Staff Writer
Do you suffer from osteopenia or osteoporosis and wonder if you can still benefit from chiropractic care? Are you especially sensitive to pressure and force when getting a massage or stretching? Do you have musculoskeletal-related pain and wonder if there are chiropractic (non-pharmaceutical) solutions that could help?
Low-force chiropractic techniques such as activator, SOT, and drop-table might be the perfect solution for you. These gentle methods have been proven effective at relieving pain and increasing range of motion.
Activator
Another option for adjusting restricted joints with low force is using an instrument-assisted technique such as an Activator. The activator is a small spring-loaded hand-held tool used by doctors of chiropractic to provide a quick, low-force impulse directly into the joint. One of the other benefits of this low-force option is the ability to combine it with other technique protocols. This type of approach is also popular within our pediatric patients.
Sacro-occiptal Technique (SOT)
SOT is another form of low-force adjusting that you may consider. SOT stands for sacro-occipital technique.
SOT chiropractic care involves small blocks that may be placed under certain parts of the body to help with pain and dysfunction of the spine. This technique does not include thrusting or manual adjusting, and it is a very safe and effective alternative for patients who might need or prefer a lower-force technique.
Drop Table Assisted
Another technique is a “drop table-assisted adjusting.” This specific table type has separated sections that raise and lower under the patient while they are lying down.
This technique allows doctors of chiropractic to use the technology of the table to produce less force but more speed without twisting or odd positioning of the patient. The drop table uses gravity and the patient’s inertia to help assist the adjustment, therefore restoring movement within joint restrictions.
Flexion Distraction
Although a flexion distraction table looks similar to a regular chiropractic table, the bottom part that holds the patient’s legs and feet moves up and down to put the body in a flexed or distracted position. This is another great low-force technique for treating spinal complaints that can used instead of traditional manual adjustments.
Like the drop table-assisted technique, this choice in chiropractic care happens while the patient is lying down, so no need for twisting into odd positions.
Seeing a chiropractor doesn’t necessarily involve forceful, high-velocity, low-amplitude manual adjustments. Depending on your health, social, and family history and a proper chiropractic exam of your complaint, your chiropractor may use a low-force option to restore motion to restricted spinal joints.
If lower-force chiropractic interests you, bring it up at your next chiropractic adjustment visit. You and your chiropractor can decide on the best course of care — one you will feel comfortable with that delivers the best results for your complaint.
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit chiropractic and health sciences university in Overland Park, Kansas. Founded in 1922, CUKC has an ongoing mission to educate and develop leaders in chiropractic and other health science professions.
The CUKC on-campus Chiropractic Health Center is open to the public and treats patients from Kansas City’s 15-county metro area. The chiropractic interns and licensed clinicians who supervise your care are leaders in the field. Our goal is to provide chiropractic care and solutions for a better, more productive life for our patients.
