Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation may sound scary but is actually one of the safest solutions to reduce pain and regain motion. The hallmark of chiropractic care is the “spinal manipulation”, which is also called a “chiropractic adjustment.” An adjustment or spinal manipulation is the overall process used by your chiropractor that involves ‘retraining’ the spinal joints and surrounding muscles to adapt to a healthier state of functionality. The purpose of the adjustment is to restore joint position and mobility by manually applying a controlled force to a restricted joint. If a joint is not moving in one direction, a chiropractic adjustment can restore proper motion. Restoring proper function relieves pressure on the surrounding nerves, reduces pain and muscle tightness, and allows tissues to heal. Not one haircut is the same for every person, just as not every adjustment is done the same way on each individual. At Posture for Life Spine and Sport, your chiropractic care is tailored to how your body responds from day one.
Here is a description of the most commonly used techniques at Posture for Life Spine and Sport…
Diversified technique (DT)
Diversified is the most prominent adjusting technique. It involves quick, light pressure to a joint, often causing a popping sound due to the rapid release of pressure in the joint. No instruments are used in this technique other than the hands of your chiropractor. This technique allows for a specific correction to be made to a specific joint, restoring proper biomechanical function. Diversified technique can be used on the spine and extremity joints such as the elbow, ankle, knee.
Flexion/Distraction
Flexion-Distraction, (F/D) is a gentle, chiropractic treatment procedure utilized for people suffering from stiff joints, disc herniations, sciatica, and other common conditions. This advanced treatment table enables the practioner to provide a controlled traction, or stretching, to specific spinal segments to restore motion. The table moves in a smooth rhythmic fashion as the practitioner moves his/her hands into different positions. This gentle technique is primarily utilized to treat disc herniations, or for patients with scoliosis or severe arthritis. It is also used to reduce headaches, and improve posture. This technique is advised for patients to try before considering more invasive treatments to eliminate their pain. Please talk to your Dr. Nicole about your specific condition and if this treatment is right for you.
Extremity Adjustment
When chiropractors speak of extremities we will be talking about the joints of the body besides the joints in the spine. This would include: the jaw, ribs, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, fingers, hip, knee, ankle, foot, and toes.
Chiropractors have always looked to the spine for fixations, subluxations, and joint impropriety. These fixations, subluxations, and joint impropriety can also occur in your extremities. These extremity problems can sometimes cause chronic spinal problems. Most often the spine will be checked and adjusted before an extremity will be checked and adjusted (Extremity Adjustments should compliment Spinal Adjustments).
Possible symptoms of extremity fixations, subluxation, and joint impropriety include:
• pain in the extremities or in extremity joints
• fatigue in the extremities
• weakness in the extremities
• catches in the extremity joints
• stiffness or immobility in the extremity joints
• chronic cervical problems
• chronic back problems
The goal of extremity adjusting will be to analyze the extremity, evaluate the extremity, establish an extremity treatment plan and co-ordinate this plan with the spinal treatment plan.
Thompson Technique
The Thompson Technique is another method of adjustment that involves analyzing the length of the legs. This technique uses a ‘drop table’ for adjustment, where a gentle thrust is applied to the joints, which in turn, sets the drop piece into motion and targets the specific joint or tissue. After completing a leg check analysis, your chiropractor will determine the type of misalignment – cervical, pelvic, etc,- and then adjusts the legs using a combination of multiple thrusts on various joints.
Manipulative/Adjusting Instruments
Instead of delivering the adjustment by hand, the Adjusting Instrument is a hand-held, spring-loaded instrument used to deliver lighter and quicker pressure. The instrument can be used for all patients, and is often used for those who may not want or cannot have a manual adjustment. Such patient may include children, osteoporotic individuals, or people whom prefer a lighter style of adjusting a specific joint.
Sacro Occipital Technique [SOT]
The SOT Blocking technique uses triangular-shaped blocks placed under the pelvis of the patient to realign the low back and pelvis.