Manual adjustment
A quick, specific, low-amplitude movement applied to a stiff joint by hand. It is the fastest way to restore a segment that has stopped gliding, and it is what most people picture when they think of chiropractic.
- Often used for mid-back and lower back restriction
- Explained and positioned before anything is applied
- Skipped entirely if you would rather not have it
Low-force: drop-table and instrument
A spring-loaded table section or a hand-held adjusting instrument delivers the same idea with far less leverage and no twisting. Useful when joints are irritable, when bone density is a consideration, or simply when gentler suits you better.
- Preferred route during pregnancy and for older patients
- No audible release, no end-range rotation
- Suitable for first visits when pain is high
Soft-tissue release
Sustained pressure, slow stretch and active release through the muscles around the painful area. This is usually what makes an adjustment hold, because a joint rarely stays free while the tissue around it keeps pulling it back.
- Common around hips, glutes, calves and upper shoulders
- Paced to stay within a tolerable level of discomfort
- Often the main treatment for headache and jaw cases
Movement and loading plan
Two or three exercises, written down, that fit the week you actually have. The aim is for your spine to tolerate more without needing the clinic, which is also how we judge whether care is working.
- Short routines, usually under eight minutes
- Reviewed and changed as capacity improves
- Adjusted around shift work and travel