Our treatments
Adjustments: precise, gentle, and never one-size-fits-all
The technique Chiropractic is known for, done carefully, explained clearly, and only ever after a proper assessment.
A Chiropractic adjustment is a quick, precisely-directed movement applied to a joint, most often in the spine, to restore motion where a joint has become stiff and irritable. Done well, it’s specific and controlled: less “crack your whole back”, more “free up the one segment that isn’t doing its job”.
At IA Chiropractic we primarily use Diversified and Thompson (drop-piece) techniques. Thompson uses a specialised table with sections that drop slightly as the adjustment is delivered, which means less force through your body, many patients who feel nervous about being adjusted find it noticeably gentler.
Adjustments are one tool, not the whole toolbox. We combine them with soft tissue therapy and exercise so the improved movement actually sticks.
Why patients choose it
Restores joint movement
Targets stiff spinal segments directly, which is often the fastest way to reduce that "locked up" feeling.
Short-term pain relief
Manipulation has good evidence for short-term relief in back and neck pain, a useful window to get you moving again.
Gentle options available
Thompson drop-piece and low-force techniques mean adjustments can be adapted to nervous patients, older spines and smaller frames.
Immediate feedback
You and your Chiropractor both feel the change in movement straight away, making progress easy to track.
What a session looks like
- 1
We review how you’ve responded since the last visit and re-test the key movements we’re tracking.
- 2
You’ll be positioned comfortably on the table, face down, on your side, or seated depending on the area.
- 3
The adjustment itself takes seconds: a quick, shallow impulse. You may hear a pop (gas releasing from the joint, not bones "cracking").
- 4
We usually follow up with soft tissue work and run through your exercises so the new movement holds.
- 5
You’re told exactly what to expect afterwards, mild, short-lived soreness is normal for some people, like after a workout.
Is it safe? Is it for me?
Spinal manipulation performed by a university-trained, AHPRA-registered Chiropractor is a low-risk treatment for suitable patients. The most common side effect is mild, temporary soreness. Serious complications are rare, and screening is exactly why your first visit involves a thorough history and examination before anyone is adjusted.
Adjustments aren’t for everyone, certain conditions (like significant osteoporosis or some vascular issues) rule them out, and some people simply prefer not to be adjusted. Both are fine: we have gentler alternatives, and you’ll never be talked into a technique you’re not comfortable with.