The term “spinal manipulation” refers to a wide range of treatments that use a hands-on approach to relieve pain or improve mobility in your spine. These treatments might involve pressing on certain areas of your spine or using a device that applies pressure to your back. The types of treatments used to promote health and relief vary depending on the specific needs of the individual. There are many different schools of thought when it comes to spinal manipulation, but the most common types include soft tissue therapy, joint manipulation, and cranial manipulation. Here, we explain what spinal manipulation is and why it’s used in some cases to treat back pain.
Soft tissue therapy is the practice of applying pressure to specific areas of the body in order to correct abnormalities in the soft tissues such as the muscles and ligaments. This can be done manually, with the use of a massage tool, or with the assistance of a device that applies pressure to the soft tissues. Soft tissue therapy is commonly used to treat pain and improve mobility in the back and neck. The most commonly treated areas include the muscles of the low back, neck, and shoulders.
Joint manipulation is a type of hands-on therapy that involves applying pressure to a joint in order to correct misalignment or improve range of motion. There are many different types of joint manipulation, but the most common examples include joint mobilization, dry needling, and trigger point therapy. The goal of joint manipulation is to improve mobility and reduce pain by restoring joint motion. Depending on the specific joint being treated, joint manipulation can be performed on the spine, hips, knees, and ankles.
Cranial manipulation is a type of hands-on therapy that involves applying pressure to the head in order to correct misalignment or improve range of motion. There are many different types of cranial manipulation, but the most common examples include head-shaking, head-thrusting, and head-turning. The goal of cranial manipulation is to improve mobility and reduce pain by restoring joint motion. Depending on the specific joint being treated, cranial manipulation can be performed on the spine, hips, knees, and ankles.
Spinal manipulation is a type of hands-on therapy that involves applying pressure to a specific area of the spine in order to correct misalignment or improve range of motion. The goal of spinal manipulation is to improve mobility and reduce pain by restoring joint motion. Depending on the specific joint being treated, spinal manipulation can be performed on the spine, hips, knees, and ankles. There are many different types of spinal manipulation, but the most common examples include flexion-distraction, flexion-distraction-rotation, and thrust-rotation.
The exact mechanism behind the effectiveness of spinal manipulation is still under debate. Some studies suggest that spinal manipulation works by altering the flow of sensory impulses traveling along the spinal cord. Other studies suggest that spinal manipulation works by altering the flow of blood in the spine. Whatever the mechanism, spinal manipulation is known to be an effective treatment for low back pain and other types of pain.
The safety of spinal manipulation has been debated for many years. Some research has supported the idea that spinal manipulation is safe, while other research has shown that spinal manipulation can cause adverse effects. The American Physical Therapy Association has issued the following statement regarding the safety of spinal manipulation:
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) strongly recommends that physical therapists use caution when recommending and providing spinal manipulation therapy to their patients. This caution applies to all patients, including pregnant women, people with certain diseases or conditions, and patients who have recently undergone back surgery.There is insufficient evidence to determine whether spinal manipulation therapy is effective for any specific condition or patient population. However, there is evidence that spinal manipulation therapy may cause adverse effects in some patients.
Spinal manipulation is a common treatment for low back pain and other types of pain. The exact mechanism behind the effectiveness of spinal manipulation is still under debate. Some studies suggest that spinal manipulation works by altering the flow of sensory impulses traveling along the spinal cord. Other studies suggest that spinal manipulation works by altering the flow of blood in the spine. Whatever the mechanism, spinal manipulation is known to be an effective treatment for low back pain and other types of pain.
Chiropractic care can help:
Improve range of motion and posture
Reduce aches and pain naturally
Speed up recovery and help damaged tissues heal properly