At Brown Chiropractic Center, hands-on chiropractic adjustments are the foundation of patient care. Dr. Jeff Brown has spent over 40 years developing the clinical skill and the trained hands that precise spinal manipulation requires.
If you are looking for a chiropractor who does real chiropractic work, you are in the right place.
What Is a Hands-On Chiropractic Adjustment?
A hands-on chiropractic adjustment, also called spinal manipulation, is a controlled, targeted force applied to a specific spinal joint by the doctor's hands. The goal is to restore proper movement and alignment to joints that have become restricted, misaligned, or are not functioning the way they should.
When a joint is not moving correctly, the surrounding muscles, nerves, and soft tissue all feel the effects. Restoring that movement relieves pressure, reduces pain, and allows the body to function and heal the way it is designed to.
The Techniques Dr. Brown Uses
Not every patient needs the same adjustment. Dr. Brown is trained in multiple hands-on techniques and selects the approach that best fits your condition, your anatomy, and your comfort level.
Gonstead Technique
The Gonstead method is one of the most specific and thorough approaches in chiropractic care. It involves a detailed analysis of the spine using posture assessment, range of motion evaluation, and x-ray findings to identify exactly which vertebrae are misaligned and how.
The adjustment is then delivered with precision to that specific segment. Dr. Brown has extensive training in the Gonstead method and uses it regularly for patients whose conditions call for that level of specificity.
Diversified Technique
Diversified is the most widely used chiropractic technique and the foundation of hands-on chiropractic training. It involves precise manual thrusts directed at specific spinal joints to restore normal motion and alignment. It is effective across a wide range of conditions and is often used in combination with other techniques depending on what the patient needs.
Cox Flexion Distraction
Cox Flexion Distraction is a gentle, hands-on technique used specifically for disc-related conditions including herniated discs, bulging discs, and spinal stenosis. Rather than applying a direct thrust, it uses a slow, rhythmic distraction motion to decompress the disc and surrounding nerve tissue. It is particularly effective for patients dealing with radiating pain into the arms or legs caused by disc pressure on a nerve.
What That Popping Sound Is
Many patients are curious or sometimes concerned about the popping or cracking sound that often accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. That sound is simply the release of gas from within the joint, the same mechanism as cracking your knuckles.
It is a normal and completely harmless byproduct of restoring movement to a restricted joint. Not every adjustment produces a sound and the absence of a pop does not mean the adjustment was not effective.
What to Expect
Before any adjustment is performed, Dr. Brown will take a thorough history, perform a comprehensive examination, and review any imaging needed to understand your condition fully. You will know exactly what he found and what he plans to do before he does anything.
The adjustment itself is typically brief, targeted, and well tolerated by most patients. Some people experience mild soreness afterward, similar to how muscles feel after a good workout. This is normal and usually resolves within a day or two.
For patients who prefer a gentler approach, Dr. Brown also offers low-force Activator adjustments as an effective alternative to hands-on manipulation.
How Adjustments Work With Other Therapies
Chiropractic adjustments are the foundation of your care but they are not always the whole picture. Depending on your condition, Dr. Brown may incorporate supporting therapies to reduce inflammation, promote tissue healing, and improve the results of your adjustments.
These include cold laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, cervical and lumbar traction, and high voltage galvanism. Each is used when it genuinely adds value to your treatment, not as a default add-on.
Conditions That Respond Well to Hands-On Adjustments
Hands-on chiropractic adjustments are effective for a wide range of patients and conditions. Common conditions treated at Brown Chiropractic Center with hands-on adjustments include:
Dr. Brown also adjusts athletes, pregnant women, and patients of all ages. If you are not sure whether hands-on adjustments are appropriate for your specific situation, that is exactly the kind of question the initial consultation is designed to answer.
Chiropractic Adjustment FAQs
