Chiropractic Techniques
Just like in any medical facility, when a patient visits our Navarre Chiropractic clinic, the chiropractor will request for his/her medical history. Physical examination is performed as well as x-ray or ultrasound examination to specifically reveal more about the patient’s condition. After a thorough check-up and verification of the problem on hand, the chiropractor will then come up with a treatment plan tailored exclusively to the patient’s health situation.
Chiropractic treatments often involve spine adjustments that are done by employing a controlled but sudden force. All these adjustments are carried out using the chiropractor’s hands, with the sole aim of bringing the misaligned joints or spine into order. Additionally, the adjustments or manipulations are meant to open up circulation in the patient’s body in order to encourage healing. However, the treatment plan and its implementation may also rely on the style, technique or approach the chiropractor uses. Below are some of the common manipulation techniques that chiropractors use.
Key manipulation techniques
- Direct thrust – This is the most common manipulation technique. By the use of hands, the Chiropractor applies a high velocity and low amplitude thrust directly to the spine. Often, patients will hear a popping or crack sound when this adjustment is being carried out. The aim of this style is to release restricted joints, thus bringing back normal joint performance and range of motion
- Articulatory – A lot of injuries that individuals sustain include harm to the articular (joint) motion. When performing this procedure, a force that has a low velocity to high amplitude is applied. This helps to steer the joint through it expected range of movement.
- Indirect positional technique – This technique is employed to release hypertonic muscles, usually in an effort to achieve a full joint range of motion. The joint is held carefully in a neutral pose and then force is applied. Additionally, this style may involve the use of pressure with the aim of lengthening muscle tissues.
- Muscle energy – As opposed to other techniques which involve thrusting, this technique focuses on isometric movements to realize a normal range of motion. It is considered an active technique since the patient must take part in the application of force. Consistently, the force is applied for a limited time then followed by a period of relaxation. This process then is carried out repetitively but in a different position until the affected joint returns to normal.
- Functional technique – During this procedure, force is applied gently to the joint in order to release joint restriction. In case a slight restriction is detected, the joint is held carefully in the position where the limitation was detected until it is released.
- Myofascial release – When performing this technique, the Chiropractor stretches the fascia tissue which has excess rigidity and tension. He then identifies high-tension areas and applies pressure moderately until the area relaxes.
With that said, chiropractic treatment largely depends on the patient’s condition. The time taken and range of adjustment is relative to the degree of misaligned structure in the nervous system. For instance, patients who visit the clinic just because of a minor back pain, neck pain or muscle pain due to heavy lifting may only need few adjustments.
However, there are occasions where a patient is required to attend to numerous chiropractic sessions regularly. Such occasions that may call for more than two sessions are for those patients who have suffered from spinal related injuries, arthritis, spinal injuries or any other recurrent and serious conditions.
Chiropractic these days is also being performed to complement other medical practices such as physical therapy. There are various practitioners who use chiropractic and other kinds of alternative treatments like herbs and acupressure to come up with improved and more effective treatment plans.
Most remarkably, the advantage of chiropractic as an alternative treatment practice is that it is non-invasive and strictly does not entail the use of any medicine or drugs to ease the pain. Chiropractic just sticks on the concept of natural ability of the human body to recuperate if its muscular and skeletal structure is realigned and positioned appropriately.