Patient education from day one in a chiropractor’s office involves locating the source(s) of the pain and how to take care of the problem. The typical patient’s joint/vertebrae is not in a normal position. So the doctor begins aligning the spine and other structures.
Exploring Gentle Chiropractic Techniques
The chiropractor has over 100 chiropractic techniques that can be utilized. There is much information available about the different techniques available. From my almost 20 years of clinical experience, I have encountered many patients that during our first meeting the main question that was asked was “will it hurt?”
In my four years at Palmer College of Chiropractic I was trained on several techniques. In my technique training portion of my education I was exposed to chiropractic adjustment techniques that required fast movements of the neck, spine and the extremities. I sat through all the classes and participated in all the necessary training. But, my concern was if this is the only way I can function as a chiropractor then I may need to consider other options.
Discovering “Activator”: My Path to Gentle Chiropractic Care
When I started school I had been adjusted, but I did not know any chiropractors that could offer advice. I just had a desire to help others not based on medications or surgery. So I was in a quandary. Luckily, within the next semester I was introduced to a low-force, gentle technique: Activator. With this hand held, spring loaded instrument, I could input a precise thrust to any bony anatomy of the body.
I saw light at the end of the tunnel!
Jim Bleecker, MS.Ed., D.C.