healingways


familiar to most people that have expe- rienced chiropractic care. Although the adjustment is painless, some patients instinctively tense their muscles. “Adjustment is a sneak attack, ‘My reflexes being faster than yours,’” remarks Burns. “The average muscle contracts in about a quarter of a sec- ond. We do a lot of speed training so we can do the adjustment in one-tenth of a second.” Activator: The activator technique,


Chiropractic Care Help for Common Complaints


by Kathleen Barnes “M


ost people visit a chiro- practor because they are in pain and seeking relief,


although some initially visit for general health,” says Keith Overland, president of the American Chiropractic Association and a practicing chiropractic physician in Norwalk, Connecticut. “Every doctor of chiropractic should first perform a com- plete and thorough exam and develop a diagnosis to determine the best approach to the patient’s condition.” Rick Burns, a doctor of chiropractic and professor of chiropractic technique at Palmer College of Chiropractic, in Davenport, Iowa, notes that more than 100 techniques and endless permuta- tions of adjustments and thrusts can be used to help bring the body back into alignment and health. “Most chiroprac- tors integrate several methods, depend- ing on the needs of the patient,” he says. While chiropractors undergo four


years of post-graduate training, like medical doctors, they specialize in, “… making certain the brain communicates 100 percent of the time through the


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spinal cord to the nerves,” explains Burns. Miscommunication between the brain and the nerves caused by spinal misalignments, called sublux- ations, are at the heart of the science of chiropractic adjustment. Most chiropractic schools give students a basic toolbox of techniques before individual practitioners go on to obtain certification in advanced techniques; much like medical special- izations, says Overland. His specialties include treating sports injuries and he has many Olympic athletes as patients.


Most Common Techniques Diversified: This catch-all term encom- passes the short thrust spinal adjust- ment approach used by an estimated 80 percent of all chiropractors, says Dr. Cynthia Vaughn, an Austin, Texas-based chiropractor and member of the board of governors of the American Chiro- practic Association. It is characterized by what is called


the high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust (HVLA), resulting in the popping sound


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used by about 20 percent of chiroprac- tors as part of an integrated practice, employs a small, spring-loaded, rubber- tipped device, slightly larger than a pen, which applies a small amount of force to a specific area. It makes a stapler-like sound and the recipient usually feels only slight pressure. “Not everybody can tolerate the


more aggressive manipulation that is performed as a foundation in chiroprac- tic, especially elderly people or very young children,” says Overland. “The activator technique claims to be faster, more specific and less forceful than manual adjustment.” Applied kinesiology: Also known as muscle testing, applied kinesiology evaluates muscle strength at various spe- cific points to help determine if a specific type of adjustment or even a nutritional supplement might be helpful to an individual patient as a treatment. This in- dividualized treatment is popular among chiropractors and their patients. “It is a way to glean a tremendous amount of diagnostic information to specifically tell where the subluxations (imbalances) are,” says Vaughn, “and is used by about 20 percent of chiropractors.” Sacro-occipital technique (SOT): Another form of non-forceful adjust- ment, SOT usually involves having the patient lie face down on a table. Insert- ing a variety of wedges asymmetrically distributed under the pelvis creates a helpful torque. “Gravity causes the adjustment to


happen very subtly in about 10 min- utes,” explains Vaughn. “It is effective for the elderly and people with osteo- porosis that can’t tolerate more vigor- ous adjustments.” Gonstead: Similar to the HVLA


technique, a Gonstead approach pays particular attention to the lower spine


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