I have heard many times from people saying that all chiropractors are the same. You go in the doctor rolls your left and right side, pushes on your back and then cracks your neck. You are done in less than five minutes. Well, some techniques that are the more traditional ones are like that, but not all techniques are that way. The traditional styles of adjusting that most people are familiar with are called Diversified, Gonsted or Thompson technique. These are high velocity, low amplitude (HVLA) adjustments. These techniques are very good and very effective for many chiropractors, but they are not the only techniques available.
For example, in my practice I use a lot of low force techniques, one of which is called Logan Basic Technique. This technique uses postural analysis to determine which side of the patient the doctor needs to make the primary contact. The primary contact is on the patient’s sacrum, which is part of the buttocks. The point on the sacrum where the doctor takes her primary contact has been proven to relax all the muscles of the back. Once all the muscle is relaxed, it only takes five-to-six ounces of pressure to move the vertebrae back in place. This is a very effective technique that does not take a long time and is very much appreciated by my geriatric patients.
Another technique that many people are not familiar with is Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT). This technique combines both low force and HVLA style of adjusting. It is a full, systematic approach that looks at the whole body. The postural analysis that is used with SOT® Methods also includes the cranium (skull) and the organs and balances the body. It shows a direct relationship between the innominate (hip) bone and the temporal bone. This is why some people with low back pain may also have a TMJ problem and visa versa. It also looks at the chronic pains that someone may be having as a possible functional organ problem. Many times if a patient has a chronic rib “out” on the right side, most likely it is a functional liver problem. No, this has nothing to do with drinking too much or not enough. It just means that the patient’s liver is not functioning as well and may need some support. Another example of a visceral somatic (organ muscle) relationship is low back pain associated with menstrual cycles. If a woman is properly aligned, and the organs properly supported then, she will not get the pains associated with her cycle.
The third technique that separates me from traditional chiropractors is the technique call Applied Kinesiology: muscle testing. I use this technique to balance a patient’s muscles. For example, a patient may have a knee or a shoulder problem. Many times the pain or dysfunction that the patient is experiencing is caused by the muscles not firing properly. Correcting that problem most can eliminate the patient’s pain and discomfort.
Not all chiropractors or techniques are the same. Even if you have two doctors practicing the exact same techniques, each doctor will have different results. This is why if you are not happy with one, give another one a try, especially if you hear they are different. Give me a try and see if you notice a difference.
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