Diversified Technique is the most widely used hands-on chiropractic adjusting method and the primary technique at Kroner Chiropractic in Yakima. It uses a specific, quick, low-amplitude thrust applied by hand to restore motion to a restricted joint, and it is the technique most often associated with an audible release.
Knowing what will happen makes it easier
Most people who have never been adjusted are apprehensive, usually because they do not know what is about to happen. Understanding the technique removes most of that.
Diversified Technique is the method most people picture when they think of chiropractic care, and it is the most widely used adjusting approach in the profession.
How the technique works
The name refers to the diverse range of joints it can address, from the spine to the extremities.
An adjustment has three characteristics. It is specific, directed at one identified joint rather than a general region. It is high-velocity, meaning quick. And it is low-amplitude, meaning the actual movement is very small.
Speed is what allows the force to be small. A quick, precise thrust restores motion to a restricted joint without requiring significant force, which is why an adjustment takes a fraction of a second.
The audible pop that often accompanies it is gas releasing from the joint fluid as pressure changes. It is not bone, and it is not a measure of whether the adjustment worked.
How we determine where to adjust
The technique is only as good as the assessment behind it. Before adjusting, we evaluate:
- Your history and what brought you in
- How each joint moves, and which are restricted
- Muscle tone and tenderness in the surrounding tissue
- Posture and how you carry yourself
- Imaging, when indicated, taken on site
This is why the area that hurts is often not the area we adjust. Pain frequently shows up somewhere other than the joint actually causing it.
When we use something gentler
Diversified is not right for every patient. Some conditions, ages, and preferences call for a lighter approach, and we have gentler techniques available.
If you are nervous, if you have osteoporosis or another condition affecting bone density, if you have had spinal surgery, or if you simply prefer not to be adjusted this way, say so. We will adapt. Nobody is going to be adjusted in a way they are not comfortable with.
Common Questions
What is the Diversified Technique?
Diversified Technique is a hands-on chiropractic adjusting method that uses a specific, quick, low-amplitude thrust to restore motion to a restricted joint. It is the most widely used adjusting technique in the chiropractic profession and can be applied to the spine and the extremities.
Does the Diversified Technique hurt?
Most patients describe brief pressure followed by relief. The adjustment itself takes a fraction of a second. Some mild soreness afterward is normal, particularly for the first few visits.
Why does an adjustment make a popping sound?
The sound is gas releasing from the fluid inside the joint as pressure changes, similar to cracking a knuckle. It is not bone, and adjustments that make no sound can be equally effective.
Is there an alternative if I do not want to be adjusted this way?
Yes. We have gentler techniques for patients who prefer them or whose condition calls for a lighter approach. Tell us and we will adapt your care.
How do you know which joint to adjust?
Through examination: your history, how each joint moves, muscle tone, posture, and imaging when indicated. The joint that needs adjusting is frequently not the spot where you feel pain.
Can this technique be used on my shoulder or knee?
Yes. Despite the association with the spine, Diversified Technique is applied to extremity joints as well, including shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles.
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