Chiropractic adjustments, also known as spinal adjustments or spinal manipulation, are performed by a chiropractor to restore proper joint motion and decrease nerve pain. These adjustments are usually made manually by the chiropractor's hands, but sometimes chiropractors use small instruments to apply force to a misaligned joint. Chiropractictors, like those at Chirocare Chiropractic, are here to provide a safe, non-invasive approach to treating spine and joint problems, and spine adjustments are a crucial component of their treatment.
What is a Spinal Adjustment?
What Causes Misalignments?
There are many common causes of a misaligned spine, and accidents are one of the leading causes. Misalignments caused by a car accident, work-related accidents, or sport-related injuries could force your spine out of alignment leading to nerve pain.
Another leading cause of spine misalignments is improper lifting techniques. Lifting heavy objects with improper lifting techniques adds unnecessary strain on the spine and could compromise the spine. These misalignments could also be caused by repetitively lifting lighter items over time using a poor lifting technique.
Lastly, poor posture can likely lead to future misalignments if not corrected proactively. Poor posture puts stress on the spine, and sitting at a desk that is not ergonomically set up for hours is just one way poor posture can negatively affect the alignment of your spine.
Indications for Spinal Adjustments
When a spine is misaligned, the nerves between the vertebrae can pinch, causing pain in more areas than the spine. Some symptoms that can indicate your spine is out of alignment are:
Walking abnormalities
Excessive fatigue
Neck pain
Knee pain
Lower back pain
Chronic headaches
This list is not all-inclusive; a misaligned spine can cause many associated pains. If your spine goes uncorrected, it can lead to a higher risk of developing other serious issues. These issues could include chronic pain, joint stiffness, slouched posture, reduced range of motion, and much more.
Types of spinal adjustments
The most common adjustment method that 96% of chiropractors use is the direct thrust technique. This method involves the chiropractor using their hands to apply a rapid thrust to align the spine.
Another standard adjustment method similar to the direct thrust technique is spinal mobilization. The main difference is that spinal mobilization uses more gentle thrusts and is paired with stretching to improve flexibility and range of motion.
One other standard adjustment method is the drop technique. This technique uses a specialized treatment table designed to drop certain parts of the body by a fraction of an inch to help facilitate joint movement.
Benefits of spinal adjustments
Many benefits can come from having a professional chiropractor like Dr. Denison Stone in New York perform a spinal adjustment. These benefits could include improved posture, minimization of migraines, reduction of pain, and improved range of motion of your spine and other joints.
Spinal adjustments can also help with neck-related headaches and help treat minor neck or spine injuries like whiplash. One group that can benefit significantly from a spinal adjustment is people who have scoliosis. Chiropractic treatment combined with physical therapy can help treat and prevent the progression of scoliosis for some patients.
CALL CHIROCARE TODAY
Spine adjustments are a cornerstone for chiropractic care and hold many benefits for people with varying spinal issues. Taking care of your spine early can help decrease the risk of serious spinal problems developing in the future. Having a qualified chiropractor like Dr. Denison Stone in New York perform spinal adjustments is a great way to help reduce chronic pain and improve the range of motion of your joints. Take a crack at chiropractic care by contacting Chirocare, PC today.