Chiropractic care involves making adjustments in the nervous systems also known as spinal manipulation. Chiropractors can surprisingly treat several conditions by using chiropractic adjustments such as stress, migraines, digestive conditions, and chronic pain.
As there are many chiropractic treatments options available, it is a good idea to first understand the different chiropractic techniques and method and how they help treat medical conditions before seeking your chiropractor clinic. Here are seven effective chiropractic adjustments methods you should know about before your visit:
- Logan chiropractic technique
This method is a type of chiropractic adjustment that call for applying pressure on a leverage spot on the sacral bone. The gentle pressure is supposed to treat the muscles in the back and pelvis and focus on realignment of the bones in the spine, reduce headaches, help with migraines, release tension and stress in the body.
A chiropractor holds this pressure on the focus point for a few minutes while they use their other hand to run your back muscles to release any tension. This entire motion helps your spine to move towards balance. The gentle, light pressure a chiropractor applies allows your muscles to relax. This makes the logan technique very smooth and gentle, but at the same time, a very effective method chiropractic clinics use.
- Gonstead chiropractic adjustment
This is one of the most common chiropractic care methods. Gonstead adjustment is typically used for diagnoses and fix specific issues like long-term back pain using the hands-on technique. This chiropractic adjusting technique is a universal practice in chiropractic care.
This chiropractic adjustment technique was designed as an alternative and innovative solution to analyze the spine. The analysis further enables the appropriate corrective clinical steps to fix different problems. The analysis also uses tools like thermographic instrumentation, postural observation, digital and motion palpation, and x-ray assessment. The analyses allow correction in the form of a particular spinal adjustment. That said, the specific nature of this chiropractic correction ensures the safety measures in the treatment and speed up the recovery rate of the patient.
- Diversified chiropractic technique
One of the most commonly used and popular adjustments among chiropractors is known as the diversified chiropractic technique. Often, when people visit a chiropractic clinic looking for instant relief from their back or neck pain, this is probably the method they will be using.
The diversified technique offers a way to adjust a lumbar disk herniation that is one of the major causes of back and neck pain. It involves very precise hands-on thrusts aiming to restore proper movement as well as the alignment to the spine, which is why it is considered as the most widely used chiropractic technique.
- Flexion-Distraction method
Chiropractic clinics use the Flexion-Distraction technique to treat several conditions of the lumbar spine, including low back pain, lumbar disc injuries, Arthritis, Sciatica, sprain, strain, and Scoliosis. This is a non-surgical chiropractic technique that aims to increase the spinal motion and resolve disc bulges and disc herniations. It is an excellent, safe, non-force, gentle procedure that works well to hold the pressure off the spinal nerves, which might be injured or dysfunctional. Using the Flexion-Distraction chiropractic method has many clinical benefits, such as:
- It reduces pressure on the spinal nerves
- It increases spinal motion in the disc as well as spinal joints
- It reduces symptoms of sciatica
- It is a conservative alternative to surgery for herniated discs
- Thompson chiropractic technique
The Thompson method uses a drop table, which provides chiropractors with high velocity, low force adjustments, and low amplitude. It enables chiropractors to offer less forceful adjustments at the same time reducing the wear and tear the professionals face because the dropping devices assist in the manipulation. These days, chiropractic clinics are commonly using these devices.
The Thompson chiropractic technique is often used for pregnancy care, chronic back pain, pediatric wellness, and inward neck curvature. This is why Thompson is another chiropractic adjustment you should know about.
- Soft tissue therapy
The soft tissue therapy is a complex soft tissue massage, a technique chiropractic clinic use. The therapy focuses on muscles instead of the spine. It helps muscles release toxins and it improves blood flow and circulation. It involves the manipulation of soft tissues of the body such as muscles, tendons, connective tissues or fascia, ligaments, and joints. Soft tissue therapy helps reduce the discomfort of soft tissues that are linked with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular over-use, and several other chronic pain situations. If you live a particularly busy, over-scheduled life due to occupations or through sports, soft tissue techniques can be very beneficial for you. Regular massage of soft tissues has many advantages, including:
- Improved feeling of well-being
- Increased flexibility and mobility of the muscle tissues
- Release from tension and stress
- Correction of muscular imbalances
- Decreased risk of injury
- Improved quality of life and focus on everyday matters
- Activator method
The activator chiropractic method involves a spring-loaded, hand-held mechanical instrument known as the Activator Adjusting Instrument. It is used to provide a gentle impulse force to the spine with the main aim of restoring motion into any specific spinal vertebra or joint.
The activator instrument-assisted technique is quick because it uses a device, which is why the body muscles are less likely to tense or show any resistance as a reaction to the treatment. The lack of resistance from the muscles can support the effectiveness of the treatment. On the other hand, this technique applies localized force and doesn’t add any additional torque.
Why chiropractic care is a good option
One of the biggest reasons why chiropractic treatments are so popular is because they use manual adjustments and manipulation of the spine for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. When you visit a chiropractic clinic, you will be walked through different possible techniques and methods. You can further talk about your lifestyle choices and needs with your chiropractor and create a personalized treatment plan. Besides, they can even help you identify unhealthy habits and give your practical strategies to manage your condition or pain and life a more fulfilled life.