Understanding Chiropractic Techniques

If you are experiencing recurrent back pain, neck pain or joint discomfort, your spine could be out of alignment. Poor spinal alignment can cause a variety of health problems and requires a professional adjustment by a chiropractor. When you continue to live with a misaligned spine can lead to poor posture, increased back and neck pain, and even deterioration of muscles and tissues around the spine.  

 

Chiropractors are trained in several techniques to realign the spine and restore you to good health. Here’s a close look at some of the most common techniques used by chiropractic doctors today:

Spinal manipulation is the term used to describe how the chiropractor performs the spinal adjustment. Manipulation of the spine involves holding the spine in place while the surrounding muscles and tissues are pushed, pinched and massaged so that full functionality of the spine is restored. If you are experiencing fatigue, headaches, excessive joint pain or muscle pain in a particular area, the chiropractor may apply pressure to certain parts of these spine to release nerve blockages restore the spine to good health.

This technique involves a thorough leg analysis to determine if there are any posture imbalances. The Thompson technique also makes use of a special drop table that uses the patient’s own body weight as a trigger to set a drop piece in motion. The chiropractor adjusts the legs with thrusts and pressure on different joints.

Extremity manipulation and extremity adjustments are performed to mobilize joints and muscles that may be linked to feelings of depression, high blood pressure or musculoskeletal imbalances. The extremities are pinched, massaged and repositioned in various ways to increase blood flow and improve nerve communications to the joints. Ultimately, this technique will affect the nervous system and can help with a number of mental health problems such as fatigue, anxiety and even insomnia.

The Activator Methods technique is concerned with correcting spinal and pelvic misalignments using an Activator mallet that forces the joints into their correct positions. A leg length analysis is usually performed to determine exactly where the pelvis is misaligned. Pressure may be applied to the hips, upper and lower legs to make sure that both sides of the body are responding equally; if they are not, the circulatory system or nervous system may not be working properly.

Some chiropractors use these techniques to help with back, arm, leg or neck pain. These techniques target the back, and in some cases, may be a safe and effective alternative to surgery. The procedure is performed on a special table that helps divide up the sections of the body so that the chiropractor can focus on just one area at a time.  Key benefits of these techniques include increased range of motion, better posture, restoration of a herniated disc and a reduction of migraines or headaches.

Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead developed this technique in 1923, and it is used to address spinal misalignment. Individuals who are suffering from pinched nerves or spinal disc problems may be good candidates for this treatment. The Gonstead technique uses pressure and tissue manipulation to increase muscle and joint mobility and improve spinal functioning.

 

Contact a chiropractor in your area if you are experiencing back pain, neck pain or other joint and muscle problems. They will be able to create a customized treatment plan that includes one or several of these common techniques.