Chiropractic Techniques

When chiropractors refer to chiropractic “techniques”, we are talking about the many different ways we adjust or manipulate the spine. I will attempt to describe some of the more common techniques used in our area.

To begin, I will say that all chiropractic techniques try to achieve the same basic result; to relieve pressure on nerves and re-establish the body’s balance. With better balance, muscles relax and stress is minimized. We cannot eliminate all stress, but if the body is better balanced you will feel better.

All patients are examined and analyzed to determine if the patient is a chiropractic case and if chiropractic treatment is appropriate at this time. X-rays are taken if necessary to help bring us to that conclusion. Patients are referred to the appropriate practitioner if they are not a chiropractic case.

In my practice I am expert in several different techniques. My primary approach is called Thompson technique; but I also use Palmer Upper cervical, Gonstead, Activator, Diversified and Flexion-distraction techniques.

Thompson: in this technique, the patient lays face down on a table that gently lowers them into a prone position. A series of tests are performed to determine the problem. This allows me to zero in on the area of the spine that needs closer examination. After I determine what spinal structure needs attention I make an “adjustment” by raising the movable cushions that make up the surface of the table and then thrusting down, causing the table to “drop”. These cushions raise and drop about ½-inch to enhance the adjustment and reduce the force on the patient. From a physics point of view we are using newton’s laws of motion. Patients do not feel or hear any “popping or snapping”, only the noise of the table.

Diversified: This technique is probably the most common technique used by most chiropractors. The patient can be on their back, on their stomach or on their side. The main approach here is the use of leverage. When the neck or back is taken to a point of tension and a gentle thrust is made in the direction the chiropractor wants to move a particular vertebra, it will move slightly, making a sound that the patient can usually hear and feel.

Gonstead: This technique is somewhat similar to diversified wherein the patient is laid face down or on their side, but the neck adjustments are usually made in a sitting position, which gives the chiropractor a different position to make the correction. The patient hears and feels the correction in this technique.

Activator: This technique is somewhat similar to the Thompson technique; however, instead of the patient lying on a table where the cushions move up and down the adjustment is made with a handheld instrument that has an adjustable spring inside. The force produced can be changed to accommodate the patient’s needs. The instrument also uses newton’s laws of motion much like the Thompson technique table. The analysis is also similar to Thompson.

Palmer upper cervical: This technique also uses the “drop” cushions as in Thompson; however, only the upper two cervical vertebrae are adjusted in this technique. The patient lies on their side and the cushion under their head drops when the adjustment is made. This is sometimes referred to as a “toggle” adjustment.

Flexion/distraction: This technique is used mainly when the patient has a “disc problem”. This can be a bulging or herniated disc. When discs have been injured muscles go into spasm which causes distortion of the spine. The disc is usually compressed on one side and it bulges on the other. It can range from a mild disc bulge to a more serious and painful disc herniation. Flexion and distraction procedures decompress the disc allowing the fluid nucleus of the disc to be drawn back into the disc’s center where it belongs. It opens up the space between the two vertebrae and takes the pressure off the nerve and eventually allows the muscles to relax.

All techniques that I use in my office are applied with the minimum force necessary. Different patients like different techniques and I will always try to accommodate the patient if I can.

Call my office at 661-823-8888 or come by the office at 20825 South St. A consultation to determine if you are a chiropractic patient is free.