Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy

Chiropractic manipulative therapy (sometimes referred to as a “chiropractic adjustment”) is the most common and well known therapeutic procedure performed by Doctors of Chiropractic. The purpose of spinal manipulation is to reduce pain and improve function. This is a result of restoring joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile—or restricted in their movement—as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for an individual. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing tissues to heal.

There are a variety of chiropractic manipulative therapy techniques available to tailor your care to you. Manipulation rarely causes discomfort, but occasionally patients may experience some mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours. Compared to other common treatments for pain, such as over-the-counter and prescription pain medications, chiropractic’s conservative approach offers a very safe and effective option.