An adjustment/spinal manipulation is a catchall term for a variety of osteopathic and chiropractic treatment techniques designed to help patients who suffer from reduced spinal joint motion, contributing to presentations of low back pain, sciatica pain, neck pain and headaches.
Your clinician will use their hands to apply a rapid high speed but a controlled low force, to manipulate a spinal joint (vertebral joint) during adjustments. Although the procedure can initially feel strange, a spinal adjustment is completely safe when performed by a fully trained and registered practitioner. Before receiving a chiropractic adjustment, chiropractors and osteopaths take time to explain what is going to happen during treatment in what is termed a report of findings. Consent to treatment will also be gained prior to you receiving treatment.
Your practitioner will recommend different adjustment therapies, such as spinal mobilisation, if you suffer from osteoporosis or other issues that may need to be taken into consideration to ensure that no harm is done through the hands-on treatment.
Spinal manipulation
The base form of an adjustment is what is termed spinal manipulation. With this therapy, your clinician will use rapid, high speed, controlled force to carefully and precisely manipulate your spinal joints beyond their normal range of motion whilst not causing injury to the joint. In doing this, your spinal movement and function will be improved, and you will experience reduced back/neck pain and discomfort. Following a manipulation, some patients may experience a short period of tenderness around the area that has been treated. This response from the body is perfectly normal and will subside after 12-24hrs. This response from the body can be gently managed by the application of cold packs and gentle mobility in the day following treatment.
Spinal mobilisation
Mobilisation is a similar therapy that can restore or enhance your spinal joint’s function but it is distinct from the manipulation described above. Mobilisation relies on moving your spinal joints slowly to a firm endpoint instead of using the short, rapid motions that categorise spinal manipulation.
Mobilisation may be chosen instead of manipulation due to:
● patient preference
● spinal sensitivity
● the presence of underlying spinal conditions such as osteoporosis.
Diversified technique
This is the description used for the type of manipulation that most chiropractors and osteopaths in the UK will treat patients with in practice, and is taught widely in the United Kingdom Chiropractic degree courses. The diversified technique involves using low amplitude or short thrust pressure to treat restricted spinal joints. This technique of spinal manipulation is commonly used for the treatment of a wide range of issues, including sciatica, low back pain, pelvic pain, headaches, musculoskeletal disorders, and mid-back and neck pain.
Do you need to prepare for an adjustment?
Not at all. All of these techniques can be accomplished at Hutchinson Health clinic and do not require any preparation ahead of time. However, at Hutchinson Health, we will ask you to complete a medical questionnaire to understand your general health and provide us with information that it may be helpful to understand before your treatment.
When to see a chiropractor or osteopath for a spinal adjustment?
All in all, a spinal adjustment is a safe and effective treatment for a wide variety of musculoskeletal complaints such as low back pain, sciatica, and neck pain. Manual therapy treatments are always safe when they are carried out by a degree educated and registered chiropractor or osteopath so you can be confident that you are being treated in the best way.
But you don’t need to worry about an adjustment being sprung on you suddenly. As explained, all of the above information and more will be explained as part of your initial consultation at Hutchinson Health. Our practitioners are always happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have before or during any of your treatment appointments.
Furthermore, any treatment we provide requires your written consent. We will not rest until we find the best and effective treatment for your needs, so contact us today if you want the best musculoskeletal health clinic near you.
