chronic headaches, neck pain, or lower back pain, to opt for this technique. It is the most ideal one for a gentler, and less painful procedure, an excellent choice for seniors.
Key Takeaway
Understanding the different chiropractic adjustment techniques will be able to help patients know what type of procedure they will opt to go through when they want to have certain conditions treated. The techniques mentioned above are not the only techniques that chiropractors can perform. They are just limited to those but there are also a hundred more available that can help you recover from whatever pain you are experiencing within your body.
