Interview With A Chiropractor In Madison, WI: How Does My Chiropractor Decide What To Adjust?
When you visit a chiropractor, it’s easy to assume that they simply adjust wherever you’re feeling pain or that everyone is getting the same adjustments. In reality, every adjustment is based on an evaluation of how your body moves, where your restrictions exist. And, most importantly, your adjustment is personal to your body and what it needs.
How do you determine which specific areas need to be adjusted?
Chiropractic adjustments aren't based on guesswork or simply treating the area that hurts. Before making an adjustment, chiropractors perform an evaluation called an intersegmental motion study (PENING) to identify joints that either move too much (hypermobility) or not enough (hypomobility).
For example, when evaluating the neck, patients are guided through movements like flexion and extension while the chiropractor assesses how each joint moves. This testing method has strong reliability, meaning different chiropractors—and even the same chiropractor at different times—are likely to identify the same restricted joints. It provides an objective way to determine exactly where adjustments are needed.
Is the area that's causing pain always the area you're focused on?
Not necessarily. Pain often shows up somewhere different than the source.
A common example is sciatica. While someone may experience pain, tingling, or numbness down the leg, the underlying issue often originates in the lower back. Treating only the painful area wouldn't address the root cause.
Likewise, some restricted joints cause no pain at all but may contribute to other symptoms, such as digestive discomfort or IBS-like issues. Because the nervous system connects every part of the body, chiropractors evaluate overall function and not just the location of pain.
What different types of adjustments are there, and how do you decide which one to use?
There are many chiropractic techniques, but at 360 Wellness, two primary approaches are used: manual adjustments and tonal (instrument-assisted) adjustments. Both are research-backed and chosen based on each patient's specific needs.
Manual adjustments are the traditional hands-on technique that most people associate with chiropractic care. They work well for patients with joint restrictions who can safely receive a firmer adjustment.
Instrument-assisted adjustments use a handheld tool called an activator to deliver a gentler, more controlled force. This technique is commonly used for infants, patients with osteoporosis or a history of fractures, and individuals with hypermobility conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, where less force is often the safest and most effective option.
Why might you use a different adjustment on the same area for a different person?
No two patients are exactly alike, so the same area may be adjusted differently depending on the individual.
Comfort plays an important role in treatment. If a patient feels tense or anxious during a particular technique, it can be more difficult for the body to respond to the adjustment. Choosing an that helps the patient stay relaxed often leads to a better experience and more effective results.
Ultimately, the goal is to select the technique that is both appropriate for the patient's health history and most likely to help them achieve lasting improvements.
