What is an Adjustment

The chiropractic adjustment is the primary service most patients seek a chiropractor for. It is the main form of treatment that differentiates chiropractors from many different practitioners. So what is it?

A better questions to first ask is what determines when or where an adjustment is needed. As a chiropractor we are trained to assess the spine and joints of the body, with our hands, for normal or abnormal joint motion, orientation, and muscle tone. Another important piece of information comes from the patient and that is pain. So to recap we do a P.A.R.T assessment every time prior to adjusting a patient. P.A.R.T being Pain location and intensity, joint Asymmetry, abnromal Range of motion, and increased muscle Tone.

Once we have located an area that fulfills two out of the four categories, it is determined that an adjustment is appropriate. Chiropractic adjustments vary based upon each individual practitioners treatment style along with what is best suited for the patient. The most commonly used treatment is Diversified adjusting or hands on manipulation that leads to an immediate increase in range of motion, decrease in pain, and decreased muscle tone. Diversified adjusting uses a quick thrust to move the designated joint through a dysfunctional range of motion, most people get a “crack," “pop,” or “click,” with this type of adjustment. The noise associated with this is just gas release from the joint. This is the technique that tends to work well for most people and but there are other techniques used such as distraction, drop piece, and activator. The goal for these techniques remains the same but usually with less force compared to traditional or diversified adjusting.

If you have any questions about different adjusting methods and what might be best for your specific case always ask the chiropractor.