Chiropractic Adjustment
Lawrence, KS | Midwest Muscle & Joint Clinic
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When someone thinks of a Chiropractor, typically the first thing that comes to mind is the adjustment. At Midwest Muscle & Joint Clinic we use adjustments (manipulation) in conjunction with many other functional treatments. Most patients are not aware of the logistics involved in determining when and where to adjust, all they know is that they often feel better afterwards.. so how do chiropractors know when and where to adjust?
Chiropractors are musculoskeletal experts trained in finding and correcting joint, muscle, and other movement-related dysfunctions. Before adjusting, a Chiropractor must first determine if a joint is not moving properly (restricted) or moving too much (unstable). If we find that a joint is biomechanically “stuck” in it’s functional range of motion, we manipulate (or adjust) it accordingly. If the joints we are assessing are unstable, we then focus on strengthening the area with stabilization exercises.
Benefits of Adjustments:
Increase Range of Motion and Mobility
Increase Biomechanical Function
Decrease Pain
Decrease Joint Inflammation
Help Relax Overacting Muscles (Spasms, Tightness & Trigger Points)
At Midwest Muscle & Joint Clinic, we do not believe in a "one-size-fits-all" approach to healing. Every human body moves differently, and every injury requires unique attention. While we utilize a wide variety of specialized adjusting styles, we rarely rely on just one. Instead, we use an integrated combination of these techniques—tailored dynamically to your unique anatomy, comfort level, and specific clinical needs—to safely and effectively restore your optimal movement.
Motion Palpation Institute (M.P.I.) Technique
What it is: A dynamic diagnostic and treatment method that assesses how your joints move while they are in active motion, rather than while resting.
How it works: Your chiropractor gently moves your joints through their natural ranges to find exact zones of restriction, applying a precise manual adjustment to restore proper biomechanics.
Best for: Patients seeking functional, evidence-based care focused on restoring real-world athletic and daily movement.
Diversified Technique
What it is: The most widely recognized and traditional manual chiropractic adjustment technique used to restore proper spinal alignment.
How it works: A quick, low-amplitude, high-velocity thrust is applied by hand to specific joint segments, frequently resulting in a harmless "popping" sound (cavitation) as pressure leaves the joint.
Best for: Safely and rapidly restoring motion to restricted spinal segments, reducing acute joint locking, and easing muscle tension.
Flexion-Distraction Technique (Leander Table)
What it is: A gentle, non-force traction therapy performed on a specialized motorized table that rhythmically stretches and flexes the spine.
How it works: As the lower half of the Leander table moves gently up and down, it creates negative pressure inside the spinal column, dropping intradiscal pressure and widening the spinal canal.
Best for: Patients suffering from herniated discs, bulging discs, lumbar stenosis, radiating leg pain (sciatica), or those who prefer a gentle, non-cracking treatment.
Gonstead Technique
What it is: A highly analytical and precise manual technique that focuses on bio-mechanical integrity, evaluating the spine segment-by-segment from the foundation up.
How it works: Utilizing specific positioning, the chiropractor administers a highly targeted manual adjustment without twisting or rotating the spine unnecessarily.
Best for: Pinpointing complex joint misalignments and providing a localized, incredibly stable adjustment.
Activator Method®
What it is: An instrument-assisted adjusting method that utilizes a small, handheld spring-loaded tool to deliver a gentle, precise impulse to the body.
How it works: The activator tool delivers a high-speed, low-force thrust that is faster than the body's natural tendency to tense up or resist the adjustment.
Best for: Pediatric patients, geriatric patients, individuals with acute inflammation, or anyone who feels anxious around traditional manual adjustments.
Thompson Drop-Table Technique
What it is: A specialized adjusting method that uses a segmented chiropractic table with pneumatic "drop pieces" built right under the spine and pelvis.
How it works: The chiropractor applies a quick thrust to the restricted joint, and the specific table segment drops a fraction of an inch to let gravity assist the adjustment.
Best for: Delivering a crisp, high-velocity adjustment with minimal twisting, less physical force, and greater patient comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions:
“Why didn’t you adjust me exactly where I was feeling pain?”
Your pain could be due to a whole host of things, one big cause being compensation of unstable joints. We don’t want to put more motion into a joint that is already unstable. In general, where you feel pain may not actually be the exact area that needs to be addressed.
“My bones did not POP, can you do it again?”
Not always necessary. Even if you didn’t hear the “snap, crackle, pop”, we still restored proper joint motion. The noise you may hear is simply the movement of gases within the joint when we load the joint capsule past it’s elastic barrier of resistance.
“Are my bones out of place?”
No. Unless dislocated, bones do not fall from alignment. However, joints often become restricted in the range of motion they should naturally move in. We restore motion in joints, not “put bones back in place”.
“Can you adjust extremities (hips, ankles, wrists, etc.)?”
Yes! We assess extremity functions when indicated, as research has suggested extremity dysfunctions are related to spinal pain, and vice versa.
“Are X-Rays required to know where to adjust?”
Absolutely not. There is a time and a place for X-Rays. At this time, motion palpation and movement assessments are some of the most accurate ways to diagnosis joint function.
We follow the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) Choosing Wisely® campaign guidelines to determine if, and when, imaging is appropriate. For more information on this, please click on the link above.
Anderst WJ et al. (2018). Intervertebral Kinematics of the Cervical Spine Before, During and After High Velocity Low Amplitude Manipulation. The Spine Journal.
Chou R, Fu R, Carrino JA, Deyo RA (2009). Imaging Strategies for Low-back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Lancet.
Fritz, J. M., Whitman, J. M., & Childs, J. D. (2005). Lumbar Spine Segmental Mobility Assessment: An Examination of Validity for Determining Intervention Strategies in Patients With Low Back Pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Richard Rosedale, Ravi Rastogi, Josh Kidd, Greg Lynch, Georg Supp & Shawn M Robbins (2019): A Study Exploring the Prevalence of Extremity Pain of Spinal Source (EXPOSS), Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy.
Sueki DG, Cleland JA, Wainner RS. (2013). A Regional Interdependence Model of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction: Research, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy.
Chou R, Fu R, Carrino JA, Deyo RA (2009). Imaging Strategies for Low-back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Lancet.
Fritz, J. M., Whitman, J. M., & Childs, J. D. (2005). Lumbar Spine Segmental Mobility Assessment: An Examination of Validity for Determining Intervention Strategies in Patients With Low Back Pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Richard Rosedale, Ravi Rastogi, Josh Kidd, Greg Lynch, Georg Supp & Shawn M Robbins (2019): A Study Exploring the Prevalence of Extremity Pain of Spinal Source (EXPOSS), Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy.
Sueki DG, Cleland JA, Wainner RS. (2013). A Regional Interdependence Model of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction: Research, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy.
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