Gentle methods of treatment can often remedy faulty joint functions. Chirotherapy is literally a hands-on treatment technique. Malfunctions caused by misalignment of the vertebral column and joints are treated using certain manual techniques. A chirotherapist has to have gained additional qualifications through further study and exams.

Medical indications:

The vertebral column comprises 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae as well as sacral and coccygeal vertebrae.

Particularly the smaller vertebrae are prone to misalignments, which then become painful and cause discomfort. Misalignments are not limited to the vertebral column but also occur in other joints.

Sometimes they have been present for a long time (from early childhood) without the cause ever having been identified. Misalignments can usually be identified by a chiropractic examination method.

One-sided strain, false posture, a fall and internal diseases can cause misalignments.

Clinical practice:

Actual treatment can be subdivided into several sections:

Position

Making contact – means placing the hands on the misaligned part of the vertebral column or joint thereby creating tension in this area.

Trial traction – before the actual impulse is applied, the direction in which the misalignment can be corrected is established using trial traction.

Impulse – the final impulse following trial traction is minimal and quick - like a dot on the ‘i’ of the preparation stage. This can be, but is not necessarily, accompanied by the sound of a crack.

The German society for chirotherapy (DGCh) has compiled the following list of symptoms, which could be caused by misalignments in the vertebral column:

• headaches
• dizziness  
• hearing problems and tinnitus
• sudden deafness  
• impaired vision
• lump in the throat
• sore throat and husky voice (dysphonia)
• radiating pain in the branches of the facial (trigeminal) nerve