Most of our clients enjoy their adjustment and often report a release and increased mobility following their adjustments.
Many techniques
Our Chiropractors may use a variety of techniques to adjust your spine. Naturally, adjustments are tailored to your size, age and particular health problem. For many clients a highly specific high velocity, low amplitude manual diversified thrust is given to the levers of the vertebrae to restore normal spinal movement, joint mechanics and function and integrity. Sometimes a popping noise will be heard, and this is caused by gas being released from the joint space. As volume of the joint is increased slightly the nitrogen gas that is dissolved in the liquid can be released.
An example of a common adjustment you may experience: a side lying pelvis adjustment, where the chiropractor will lay you on your side and place a contact hand on your low-back area. He or she will use the weight of their own body or leg to bring you into a slightly ‘twisted’ position and then give a thrust through their contact hand.
Gentle techniques
In many cases, where manual adjusting is not the preferred option, an instrument called an activator may be used to deliver the adjustments and return joint movement to normal. An activator is a small hand-held, spring-loaded instrument used to deliver lighter and quicker pressure for patients who do not need a manual adjustment. The doctor will place the activator device at the site of adjustment and as they squeeze it, it makes a clicking noise as it delivers an effective high speed, low force and precise thrust. Other low force adjustments will incorporate the specially designed chiropractic tables which allow for gentle adjusting through the use of drop pieces, this drop piece can be adjusted to varied resistances and raised up a short distance so that when the chiropractor applies an adjustment, at the same time the table drops. When the chiropractor lifts up the section of the table it will raise under you very slightly and you’ll hear it click. As the chiropractor gives the gentle adjustive thrust, you will feel the table "drop" down. The sound of a drop-piece can be quite dramatic; however the adjustment itself is still a gentle and precise thrust and can be just as effective as a manual adjustment.
Techniques such as Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT) often utilize wedged shaped blocks which are placed strategically under the patient to re-align the pelvic bones and or take pressure off the low back and improve circulation of the cerebro-spinal fluid. Other techniques require a slow, constant or vibrational sustained pressure and some involve working with the bones of the cranium. The skull has six separate bones that comprise the cranium, which are joined by strong, fibrous, elastic joints called sutures. Cranial therapies are based on the idea that restrictions in the movement of the cranial sutures of the skull affect the normal rhythm of cerebrospinal fluid flow. This fluid surrounds the spinal cord from skull to sacrum and has a palpable pulse and rhythm. Restoring this pulse and rhythm to normal results in better health and reduction of symptoms for patients. When performing this technique the chiropractor will gently contact various cranial bones with a light intermittent pressure. These movements will be done in time with your breathing in order to restore correct movement and position to the cranial bones.
Occasionally these adjustments are performed inside your mouth as the doctor places a gloved finger inside your mouth to contact the bone on the roof of your mouth, or the muscles of the jaw.
Extremity Adjustments
Joints such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hip, knee or ankle can also be adjusted. Called extremity adjustments, they can be used for conditions such as carpel tunnel syndrome, gait or posture-related problems. These joints can be adjusted by diversified, activator or a number of other methods. After the treatment, many people notice an immediate decrease in their symptoms.
Our chiropractors are trained and proficient in many different techniques, and to adjust one person fully a variety of techniques will usually be called upon. These techniques will be customised to the needs of the particular person.
If you have a preference for a certain technique - or dislike others - you should discuss this with your chiropractor. They will be extremely grateful that you did and will explain to you their own technique preferences and together work out the best way forward for your treatment.