Adjustments are the cornerstone of chiropractic health care. The goal of an adjustment is to restore proper motion and function in the joints. Most adjustments are performed on the spinal joints, however, chiropractic care can treat any joint in your body that you are having dysfunction in.
When the joints of the spine are not moving properly, they affect the surrounding tissues including the spinal nerves causing inflammation, pain, and decreased function locally and wherever affected nerves extend to.
It is the job of the skilled chiropractor to determine which joints in the spine are not moving properly. Once determined, she will then adjust each dysfunctional joint using a quick, precise thrust to restore proper motion and function and allow healing. Techniques are modified to make adjustments safe and comfortable for patients of any age and size.
Diversified/ Hands On Technique
At The Chiropractic Edge, our main adjusting style is commonly referred to as “Diversified.” This involves the doctor feeling along your spine or other joints in your body and identifying the areas where the joints are “stuck” and not functioning properly. Once identified, a specific manual thrust is administered to those areas. The direction, speed, depth and angle that are used is the result of years of experience, practice and a thorough understanding of spinal mechanics.
The energy delivered during the thrust may produce a slight “popping” sound from the shifting of gas and fluids in the joint. This sound may be interesting, but is not a guide as to the value or effectiveness of the adjustment.
While improving spinal biomechanics can reduce nervous system interferences, virtually all joints of the body can be adjusted to help restore proper range of motion.
Dr. Russell doesn’t just adjust the spine. She can adjust any joint in the body including wrists, elbows, knees, ankle, jaw, etc.
If you’ve been to a chiropractor before and prefer to be adjusted in a particular way, let Dr. Russell know. We want you to relax, enjoy and fully benefit from your chiropractic care.
Activator Technique
Activator instrument-assisted adjustments are perfect for patients who prefer not to experience hands-on adjustments, or for select individuals not suited to hands-on adjustments as determined by the doctor.
This instrument has proven itself effective at restoring spinal joints to normal function with a precise mechanical impulse. No movement or turning of the neck is required.
Some patients prefer to have Activator adjustments of their neck but hands-on adjustments of their back. We are pleased to be able to accommodate these patients.
Drop Table Technique
A drop table has sections which can be raised about half an inch and then “drop” down with the weight of the patient and adjustment. This system takes advantage of the spine’s inherent design of the joints in order to move the spinal segment in the direction that will improve the motion. The patient lies on the table, and upon a gentle but sudden thrust downward by the chiropractor’s hands, the portion of the spinal column positioned above the table section is accelerated downward as the table segment is suddenly dropped. At the end of the drop, the body’s inertia transfers force into the affected joint and the soft tissue of the body, producing the desired change in the joint or the affected fibers of the musculature. This is a technique that some patients prefer because there is no twisting or rotation needed to perform the adjustments.