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Activator Methods
Activator method is a proprietary diagnostic and treatment system based on the belief that differences in leg length indicate the need for spinal adjustments. The technique utilizes a small handheld instrument, called an activator, with a soft rubber tip to deliver a light, circumscribed force to the area deemed in need of treatment.

Advanced BioStructural Correction
ABC corrects poor posture caused by displacement of the front-facing part of vertebrae. Spine misalignments predispose the spinal cord to injury from excessive stretching of its protective layer.

Applied Kinesiology
Internal problems, like weak organs, can be identified by testing muscle vitality. A chiropractor specializing in applied kinesiology will manually test muscles, most commonly by testing resistance. After extensive testing and examination, the doctor will then diagnose the malady and prescribe a regimen drawing from various therapies and disciplines.

Atlas Orthogonal
The Atlas orthogonal chiropractic technique is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on adjusting the atlas (upper) vertebra because they are important to overall anatomy and health. The treatment is often applied for neck pain syndromes.

Auricular
Auricular medicine is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that practices the diagnosis and treatment of diseases by using points on the ear to conduct acupuncture. The technique is based on the idea that the outer ear is a representation of the body that can be treated by surface stimulation.

Barge Analysis
Barge analysis is a chiropractic technique that locates shifting of the soft material between each vertebra, which act as shock absorbers. Such shifting can cause unwanted contractions, spinal distortions, or curvatures.

Bio Magnetic
A form of alternative medicine that relieves pain, discomfort, inflammation, and stress as well as improve circulation and immune responses. This method improves the electrical balance of the body through magnets.

Bio-Energetic Synchronization
A technique in which leg length is measured as an indicator of whether there are imbalances in the body’s electromagnetic field.

Bio-Geometric Integration
A chiropractic approach that reveals where the body stores tension, trauma, and toxins.

Biomechanics
The research and analysis of the mechanics of living organisms and engineering principles derived from them.

Blair
Blair upper cervical care corrects nerve interference (subluxation) in the upper neck area. X-rays are taken to tailor one’s neck adjustment.

Body Restoration Technique
BRT is a non-invasive method of locating and removing energy blockages in the body’s hormonal systems.

Carver Technique
The Carver technique applies traction and pressure to the spine just before a spinal adjustment.

Cervical Care
Cervical care focuses on proper alignment of the upper neck. Cervical adjustments affect the entire spine and nervous system and can eliminate mid and lower back pain, as well as neck pain.

Cervical Drop
Cervical drop is a feature of a chiropractic treatment table that allows the height of the headpiece to be adjusted. The height of the headpiece can be set based on the amount of tension in the neck.

Chiropractic Biophysics
Chiropractic biophysics (CBP), also called the clinical biomechanics of posture, applies postural analysis and restores proper posture through adjustments, rehabilitative exercises, and cervical extension. It is based on the belief that curvatures of the spine decrease blood flow and lead to internal disorders.

Clinical Kinesiology
Clinical kinesiology is an offshoot of applied kinesiology, which is a method of diagnosis that tests muscle strength. Applied kinesiology differs from academic kinesiology, which is the scientific study of human movement and its application.

Concept Therapy
Introduced by Thurman Fleet, DC, CT is a treatment for body, mind, and soul. According to concept therapy, the cause of disease is metaphysically based.

Contact Reflex Analysis
According to contact reflex analysis, there are nine major reflexes that indicate the area of the body that is malfunctioning.

Cox
The Cox technique reverses the harmful effect of gravity on spinal discs and joints. It is meant to reverse a herniated disc condition—most often in the lower back.

Cranial
A cranial chiropractor applies finger pressure to specific points of the head, alleviating unwanted symptoms involving the skull, brain, blood vessel, fluid flow, and nervous system function.

Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is used by massage therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, and osteopaths and involves manually applying subtle movement of the spinal and cranial bones. All of which brings the central nervous system into balance.

Directional Non-Force
The directional non-force technique is a form of testing that allows the body to indicate the direction of misalignments.

Diversified
Diversified chiropractic technique addresses biomechanical failure in each section of the spine, as it relates to partial dislocation.

Flexion-Distraction
Chiropractic flexion-distraction technique treats disc injuries involving back and leg pain. A specialized table is used to gently stretch the spine to isolate the problematic area.

Gonstead
The Gonstead technique uses X-ray analysis to pinpoint misalignments and painful nerve pressure. Gonstead is an alteration of the spine through adjustment of the neck.

Grostic
The Grostic procedure measures misalignments of the upper cervical spine through x-rays.

Hole in One
The hole-in-one method adjusts the atlas (the top vertebra at the base of the skull) to improve health and facilitate correction of dislocations.

Kale
The Kale technique is an adjustment method that utilizes a special table. It fine-tunes and stabilizes the upper cervical (neck) region of the spine.

Leander
The Leander technique incorporates motorized tables where the patient lies face down. It helps decompress lower back joints and discs.

Logan Basic
The Logan Basic chiropractic technique treats the muscles that control spinal balance.

Manual Adjusting
Chiropractic manual adjustment of the spine uses the force of a chiropractor’s hands without the aid of instruments.

Meric
According to the Meric system, a dislocated area of the spine corresponds to a diseased organ, which can be healed by spinal adjustment.

Motion Palpation
In motion palpation each spinal joint is analyzed for proper motion.

Network
Network chiropractic unifies techniques that emphasize timing and sequencing. With light and supple movements the practitioner adjusts each vertebra in relationship with the rest of the body.

Neural Organization Technique
Used after a traumatic event, for example, the neural organization technique is a method of healing whereby the nervous system can be reorganized through touch.

Neuro Emotional Technique
Emotional imbalance can take a toll on the body and vice versa. In neuro emotional technique, the practitioner diagnoses the feelings of a client and attempts to release tensions from the body by tapping specific vertebrae.

Neuro Muscular Technique
Neuro Muscular therapy is a massage method that stimulates specific areas of skeletal muscle. The treatment alleviates muscle pain, structural and postural imbalances, and tension.

Neuro Vascular Technique
The neuro vascular technique treats patients who present symptoms of acute or impending stroke. The therapy aims to minimize interruption in the blood supply to the brain.

Nimmo
The Nimmo technique uses compression to alleviate extremely tense muscles or trigger points that have suffered from trauma, poor posture, chills, and emotional stress.

Palmer Package
Palmer package is a system of chiropractic care taught by the Palmer College of Chiropractic. It includes a variety of techniques. The main ones being: Diversified, Thomson, Gonstead, and Toggle Recoil. Diversified consists of spinal analysis to identify the improper position of one or more vertebrae, and the administration of a manual thrust. Thomson uses a special table with drop-away sections to minimize the amount of energy needed to adjust the spine. In Gonstead, the practitioner uses a small heat-sensing instrument and full-spine X-rays, then has the patient sit, kneel, or lie on her side so adjustments can be made. Finally, Toggle Recoil consists of the administration of a high-speed, low-force thrust to the upper spine.

Pettibon
Pettibon is a spine and posture correction system pioneered by Burl Pettibon. The various stages of care consist of examination by a health care professional, warm-up exercises, stretching techniques, and the use of weighting devices--weights are used to correct posture. Sometimes an application of force may be necessary, this technique stretches the spinal column and provides a temporary increase in joint mobility. The result is pain relief and restoration of the spine.

Pierce
The Pierce Stillwagon technique (PST), developed by Glenn Stillwagon and Vern Pierce, is a system of analyzing and adjusting the spine. The patient's spine is adjusted on a table, and patient response is monitored through computerized thermographics.

Pierce Stillwagon
The Pierce Stillwagon technique (PST), developed by Glenn Stillwagon and Vern Pierce, is a system of analyzing and adjusting the spine. The patient's spine is adjusted on a table, and patient response is monitored through computerized thermographics.

Pro-Adjuster
The Pro-Adjuster is an instrument for spinal analysis and adjustment. Analysis can determine joint stiffness, whether the joint can move beyond its normal range of motion, not move enough, or whether the movement is fluid or jagged.

Receptor Tonus
Receptor Tonus technique uses sustained pressure to reduce blood flow and eliminate irritable spots in skeletal muscle. Pressure is applied for a specified period of time, usually five to seven seconds but sometimes less, and the chiropractor is mindful of every patient's pain tolerance, varying pressure accordingly.

Sacral Occipital Technique
Sacral Occipital technique (SOT) is a method of chiropractic care designed to normalize the relationship between the foundation of the spine (sacrum) and the top of the spine (occipital). The therapy aims to reduce or eliminate pain, but its primary goal is to normalize whole body function.

Soft Tissue Orthopedics
Soft tissue orthopedics concerns damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The categories of soft-tissue injuries to the musculoskeletal system are: contusions (bruises), sprains, and strains.

Spinal Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the study of the mechanics of living organisms, especially the forces exerted by gravity and muscles on the skeletal structure. Biomechanics applies engineering principles to biological systems to help explain the causes of musculoskeletal disorders. Spinal biomechanics studies the mechanics of the spine.

Spinal Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is the application of engineering techniques to biomedical problems. The discipline also focuses on developing new devices and systems that advance biology and medicine and improve health care delivery. Spinal biomedical engineering studies the spine and develops ways to assist people who have spinal ailments and injuries.

Spinal Biophysics
Spinal biophysics, or chiropractic biophysics, uses analysis of posture to detect ligament contractures, muscle weakness, and other problems that decrease blood flow. Treatment consists of cold or hot packs, trigger point therapy for muscle spasms, massage, and spinal adjustments. Rehabilitative care follows, consisting of weekly adjustments and exercises that modify spinal curvature.

Thompson
The Thompson Terminal Point technique is a chiropractic adjustment performed on a table in which cushions drop an inch or two when a thrust is applied to the spine. Practitioners locate subluxations (dislocations or problems with the vertebrae) by checking leg length.

Thompson Terminal Point
The Thompson Terminal Point technique is a chiropractic adjustment performed on a table in which cushions drop an inch or two when a thrust is applied to the spine. Practitioners locate subluxations (dislocations or problems with the vertebrae) by checking leg length.

Toftness
This method uses the Toftness Radiation Detector, a handheld instrument that detects low levels of radiation.

Toggle Recoil
Toggle Recoil is an adjustment primarily applied to the upper cervical area. The chiropractor applies sudden pressure to a dislocation or problem with the vertebrae, followed by rapid withdrawal.

Torque Release
Torque Release is a chiropractic technique in which the practitioner uses a handheld, spring-loaded mallet to tap various points along the spine, correcting dislocations or problems with the vertebrae.

Total Body Modification
Total body modification is a method that locates stressed organs or areas of the body.

Traction
In chiropractic traction-massage, a system of rollers moves up and down the spine, gently massaging and stretching muscles, while the patient lies face up with a pillow under the knees. Usually performed just before an adjustment, traction-massage is designed to relax the spine, thereby making the adjustment easier to perform and more comfortable and beneficial.

Upper Cervical
Upper cervical adjusting is a chiropractic procedure that corrects the position of the top vertebrae of the spine. The procedure can feel like a brisk thrust, a light tap, or a soft massage at the side of the neck. Practitioners use this to improve a wide range of conditions, including headaches and ADD.

Vector Point Therapy
In vector point therapy, the body, through biofeedback, uses its own muscles to correct the spine.

Versendaal
Dick A. Versendaal, D.C., is the co-developer of Contact Reflex Analysis, chiropractic care based on the notion that human nerves connect with "contact reflexes," much like fuses or breaker switches connect in electrical wiring. The practitioner pulls on the patient's outstretched arm while placing his finger or hand on one of about 75 reflex points on the body. The technique is used for examining conditions and ailments.