Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments (or manipulations) is a procedure involving the doctor’s hands or a small instrument to deliver a controlled, sudden force to a joint. These adjustments can be performed on the spine and all the extremity joints, including the hips, knees, feet, shoulder, elbows, wrist, ribs, and jaw joint. The goal of the adjustment is to improve spinal motion and decrease pain.

During the adjustment, you may be placed into specific positions to treat the affected areas. The adjustment is very gentle and an external force is applied by the chiropractor to push the joint beyond its usual range of motion. It is normal to hear cracking or popping sounds in the joint, which means the joint has released and gapped.

Dr. Shiau is well-trained in multiple adjusting techniques, depending on the patient’s needs and conditions. If you are not a candidate for high velocity adjustments, instrument- adjusting may be a possible treatment. As medical technology advances, so do chiropractic techniques. Instrument adjusting delivers a specific gentle and light force and serves as an extension of the chiropractor’s hands.

Manual manipulation of the spine and other joints in the body have dated to as early as 2700 B.C. Ancient writings from China and Greece mention spinal manipulation to treat low back pain. Evidence of manual manipulation of the body has been well-documented among the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Babylon, Syria, Japan, Mayans, and Native Americans.