At Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology, we focus on helping patients find real relief from pain and regain their quality of life. Our team of specialists provides expert care for orthopaedic, spine, and neurological conditions, offering personalized treatment plans that fit each patient’s needs. Whether you’re recovering from an injury or managing chronic pain, we’re here to guide you through every step of your recovery with advanced care and compassion.
Spinal adjustments, also called spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments, are a proven way to reduce pain, improve mobility, and support healing after injury. Whether caused by sports, accidents, or daily strain, injuries can affect spinal alignment, joint motion, and nerve function. Chiropractic care uses precise, controlled movements to restore proper function and relieve tension in the spinal joints and surrounding muscles.
In this blog, we explain how chiropractic treatments at Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology use spinal adjustments to reduce pain, restore spinal alignment, and improve healing after injury.
What Is a Spinal Adjustment? A Look at Techniques and Mechanisms
A spinal adjustment, also called spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustment, is a controlled movement applied to spinal joints to improve alignment, reduce pain, and restore nerve function. Chiropractors use these techniques to improve range of motion and relieve tight muscles caused by injury.
How Spinal Adjustments Work
Chiropractors apply a controlled force to specific areas of the spine to restore joint motion and spinal alignment. This helps reduce severe pain and supports natural healing. Some adjustments may create a popping sound, which is a normal release of gas from the joint.
Common Techniques Used
- Diversified Technique: A quick thrust to restore movement and alignment. Often used for neck pain and low back pain.
- Thompson Drop Table: Uses a special table that drops slightly during adjustments for a gentle technique ideal for sensitive cases.
- Activator Method: A handheld tool delivers gentle pressure, suited for mild soreness and precise adjustments.
- Gonstead Adjustment: Targets specific spinal joints using a controlled force based on exam findings to relieve pain.
- Cox Flexion Distraction: A specialized table stretches and decompresses the spine, used for acute low back pain and nerve-related leg pain.
Safe and Controlled Care
Chiropractors choose techniques based on medical history and physical exam to avoid serious complications. Spinal adjustments help restore spinal alignment, nerve function, and joint mobility safely and effectively.
How Spinal Adjustments Support Injury Recovery: The Science Behind the Practice
Spinal adjustments use precise movements to restore spinal alignment, reduce pain, and improve nerve function after injuries.
Restoring Spinal Alignment and Joint Motion
Injuries often cause spinal joints to become stiff or misaligned. This limits range of motion and leads to tight muscles and severe pain. A chiropractic spinal adjustment applies controlled force to restore joint motion and proper spinal alignment. This improves how the spine and other joints move, reducing tension and helping patients move with less pain.
Improving Nervous System Function
Misaligned spinal joints can compress nerves and disrupt nervous system function. By realigning the spine, spinal manipulation reduces nerve pressure and restores normal signals between the brain and body. This helps muscles relax, reduces leg pain, low back pain, and improves healing. Studies in journals like Spine Journal show that spinal adjustments can improve nerve function and joint function in patients with musculoskeletal problems.
Reducing Pain and Inflammation
Injury often triggers inflammation and tight muscles. Chiropractic adjustments help reduce inflammation, improve soft tissue mobility, and lower pain levels. Techniques like spinal mobilization and gentle pressure improve blood flow and speed up the body’s repair process. Patients often notice less pain and better movement after treatment.
Supporting the Body’s Healing Process
Spinal adjustments work with the body’s natural healing response. By restoring joint motion and reducing pressure on nerves, adjustments improve how the body responds to injury. Combined with manual therapy, physiological therapeutics, and exercises from physical therapists, adjustments help patients recover faster and regain strength.
Key Benefits of Spinal Adjustments in Specific Injury Cases
Spinal adjustments help restore spinal alignment, improve joint motion, and reduce pain in many types of injuries. This section explains how adjustments benefit common injury cases.
Sports Injuries and Performance Recovery
Sports injuries often cause joint dysfunction, tight muscles, and low back pain. Spinal manipulation improves range of motion and reduces inflammation in injured areas. Athletes with neck pain, leg pain, and shoulder strain benefit from chiropractic adjustments that restore joint function and improve mobility. Techniques like diversified adjustments and Thompson Drop Table help speed recovery and prevent future injuries.
Work-Related and Postural Injuries
Poor posture and repetitive movements at work can misalign the spine and cause severe pain. Spinal adjustments correct these misalignments, improving spinal joint motion and reducing nerve pressure. People with lower spine problems, tight muscles, or soft tissue strain notice better posture and less pain after chiropractic treatment. Adjustments help restore range of motion and prevent long-term damage.
Post-Accident and Trauma Recovery
Auto accidents and falls often cause acute low back pain, neck pain, and nerve compression. Spinal adjustments relieve pressure on nerves, restore spinal alignment, and reduce muscle tension. Chiropractors may use gentle techniques like Activator Method or Cox Flexion Distraction for patients with mild soreness or serious complications. These methods use controlled movements to support healing without causing more pain.
Pain Relief and Improved Function
In all injury cases, chiropractic spinal adjustments help reduce pain, restore nerve function, and improve joint function. Adjustments help patients move better, return to daily activities, and avoid dependence on medications. Combined with manual therapy and physical therapy, spinal adjustments are a safe way to improve healing and prevent chronic pain.
Integrating Spinal Adjustments with Other Therapies for Optimal Recovery
Spinal adjustments work best when combined with other treatments that address pain, mobility, and healing. This section explains how chiropractors and other healthcare providers work together to improve recovery.
Working with Physical Therapists and Primary Care Physicians
Chiropractors often collaborate with physical therapists and primary care physicians to create a full recovery plan. Spinal manipulative therapy restores spinal alignment and improves joint motion, while physical therapy focuses on strengthening muscles and improving movement. This team approach helps reduce severe pain and prevents further injury. Primary care physicians may refer patients for chiropractic adjustments as part of a broader care plan to avoid medications or surgery.
Combining Manual Therapy and Soft Tissue Work
In addition to spinal adjustments, chiropractors use manual therapy and soft tissue techniques to release muscle tension and improve blood flow. These methods include gentle pressure, stretching, and physiological therapeutics. Soft tissue therapy helps reduce tight muscles, inflammation, and pain while supporting the effects of spinal manipulation.
Using Alternative Methods for Pain Management
Some patients benefit from alternative methods like cox flexion distraction and activator method, which are gentle techniques for those with mild soreness or serious complications. These methods use controlled movements to adjust the spine without aggressive force. Chiropractors may also suggest home exercises to improve range of motion and restore joint function between visits.
Benefits of a Combined Approach
Combining chiropractic care with other treatments helps address all aspects of injury recovery. Spinal adjustments improve spinal joint alignment and nerve function, while manual therapy, physical therapy, and other treatments address muscles and soft tissues. Together, these therapies reduce pain, improve mobility, and support long-term healing.
Jumpstart Your Healing Journey With Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology!
If you are dealing with pain, limited movement, or recovering from an injury, our team at Apex Orthopaedics Spine & Neurology is here to help. We offer comprehensive chiropractic treatments, including spinal adjustments, to restore proper spinal alignment, improve joint function, and support your body’s natural healing process.
Schedule an appointment with us today at 704-412-3045!
