Adjustment/Manipulation
Chiropractic adjustment — also called spinal manipulation — involves moving a joint beyond its usual range of motion but not beyond the range of motion the joint is designed to move, anatomically speaking. You often will hear a popping or cracking noise during chiropractic adjustment as the joint is manipulated.
The goal of chiropractic adjustment is to relieve pain and improve your body’s physical function. Chiropractic adjustment is performed by a chiropractic doctor.
Traction
The term “traction” applies to the use of weights and other forces to treat skeletal and muscular disorders, pinched or compressed nerves and injuries to the joints, vertebrae, muscles and ligaments by stretching the muscles and ligaments and increasing the space between vertebrae. Chiropractic traction may also help to relieve the pain caused by herniated or bulging discs or by disc degenerative disorders.
Manual Therapy Techniques
Manual therapy techniques are skilled hand movements and skilled passive movements of joints and soft tissue and are intended to improve tissue extensibility; increase range of motion; induce relaxation; mobilize or manipulate soft tissue and joints; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation, or restriction. Techniques may include manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, massage, mobilization/manipulation, and passive range of motion.