Technic and Practice of Chiropractic

by Joy Maxwell Loban

PREFERABLE ADJUSTMENTS

The selection of the move with which to correct each subluxation depends upon the adjuster’s concept of the kind and direction of the subluxation and of the mechanics of the different corrective moves in his repertoire. The move used should be one in which the application of force is exactly along opposite lines to the lines of force which originally produced the subluxation.

Omitting involved explanations as to the elements of each displacement and the manner of change in bone, muscle, ligament, cartilage, etc., and presupposing a comprehension of the principles of each adjustment named, there follows here a list of possible subluxations of each vertebra in turn, from Atlas down, with a simple statement of the RIGHT MOVE for that subluxation.

In each instance there are other moves than the one listed which would move the vertebra and some which would partially correct it, but none which would quite so definitely tend to correct the displacement. Unfortunately it is not a fact that every movement of a vertebra is an adjustment. If this were true subluxations would not exist, because they could never have been produced. Too often the adjuster uses a move because it is easy, because its use has become habitual with him, rather than because it is indicated by the conditions of the case—then blames Chiropractic because his results are negative or bad.

The move which is suited to a certain kind of subluxation of one vertebra may be quite out of place with another, in a different part of the spine. Thus the Recoil is quite proper for a posterior Lumbar and is contraindicated with a posterior middle Dorsal.

If all vertebrae were shaped exactly alike, if all were equal in size, if subluxation were possible only in one direction, then one method of adjustment would be quite sufficient. Diversity of technic is demanded, but a discriminating diversity, with a good reason for every move used.

First Cervical
Subluxation.	Adjustment.
Right—R.	Break, or straight lateral.
Right, posterior—R. P.	Rotary lateral.
Right, anterior—R. A.	Morikubo.
Right, superior—R. S.	Break.
Right, inferior—R. I.	Break.
Right, posterior, superior—R. P. S.	Rotary lateral.
Right, posterior, inferior—R. P. I.	Rotary lateral.
Right, anterior, superior—R. A. S.	Morikubo.
Right, anterior, inferior—R. A. I.	Morikubo.
Left—L.	Break.
Left, posterior—L. P.	Rotary lateral.
Left, anterior—L. A.	Morikubo.
Left, superior—L. S.	Break.
Left, inferior—L. I.	Break.
Left, posterior, superior—L. P. S.	Rotary lateral.
Left, posterior, inferior—L. P. I.	Rotary lateral.
Left, anterior, superior—L. A. S.	Morikubo.
Left, anterior, inferior—L. A. I.	Morikubo.
Anterior (entire Atlas)—A.	Morikubo (both sides).
Posterior (entire Atlas)—P.	Rotary lateral (both sides).
Note.—All right subluxations adjusted from right side, all left from left side.
Second Cervical
Posterior—P.	Posterior Cervical move.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Double contact on right side.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Double contact on left side.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. L.	Double contact on right.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Double contact on right.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Double contact on left side.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Double contact on left side.
Right (lateral)—R.	Break (Same if R. I. or R. S.)
Right (rotary)—R.	Rotary (Same if R. I. or R. S.)
Left (lateral)—L.	Break (Same if L. I. or L. S.)
Left (rotary)—L.	Rotary (Same if L. I. or L. S.)
Superior—S.	Posterior Cervical move.
Inferior—I.	Posterior Cervical move.
Anterior (entire Vertebra)—A.	Ventral transverse contact on most anterior side.
Anterior, right (lateral)—A. R.	Second metacarpal contact from right.
Anterior, right (rotary)—A. R.	Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on right.
Anterior, left (lateral)—A. L.	Second metacarpal contact from left.
Anterior, left (rotary)—A. L.	Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on left.
Third Cervical
Same as second.
Fourth Cervical
Same as second.
Fifth Cervical
Same as second.
Sixth Cervical
Posterior—P.	The Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Right (lateral)—R.	Break (Same if R. I. or R. S.)
Right (rotary)—R.	Rotary (Same if R. I. or R. S.)
Left (lateral)—L.	Break, from left (Same if L. I. or L. S.)
Left (rotary)—L.	Rotary (Same if L. I. or L. S.)
Superior—S.	Edge contact move.
Inferior—I.	Edge contact move.
Anterior (entire vertebra)—A.	Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on most anterior side.
Anterior, right (lateral)—A. R.	Second metacarpal contact from right.
Anterior, right (rotary)—A. R.	Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on right.
Anterior, left (lateral)—A. L.	Second metacarpal contact from left.
Anterior, left (rotary)—A. L.	Pisiform Ant. Cerv. contact on left.
Seventh Cervical
Same as sixth Cervical, except that T. M. may be used on right or left rotary subluxations.
First Dorsal
Posterior—P.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Heel contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Edge contact.
Superior—S.	Heel contact.
Inferior—I.	Edge contact.
Right—R.	T. M. (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Left—L.	T. M. (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Anterior—A.	No correction.
Second Dorsal
Posterior—P.	Heel contact.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Heel contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Edge contact.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil.
Left—L.	T. M. (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Right—R.	T. M. (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Anterior—A.	No correction.
Third Dorsal
Posterior—P.	Heel contact.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Heel contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Edge contact.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil.
Right—R.	Pisiform single transverse (on left) (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Left—L.	Pisiform single transverse (on right) (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Anterior—A.	No correction.
Fourth Dorsal
Same as third Dorsal.
Note.—While the Recoil is here, the preferred move for posterior and postero-lateral subluxations, the pisiform double transverse or the two finger double transverse may be used if both transverses are palpable.
Fifth Dorsal
Posterior—P.	Double transverse move.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Heel contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Double transverse.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Double transverse.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Double transverse.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Double transverse.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Double transverse.
Note.—The pisiform double transverse and the two-finger double transverse, apply force in exactly similar directions and may therefore be used interchangeably. The latter is preferable for children.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Double transverse.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Double transverse.
Right—R.	Pisiform single transverse (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Left—L.	Pisiform single transverse. (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Anterior—A.	No correction.
Sixth Dorsal
Same as Fifth Dorsal.
Seventh Dorsal
Same as Fifth Dorsal.
Eighth Dorsal
Same as Fifth Dorsal.
Ninth Dorsal
Same as Fifth Dorsal.
Tenth Dorsal
Posterior—P.	Heel contact.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Edge contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Edge contact.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil.
Right—R.	Recoil (Same if R. S. or R. I.)[A]
Left—L.	Recoil (Same if L. S. or L. I.)[A]
Anterior—A.	No correction.
[A] Note.—The use of this move is not quite mechanically correct, but it is advised because of the possible danger of using the transverse processes as levers.
Eleventh Dorsal
Same as Tenth Dorsal.
Twelfth Dorsal
Same as Tenth Dorsal.
First Lumbar
Posterior—P.	Heel contact.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Heel contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Heel contact.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil.
Right—R.	Lumbar single transverse move, if transverse is palpable, otherwise Recoil. (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Left—L.	Lumbar single transverse move, if transverse is palpable, otherwise Recoil. (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Anterior—A.	No correction.
Second Lumbar
Same as First Lumbar.
Third Lumbar
Same as First Lumbar.
Fourth Lumbar
Posterior—P.	Heel contact.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Heel contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Heel contact.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Note.—The Heel contact may be substituted for the Recoil above if force be carefully directed in the proper direction in delivery.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil, hands reversed.
Right—R.	Lumbar single transverse move, if transverse is palpable, otherwise Recoil. (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Left—L.	Lumbar single transverse, if transverse is palpable, otherwise Recoil. (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Anterior—A.	No correction.
Fifth Lumbar
Posterior—P.	Heel contact.
Posterior, superior—P. S.	Edge contact.
Posterior, inferior—P. I.	Edge contact.
Posterior, right—P. R.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, superior—P. R. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, right, inferior—P. R. I.	Recoil.
Posterior, left—P. L.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, superior—P. L. S.	Recoil.
Posterior, left, inferior—P. L. I.	Recoil.
Right—R.	Recoil (Same if R. S. or R. I.)
Left—L.	Recoil (Same if L. S. or L. I.)
Anterior—A.	“Bohemian” anterior fifth Lumbar move. (Not always advisable.)
Sacrum
Posterior base—B. of S.—P.	Heel contact on base.
Posterior apex—A. of S.—P.	Heel contact on apex.
Entire Sacrum posterior Sac. P.	Heel contact between sacroiliac articulations.
Coccyx
To be adjusted only when ankylosed in an abnormal position and then by leverage of finger through rectum.