In chiropractic and physical therapy, manipulation and adjustment are often used interchangeably. Some Council Bluffs IA chiropractors even use both of them when explaining what it is that we provide to our patients. However, there is a difference between these words. Physical therapists and massage therapists often manipulate an extremity or a joint while performing their therapy.

Difference between manipulations and adjustments in Council Bluffs IA

Manipulation is a simple movement of a joint through its passive range of motion, often slowly like a stretch and focuses on relaxing tight muscles or moving a buildup of fluid from the joint.

An adjustment is a high-velocity, low amplitude thrust through the facets of a joint, increasing motion and relieving pressure on the nerves. You may hear audible cavitation or the "pop" of the joint as the joint is moved into its para-physiological space, a little further than a simple passive range of motion.

Our Chiropractic Goals

Our focus is on being fast and specific not on the amount of force of an adjustment. This is why chiropractic is so effective at removing pressure from nerves and reducing pain in the joints. You can stretch muscles and soft tissues all you want but if the bones they attach to don't move, you won't see any improvement. It is more than just a stretch and it is able to affect more than just joint pain.

Remember our goal is not to chase pain or symptoms but to remove the cause of pain and symptoms by improving the nerve function of the body. That is why we treat your spine with your whole body in mind. It is also important to remember that while a manipulation may appear similar to an adjustment, only chiropractors are allowed to adjust the spine. Be wary of any physical therapists who claim to adjust. Unless they also are a chiropractor, they are not licensed or trained to provide the specific adjustment that a chiropractor is. As always, Have a Well-Adjusted Day!