Which Chiropractic Treatment Will Fix You Right Up

When you have back pain, it can be easy to reach for painkillers. Maybe you just put up with the aches.

But chiropractic treatment can relieve the pain – and hold it at bay, if not cure it altogether.

Over 27 million Americans seek chiropractic treatment every year.

It’s not surprising. The spine is a robust structure but it’s not invincible.

Any misalignment between the vertebrae can interfere with the signals sent between the body and the brain.

All sorts of factors can affect spinal alignment. Your posture, giving birth, falling over, and even sneezing can all cause problems.

As a result, there is no single chiropractic treatment for all ailments. Your chiropractor will use the treatment that’s right for you.

So what forms of chiropractic treatment are there?

There are two types of manipulation offered as forms of treatment; that of the spine, and that of the extremities.

Spinal manipulation involves adjustments to the spine itself. The chiropractor aims to retrain the spine for better functionality in future.

That includes working on the surrounding muscles to get everything working in concert.

Extremity manipulation focuses instead on non-spinal joints. The aim is to restore the mobility of the joints in the extremities.

This has the advantage of placing less stress on the spine itself.

The Gonstead Chiropractic Technique

You may encounter this technique, based on your individual circumstances. It stems from an understanding of the structure of the body.

Like an architect surveying a building, the chiropractor surveys the body.

They’re particularly looking at the pelvic girdle. That’s made up of the pelvis and the lower back bones.

If they’re all in alignment, the spine has maximum stability and support. But if they’re out of position, by being tilted or rotated, the changes can be hugely painful.

The Gonstead technique aims to correct any misalignments to restore balance to the spine.

The Thompson Drop Chiropractic Technique

This method involves the use of a table that the chiropractor can adjust in sections.

So the practitioner can drop a section beneath the part of the spine being adjusted.

This technique makes it easier for the chiropractor to move the vertebrae. The force is applied just as the section drops away.

This has the advantage of requiring less force to make adjustments.

It’s also suitable for use along the length of the spine.

The Activator Technique

A third technique involves the use of an Activator Adjustment Instrument. This restores motion to the targeted vertebra through the use of impulse forces.

The AAI is a hand-held, spring-loaded instrument. It’s quick enough that the muscles don’t tense, meaning they don’t resist treatment.

That may make the treatment more effective.

And the force applied is restricted to a specific area. So it doesn’t add any extra stress to a painful joint.

51% of chiropractors report using the AAI form of treatment.

It’s a more gentle technique, meaning it can be used on pediatric patients or those with chronic conditions like arthritis.

Which treatment is right for me?

Your chiropractor will conduct a full assessment to determine which form of chiropractic treatment is right for you.

Naturally, any form of treatment will be most effective when combined with a sensible diet and ergonomic changes in your environment.