Different Techniques
There are now over 40 different chiropractic techniques or methods available for chiropractors to learn & utilize when treating their patients. Many healing techniques are taught in the core curriculum during the rigorous four-year chiropractic education. Continuing Education programs, internships, mentorships and postgraduate seminars are also sought to further the learning process. Eventually, a chiropractor chooses which techniques he/she considers most effective to use in their practice. It can be confusing to the consumer because there are no standardized chiropractic techniques that all chiropractors will consistently offer their patients. Chiropractic is a healing art! Thus, chiropractors apply some of their own beliefs and acquired methods in their practices. Chiropractic was discovered in 1895 and x-rays were invented that very same year. X-ray analysis and diagnosis is taught extensively in chiropractic schools worldwide and most traditional chiropractors do utilize x-ray studies in their practices today.
Grostic Method
A time-proven technique, the Grostic method is based on the pioneering research and teachings of the infamous Dr. John Francis Grostic. First introduced to the chiropractic profession in the 1940’s, the Grostic Technique requires significant discipline and dedication to master and it is by far one of the finest methods known for correcting the upper cervical spine or neck. The spinal x-rays taken before and after treatment verify the superior corrections and measurable improvements in the alignment of the neck vertebrae demonstrated after exclusively using the Grostic analysis combined with the Orthospinology technique. The top two vertebrae in the spine are located just below the skull & the brain stem and misalignments located there are often found to be critical contributors to a patient’s poor health, headaches, neck pain, back pain, sciatica and a general loss of well being. When getting started on your first visit a spinal examination is performed. Then three x-rays are taken of the patient’s neck. Head clamps are required to hold the head in a neutral position and a lead vest is worn for patient protection. After the x-rays are made, the doctor uses mathematic measurements incorporating geometry and trigonometry to analyze the exact positions of the patient’s vertebrae in the neck. Called “listings”, exact vectors are determined and utilized to specifically move or restore the vertebrae back into their normal positions by introducing gentle yet precise thrusts. Two follow-up x-rays called “spot shots” are made within the initial course of treatment that will help determine if an upper cervical spine correction has been made.
Evolution of the Upper Cervical Adjusting Instrument
The Grostic technique requires the chiropractor to use his hands to deliver delicate, gentle, precise adjustments to the first spinal vertebra. The chiropractic table position is always very low to the ground. The patient lies on their side and the doctor stoops over them during most of the spinal adjusting procedure. Eventually, various doctors who already practiced the Grostic technique using their hands alone began experimenting with various hand held electronic instruments that could deliver a precise adjustment. It's easier on the chiropractor because it no longer would require them to bend over all day long. The doctor’s names were Roy Sweat, DC, James McAlpine, DC, J.K. Humber, DC and later, Cecil Laney, DC. Dr. Laney created the KH-4 instrument. It has a spring like stylus attached to the end of a hand-held instrument that looks sort of like a drill. The KH-4 delivers a small electronic pulsating thrust to the vertebra when triggered by the doctor. Also, the table is raised up nearly two feet higher and this simple advancement in the equipment makes delivering the Grostic spinal adjustments somewhat easier on a busy laboring chiropractor’s tired back. This new "instrument styled" adjusting technique is called Orthospinology and it still utilizes all of Dr. Grostic’s analysis, vectors and protocols. The only significant difference is that instead of using the edge of their hands to deliver the adjustment – an instrument is utilized to accurately deliver the adjustment. The newest instrument version called the Laney Torque Table is one of the world’s premier upper cervical spine adjusting instruments. It gets precise fantastic results! Dr. Tucker is currently the only chiropractor inside the Atlanta perimeter that is utilizing the Laney Torque Table when adjusting patients.
Gonstead Technique
Dr. Clarence Gonstead was another great chiropractic pioneer of the last century who had a renowned reputation for spinal healing. His popularity was so phenomenal that a motel and airport had to be constructed next to his clinic in the small town of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin just to help accommodate the hoards of patients that flocked in to see him. The clinic is still successfully being operated by his successors. Dr. Gonstead was a chiropractor that also utilized x-ray analysis to determine the exact “listings” of his patients’ spinal vertebrae, sacrum and pelvic structures. The Gonstead Technique is known as one of the “gold standards” in the chiropractic profession. Taught in most chiropractic schools, the Gonstead Method is recognized by many as a superior chiropractic adjusting technique. Most importantly, the results speak for themselves. When getting started for this particular type of treatment, after the three initial x-rays that were taken of the patient’s neck for the Grostic analysis, there are three to four additional x-rays taken of the patient’s mid-spine, lower spine and pelvis region. This completes our standard series for a basic set of spinal x-rays that is conducted for most patients who are receiving full spine chiropractic treatment.
Different Techniques/Results
Yes, there are many different types of chiropractors using a wide variety of techniques. Some well meaning and gifted chiropractors will focus on palpation of the musculo-skeletal system using only their hands to guide them. Others use sensory infrared instrumentation to determine if there is excessive heat in the tissue surrounding the spinal column and they feel this will help them determine where they need to apply their attentions. There are chiropractors that do not take x-rays at all or if they do on the first visit, they never look at them again. Most chiropractors do manipulate the joints of the spine. However, there are some who do not manipulate the spine but instead use gentle touch to balance the spine or perhaps utilize small hand held spring-loaded instruments called an Activator (device) to adjust the spine. The more traditional chiropractors train their eyes on the patient’s x-rays to figure out how to help restore bodily function by adjusting the exact structural and spinal misalignments. It’s compared to studying the blueprints for a house. Orthospinology and Gonstead chiropractors carefully study their patient's films to obtain the maximum information. Ironically, x-rays and chiropractic were both discovered in 1895; hence, there’s been a keen appreciation of radiology by chiropractors ever since the technology became available to doctors. Chiropractors unanimously proclaimed: “Seeing is believing! We don’t have to guess about our patient’s health. Now we can actually see the spine of our patients!”
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