Written by Susan Spinasanta

Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs nor do they perform surgery. Spinal manipulation, or adjustments, and other treatments focus on restoring and maintaining whole body health.

Spinal manipulation treats subluxations. A subluxation occurs when a spinal vertebra becomes misaligned and may compress spinal nerves and cause pain. Manipulation involves applying pressure to a specific area to release the vertebra so it can freely align itself. Sometimes several adjustments are necessary until soft tissues connected to the vertebra remember their correct positions. The patient may be seated or lying down during an adjustment.

There are many different types of adjustment techniques such as toggle drop, motion palpation, lumbar roll, release work, table adjustments, instrument adjustments, and manipulation under anesthesia (rare). Sometimes, when vertebrae are adjusted, a popping noise is heard. This noise is created as tiny pockets of gas are released from the joints.

Other treatments chiropractors provide include:

• Therapeutic stretching and exercise
• Traction-massage
• Soft tissue and massage therapy
• Muscle stimulation
• TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation)
• Ultrasound
• Ice and heat therapy
• Dietary and nutritional counseling
• Lifestyle modification