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Feb 1, 2023|Chiropractic adjustment, Chiropractor

Types of Chiropractic Adjustments & How They Work

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Chiropractic Adjustments in Millersville & Crofton, MD

The Different Types of Chiropractic Adjustments

Effective Integrative Healthcare provides chiropractic adjustments to patients in Millersville and Crofton, MD. We offer chiropractic therapy and massage therapy to patients who need them. We’ve served health-conscious patients, athletes needing rehabilitation from sports injuries, and more. Patients needing a chiropractic neck adjustment to come to us for pain relief, as well as their overall health.

But First, What is Chiropractic Treatment?

Chiropractic treatment is performed by trained specialists called chiropractors. During a chiropractic adjustment, a chiropractor will use their hands or a small instrument to apply controlled, sudden force to a patient’s joints—most commonly the spinal joints. The objective of chiropractic treatment is to improve joint motion and the body’s physical function.

The Different Types of Chiropractic Adjustments

There are more types of chiropractic adjustments than you probably think. Below, we’ve listed the 11 types of chiropractic adjustments and how they each work.

Direct Thrust Technique

The direct thrust technique—which is also called the high velocity, low amplitude method—is one of the older and more popular types of chiropractic adjustments. This type of adjustment involves the chiropractor engaging the restrictive barrier, aka pulling, instead of pushing against the body. For this technique to be effective, the chiropractor will ensure that each plane of the barrier is engaged at the same time, helping to create a solid feeling before applying the thrust. This technique is used for:

  • Spinal realignment
  • “Cracking” or “popping” the back
  • Relieving pain
  • Reducing inflammation
  • Improving range of motion

Spinal Mobilization

This type of chiropractic adjustment consists of passive movements on a specific spinal section. This treatment type has a therapeutic effect on patients. Using passive and gentle movements, the chiropractor performing this technique will help to improve one’s range of motion. Mobilization is similar to spinal manipulation in that it seeks to return proper joint function. This technique is used for:

  • Decreasing pain in the spine
  • Increasing range of motion
  • Realigning spinal segments

Articulatory Technique

This type of chiropractic adjustment is used for therapeutic purposes and uses moderate-to-high amplitude forces and low velocity. This type of adjustment can help restore a dysfunctional joint by engaging its full range of motion. To effectively and entirely accomplish this, the chiropractor engages the restrictive barrier multiple times, easing off occasionally before re-engaging the restriction. This type of chiropractic adjustment is most commonly used to:

  • Improve range of motion in joints
  • Decrease pain

Myofascial Release

During this type of chiropractic adjustment, a group of manual procedures is used to alleviate the tension in the body’s fascia. This type of release is a resourceful treatment when it comes to sports medicine. The chiropractor will apply sustained pressure with their hands to relieve any stiffness or pain. There are numerous advantages to this technique. It can benefit the fascia and muscle, as well as joints, bones, tendons, cartilage, blood, skin, ligaments, and soft tissues. This type of technique is used for:

  • Muscle relaxation
  • Decreased effects of stress
  • Increased joint range of motion
  • Promote growth and repair of muscle tissue
  • Decreased neuromuscular hypertonicity
  • Improved neuromuscular efficiency
  • Regulation in the production of cytokines
  • Reduced adhesions along with scar tissue
  • Improved tissue recovery and reduced soreness
  • Reduction or suppression of trigger point pain and sensitivity

Muscle Energy Technique

This chiropractic adjustment incorporates directed and controlled constrictions that are used to reduce back pain and improve musculoskeletal function. The muscle energy technique helps stretch the muscles and is most effective when used on patients who deal with discomfort from an acute somatic dysfunction, such as a whiplash injury from a car accident. This technique can be used for the following:

  • Increasing mobility
  • Promoting healing
  • Reducing muscle spasms
  • Relieving soft tissue pain
  • Stretching tight or weak muscles

Spinal Manipulation

This type of chiropractic manipulation describes various manual therapy techniques. Chiropractors employ this type of technique to help patients be free of back pain. This technique can address abnormalities in your body by applying a gentle force on the affected joints. This technique is used for:

  • Stopping muscle spasms
  • Relieving localized inflammation
  • Realigning spinal segments

Functional Technique

The functional technique is a chiropractic adjustment that targets affected joints to free them from any restriction, restoring their mobility. The chiropractor utilizes gentle force on the affected joints. Like all forms of chiropractic care, this technique is only used when needed. It can be used to:

  • Relieve pain
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Restore function to various joints

Flexion-Distraction

This chiropractic technique doesn’t require force around the spine but, instead, involves the gentle stretching of the spine via a pumping method employed by the chiropractor. This technique is for:

  • Sciatica relief
  • Increased disc and joint motion
  • Herniated disc treatment
  • Pinched nerve relief

Gonstead Method

This chiropractic adjustment technique is a hands-on method that is highly effective in relieving long-term back pain. It also is efficient with realigning the spine. This technique involves a safe and precise set of steps to ensure the method is helpful for the patient. This method can help with:

  • Inflammation
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain
  • Chronic pain
  • Hip or pelvic misalignments

Activator Method

This method of chiropractic adjustment utilizes a device known as the activator. It is a spring-loaded device that performs localized, low-force pulses to certain joints of the spine. The device is fast and doesn’t give the patient’s body time to tense. This helps the chiropractor to perform more effective means of treatment. The device also allows for pinpointed force and helps keep the spine and other joints from moving into compromising positions. The activator method is often used to treat:

  • Headaches
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain

Thompson Drop-Table Technique

This chiropractic adjustment uses a special table combined with low-force, low-amplitude, and high-velocity adjustments. The platforms on the table drop as the chiropractor applies low amounts of force to the spine for adjustments. The Thompson drop-table technique is often used for the following:

  • Chronic back pain
  • Correcting neck curvature
  • Pregnancy chiropractic adjustments
  • Pediatric chiropractic adjustments

The Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments

There is a wide range of benefits when it comes to chiropractic adjustments. Whether you opt for short-term or long-term chiropractic care, you’ll be able to enjoy various health benefits, such as relief from back and neck conditions, arm and wrist pain, sleeping disorders, arthritis stress and tension disorders, sciatica, fibromyalgia, bursitis, and so much more. Below, we’ve listed the benefits of chiropractic adjustments. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Alleviation of pain and discomfort
  • Reduction of stress and anxiety
  • Regulation of mood swings
  • Improvement of athletic performance
  • Improvement of joint function and mobility
  • Improvement of overall health and wellness
  • Improvement of sleep and overall energy
  • Improvement in the function of the body’s systems
  • Reduction of inflammation, pressure, and tension
  • Improvement of cognitive ability and functions
  • Decreased risk of joint degeneration and illness

Contact Us Today for a Chiropractic Adjustment

Whether you need a neck adjustment, back adjustment, spinal adjustment, or different kinds of adjustment, you’ve come to the right place. For years, the professional team at Effective Integrative Healthcare has provided the best in chiropractic care in Millersville and Crofton. To learn more about chiropractic adjustments and care, check out our FAQ page. To schedule a consultation with a member of our expert team, contact us today. We look forward to serving your chiropractic needs.

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