Chiropractic care is often associated with spinal adjustments, otherwise known as spinal manipulation. While this is a big part of treatment for many people at Okanagan Integrative Health there are also a variety of other manual therapy techniques used in office to keep people moving and feeling there best. After a detailed movement and orthopedic analysis, your chiropractor may use a combination of chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, and rehab exercises/stretches to tailor treatment to your body's needs.
Chiropractic Manual Therapy Techniques
Pin & Stretch
Pin & stretch manual techniques are a great way to reduce tension of specific muscles that may be limiting your range of motion or creating pain. The practitioner applies a light to moderate amount of pressure to a tight muscle while the muscle is taken through a stretch.
Dynamic Cupping
Cupping therapy is a great way reduce muscle and fascial tension. Differing from traditional Chinese medicine, cupping therapy has seen increased use over the last decade for use in sports medicine and musculoskeletal pain syndromes.
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
IASTM includes a variety of techniques that use metal tools used to promote collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins to help with the healing process of strains and sprains.
Mulligan Mobilization
This manual therapy concept helps reduce restricted ranges of motion by having the practitioner assist your movement with joint mobilizations.
Muscle Energy Techniques
These stretching techniques have been used to help reduce muscle pain and tension while improving range of motion.
Flexion Distraction Traction
Flexion distraction therapy is directed at tight lower back muscles, symptomatic disc derangements, and disc herniations. It is occasionally used in conjunction with pin and stretch or dynamic cupping therapy.
Why So Many Therapies?
Treating injuries is a complex science. At Okanagan Integrative Health, our chiropractors are constantly learning and staying up to date on the latest techniques. While the list above is not all encompassing, it does give a good idea of different techniques that the chiropractor may use during your treatments.
Choi J, Hwangbo G, Park J, Lee S. The Effects of Manual Therapy Using Joint Mobilization and Flexion-distraction Techniques on Chronic Low Back Pain and Disc Heights. J Phys Ther Sci. 2014;26(8):1259-1262. doi:10.1589/jpts.26.1259
Exelby L. The Mulligan concept: its application in the management of spinal conditions. Man Ther. 2002 May;7(2):64-70. doi: 10.1054/math.2001.0435. PMID: 12374089.
Kim J, Sung DJ, Lee J. Therapeutic effectiveness of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization for soft tissue injury: mechanisms and practical application. J Exerc Rehabil. 2017;13(1):12-22. Published 2017 Feb 28. doi:10.12965/jer.1732824.412
Thomas E, Cavallaro AR, Mani D, Bianco A, Palma A. The efficacy of muscle energy techniques in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects: a systematic review. Chiropr Man Therap. 2019 Aug 27;27:35. doi: 10.1186/s12998-019-0258-7. PMID: 31462989; PMCID: PMC6710873.
