WHAT IS MANUAL THERAPY / CHIROPRACTIC?
Manual Therapy or Chiropractic involves the complete manual correction by a specialist doctor of imbalances in bodily functions, particularly those occurring in the muscular and joint systems. As with any treatment, it is crucial that the doctor administering the therapy is an expert in the field in order to avoid any potentially dangerous situations that may arise.
A brief history of manual therapy
The word chiropractic comes from the Greek words 'chiros' (hand) and 'practicos' (application). Manual Therapy also means "done by hand" or "therapy based on manipulation".
Manual therapy is an application at least as old as acupuncture, with evidence of its use in ancient Chinese, Indian, Babylonian and Assyrian civilisations. References to chiropractic techniques are even found in ancient Egyptian inscriptions. The technique was later abandoned and gradually forgotten over time.
Its emergence today is thanks to Canadian Dr. Daniel Palmer. Wanting to revive this method, Palmer pursued it further when he surprised even himself by treating his doorman's hearing impairment with manual therapy applied to his neck joints. Dr. Palmer, who thoroughly examined the anatomical and physiological foundations of such treatments, quickly established the philosophy and treatment methods of manual therapy and achieved many successes. After him, manual therapy spread rapidly to the United States, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, France, and even New Zealand. Today, Germany leads in terms of frequency of application. Manual Therapy has now become a widely practised, recognised, and legalised complementary medicine discipline.
Where is manual therapy beneficial?
Manual Therapy is successful in treating painful syndromes and diseases in the arm, shoulder, muscle and skeletal systems, particularly neck, back and lumbar pain. In some cases of disc displacement requiring surgical intervention, it can also facilitate recovery as an alternative treatment, depending on the severity of the case. As manual therapy can release nerves compressed by muscles and/or joints, it can even treat conditions such as migraine, headache, asthma, indigestion, arthritis, and certain emotional disorders, depending on the affected segments.
How is manual therapy applied?
After listening to a detailed patient history, the doctor then conducts a functional and structural examination to understand the patient's postural abnormalities, the functional capabilities of the joints in the skeletal system, and any movement restrictions. Here, the condition of each segment of the spine, the sacroiliac joint (the joint between the sacrum, i.e. the tailbone, and the lumbar vertebrae, and the ilium, or hip bone) and the muscle groups are particularly important.
The specialist, who will likely request some tests in addition to the X-ray of the unstable areas, will develop a treatment plan. The fundamental objectives of the treatment are as follows:
1. To attempt to correct postural abnormalities,
2. To restore the impaired functions of the spine, hips, and sacroiliac joints
3. Eliminating nerve compressions that cause pain and functional impairment
4. Alleviating discomfort caused by restricted movement in the wrists and ankles, knees, and especially the hip joints.
5. Sacroiliac and hip joint traction, mobilisation and mobilisation
6. Spring test for the sacroiliac joint: modifications on both sides. With the hip at 900 flexion, SIE springing is investigated with vertical force on the knee and femur
7. Soft tissue technique for the lumbar region: Traction and mobilisation of the back extensors and lumbar joints
8. Mobilisation for the cervical and thoracic transition region
9. C0-C1 examination and mobilisation
10. Universal technique for the thoracic region
11. Sacroiliac joint mobilisation and manipulation
12. Stoddart's Cross Technique
13. Palpation examination of the thoracic region
14. Master technique for the neck region
15. Rotation manipulation for the neck region
16. Thoracic region manipulation