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What are the most common chiropractic techniques?
There are lots of different techniques that chiropractors can use. Most chiropractors use a few, depending on the case. Some techniques involve pushing with the hands, and some use certain instruments to help. Others use a movable mechanism in the table the patient lies on. Only a few of these procedures are taught in chiropractic college. The rest are taught as a separate course after finishing your degree. There isn’t one best technique because different people respond to different techniques.
I personally use a mixture of techniques, mainly based around ‘Diversified’ technique. This method involves pushing on the spine with the hands. In addition I do a bit of… extremity manipulation, Thompson Technique, Gonstead, and adjustments using the Activator. (Not the whole “Activator Methods” approach though). These are all taught in the degree and are pretty standard techniques (not ‘alternative’ techniques). They have been used and trusted for decades by chiropractors. I prefer a gentler approach with all of the techniques that I use.
Common Chiropractic Techniques:
(Rated in order percentage use)
- Diversified Technique – Used by 95.9% of chiropractors. The most commonly used technique by chiropractors. It involves the chiropractor pushing with their hands on the spine to release restricted joints.
- Extremity Manipulating – 95.5% This technique involves releasing restricted joints in some of the arm and leg joints. (Eg. Wrist, feet etc)
- Activator Method – 62.8% An ‘Activator’ is a spring-loaded hand-held device to help release joints. It is gentle and measured.
- Gonstead Technique – 58.5% Another way of releasing joints by pushing with the hands, but with less rotation as you push.
- Cox Flexion/Distraction – 58.0% This technique uses a special table that bends in the middle to create traction. It flexes the spine and aims to hep reduce pressure on discs.
- Thompson Technique (Drop piece adjusting) – 55.9% This is another technique that uses the patient table. Part of the table lifts up a centimetre or so under the patient and can drop down. (When the chiropractor pushes on the spine.) It is a mechanically assisted technique.
- Sacro Occipital Technique (S.O.T.) – 41.3% This technique involves putting padded wedges under the body of a patient. The client lies over the wedges and gravity gently realigns the spine.
- Applied Kinesiology – 43.2% This is a system of identifying spinal issues in the patient using muscle testing. It is for diagnosis rather than treatment.
- Toggle Technique – 28.8% This technique is only used to release the top two vertebrae. It uses a drop-piece section under the head and the patient lies on their side.
- Logan Basic – 28.7% In this technique the chiropractor gently stretches ligaments attached to the sacrum. The aim is to affect the foundation of the spine, the pelvis.
Stefan Becker
Barcelona Chiropractor
