Various chiropractic techniques aim to correct misalignments that impair nerve communication. These include manual palpation, manual muscle testing, and imaging-based methods.
Diversified Technique (DT) is the most commonly used chiropractic method. Practitioners perform manual adjustments using high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts to realign spinal segments. DT can also break up adhesions and stretch adjacent muscles, ligaments, and tendons, enhancing joint function.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Soft tissue therapy is a manual manipulation of the body’s muscles, fascia (connective tissues) and tendons. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, piriformis syndrome and tennis elbow (tendonitis in the elbow). It’s also effective in treating headaches.
A physical therapist who has been trained in the technique uses his or her hands, fingers and even elbows to gently knead the muscles of the patient. The technique can be done in conjunction with other therapeutic treatments or on its own.
The benefits of soft tissue therapy include improving flexibility and range of motion in joints, reducing muscle tightness and pain, breaking up myofascial adhesions (long strands of scar tissue), increasing circulation which helps the healing process, decreasing oxidative stress, stimulating the stretch reflex of muscles and overlying fascia, and releasing endorphins. It’s also helpful in preventing injuries and optimizing training and performance. In addition, it has been shown to improve sleep patterns and reduce psychological stress. In fact, athletes have found soft tissue therapy to be a very beneficial tool when training for a race or competition.
Flexion-Distraction
Flexion-distraction (or Cox technique) is a chiropractic manipulation using gentle, rhythmic movements to manipulate the spine and relieve pain. The flexion and distraction movements on a special treatment table decompress spinal discs, reduce pressure on the spinal nerves, and promote healing in the back and neck.
This technique can be used to treat patients with a variety of spinal conditions. This includes herniated discs, sciatica, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, lumbar pain, and stiffness. It’s also a great option for patients who are not able to tolerate the forceful adjustments of other chiropractic techniques.
Flexion-distraction therapy helps to alleviate pain in the back and neck by stretching and elongating muscles around the spinal discs. This helps to release the herniated discs, reducing pressure and encouraging healing. This can also help improve posture and flexibility, as well as helping to eliminate stress on the spine. The traction on the spinal discs also allows nutrients to pass through to the healthy spinal discs, which is an important part of spine health. This is a safe, non-invasive method for treating spinal injuries without the need for surgery and limiting possible complications.
Extremity Manipulation
In spinal manipulation, the chiropractor makes short but quick movements to take a joint into a range that the patient cannot move themselves. This movement typically produces an audible sound (cavitation). It has been shown that this technique can alleviate neck pain in the short term, but it is not well understood. A recent study suggests that spinal manipulation might reduce neck pain by improving the way the central nervous system combines relevant somatosensory and visual information to control the body’s movements.
This technique can also be used to manipulate the joints of other areas of the body, such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand/finger, knee, ankle, and foot. This specialized treatment can help people who suffer from a wide variety of conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome and gait or posture-related problems.
Manipulation is a safe and effective treatment when done by a trained therapist. However, there are some risks and complications associated with extreme manipulation, such as soft tissue injuries, bruising, strained muscles, pinched nerves, dislocation of the joint, and fractures. This is why it is important to seek a qualified professional like those at Chatswood chiropractic who has the proper training and experience.
Activator Method
The Activator Method is a chiropractic technique that uses an instrument to deliver low-force impulses. It is a highly effective technique for patients with spinal and extremity issues, including neck and back pain.
Chiropractors who utilize this technique use an instrument with a spring-loaded mechanism that delivers a quick, controlled impulse to the spine and other joints in the body. This device helps chiropractors detect and correct misalignments in the spine, called subluxations, which interfere with nerve function and cause a range of symptoms, including pain and numbness.
The Activator Method can be used to treat patients of any age, from infants to seniors. It is especially helpful for individuals who are hesitant to undergo manual adjustments because of their fear or discomfort. The speed of the Activator instrument can help reduce muscle resistance and minimize the force applied to the joint, making it more gentle than some other types of spinal manipulation. The low-force approach can also reduce the risk of causing additional stress to joints, thereby encouraging long-term joint health. It is more precise than some other types of spinal manipulation, which can be beneficial for patients who have a limited range of motion or are sensitive to force.
Diversified
Although the diversified technique is the most common adjustment method, there are many other chiropractic techniques that can be used to treat patients. These include Logan Basic, the Meric system, and Activator manipulation methods.
During a treatment session, chiropractors use their hands to apply quick thrusting motions, called adjustments, to the spine and other joints throughout the body. These movements are designed to restore alignment, increase mobility and range of motion, and enhance the body’s natural healing process. It is normal to hear a popping sound during these adjustments. This is caused by a decrease in pressure inside the joint, which causes the release of trapped gases, called cavitation.
Some chiropractors are more familiar with a particular adjustment method than others. For example, more experienced chiropractors are likely to use the Activator technique over Diversified. This is because the Activator method allows for more precision in delivering a low-amplitude high-velocity impulse to the spinal and joint structures. It also allows for better targeting at depths that are more difficult to accomplish with manual adjustments. This is especially true for Gonstead-style adjustments, which require precise movement of the vertebrae at specific spinal levels corresponding to the area of patient symptoms.
