What is Diversified Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a form of manual therapy, meaning we use our hands to relieve problems with the body’s joints and muscles. A Chiropractor performs Chiropractic adjustments to help relieve pain and discomfort coming from the spine or extremity joints. This is also known as Spinal Manipulative Therapy (SMT).
Your Chiropractor decides which joints to adjust based on history and palpation. There may be pain or discomfort in the area, as well as a joint that feels “stuck” or restricted. A manual force is then applied to the joint to help restore its natural range of motion and relieve discomfort.
To understand an adjustment, we have to have some understanding of how joints work. A joint is where two bones come into contact with each other and each bone is capped with cartilage and surrounded by a synovial membrane which contains a highly viscous fluid.
During an adjustment, your Chiropractor applies a high velocity, low amplitude thrust into a joint. This means that it is quick, but not forceful. When an adjustment is performed quickly, a gas bubble may be released from the fluid inside the capsule. This is what creates the “pop” or “click” sound. It is, however, not necessary for an effective adjustment.
The high velocity, low amplitude thrust into the joint also excites the nerve endings around your joints – giving feedback into your nervous system and helping to relieve muscle spasm around the affected joint.
Diversified Chiropractic is known as such because it is generally a blend of different Chiropractic and manual therapy techniques which have been developed over the years, as opposed to McTimoney which is a “new wave” of Chiropractic. Diversified Chiropractic adjustments are more robust and more likely to produce an audible “click” or “pop” whereas McTimoney adjustments are unlikely to create any popping or clicking sounds. Both are equally safe to receive.
Your Chiropractor will perform a thorough medical history and examination to determine if Chiropractic manipulation is right for you. This helps to rule out risk factors which may mean manipulative techniques are not appropriate however if the treatment is contra-indicated your Chiropractor can use other techniques which are safe and effective for relieving pain.