Chiropractic Adjustment: Definition, Uses, Types, Treatment & Research Studies

What is Chiropractic Adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment it is also called joint manipulation or joint mobilization. Chiropractic adjustment involves the chiropractor manually manipulating of the spine. Chiropractic adjustments may treat low back pain and any other abnormal functions of the body. It can also help with a “fixed” or “locked” joint, or joint that is not moving. The goal of an adjustment is to increase range of motion, reduce nerve irritability and improve function.  

What does a Chiropractic Adjustment do?

A chiropractic adjustment is done to avoid any degeneration of soft tissue and to help normalize spinal function. The body’s natural healing process can begin to work properly once the nervous system is functioning well. 

Types of Chiropractic Adjustment

An adjustment can either be a high velocity, low amplitude adjustment or manipulation. A quick thrust applied to the vertebrae releases the gas (joint cavitation) which releases the pressure within the joint.

Chiropractic Adjustment Research Studies

1. A systematic review is a type of literature review that collect and critically analyze multiple research studies or papers. A systematic review by Rubinstein et al. researched the the effectiveness of spinal manipulation therapy for those suffering from chronic lower back pain.²⁴ This study assessed 26 randomized controlled trials including 6070 participants.²⁴  Evidence showed no significant difference between spinal manipulation therapy and other intervention approaches.²⁴ 
2. A systematic review is a type of literature review that collect and critically analyze multiple research studies or papers. A systematic review published by Canter and Ernst studied the effectiveness of spinal manipulation for treatment of multiple regions of pain, including, but not limited to, back and neck pain.³² 16 trials were included for the purpose of this study.³² Evidence suggested that spinal manipulation was ineffective for all evaluated forms of pain.³² 

Based on the evidence presented in the included systematic reviews, spinal manipulation does not appear to be an effective form of treatment for different pain types, including back pain.  While spinal manipulation is seen as ineffective, ASTR treatment has shown evidence in a recent study that show it can be effective for many evaluated forms of pain. ASTR stands for Advanced Soft Tissue Release, a manual therapy specialty developed by Dr. Joesph Jacobs, DPT. ASTR takes a holistic approach to treating the source of soft tissue restriction in a way that is virtually pain-free and highly effective.

參考：

24. Rubinstein SM、Terwee CB、Assendelft WJ、Boer MRD、Tulder MWV。脊柱手法治療急性腰痛。 脊柱. 2011;36(13):825-846。 doi:10.1002/14651858.cd008880.pub2。

25. Gattie E, Cleland JA, Snodgrass S. 物理治療師對肌肉骨骼疾病觸發點幹針的有效性：系統評價和薈萃分析。 骨科與運動物理治療雜誌. 2017;47(3):133-149。 doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.7096。

26.  Dunning J、Butts R、Mourad F、Young I、Flannagan S、Perreault T. 幹針：對臨床實踐指南有影響的文獻綜述。 物理治療評論. 2014；19(4):252-265。 doi:10.1179/1743288x13y.0000000118。

27. Morihisa R Eskew J McNamara A 等人。下肢肌肉觸發點的干針療法：系統評價。 Int J Sports Phys Ther。 2016;11(1):1-14。 

28. Cotchett MP, Landorf KB, Munteanu SE。與足跟痛相關的干針和肌筋膜觸發點注射的有效性：系統評價。 J足踝水庫。 2010；3:18。

29. 卡明斯 TM，白色 AR。治療肌筋膜觸發點疼痛的針刺療法：系統評價。Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001；82:986-92。 

30. Xue CC、Helme RD、Gibson S 等人。電針對慢性肌肉骨骼疼痛患者阿片類藥物消耗的影響：隨機對照試驗方案。 試驗. 2012；13:169。 doi:10.1186/1745-6215-13-169。

31.  Scott N. A., Guo B., Barton P. M., Gerwin R. D. Trigger point injections for chronic non-malignant musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review. 止痛藥. 2009;10(1):54–69. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2008.00526.x. 

32. Ernst E，坎特 PH。對脊柱手法系統評價的系統評價。 皇家醫學會雜誌. 2006;99(4):192-196.