While teaching Motion Palpation and various adjusting procedures around the country one fact always becomes evident.
Chiropractors use too much force to deliver an adjustment.
I should preface that statement and say that I too love to hear the noise that indicates that at least a particular joint has cavitated and therefore moved the requisite 4mm needed to establish joint play in the paraphysiological space. This article, however, is not about the importance of joint cavitation but the actual technique used in delivering an adjustment. Preloading the joint before actually delivering the actual thrust is commonly taught in all schools and most technique courses. Locking the joint in this manner invariably makes the adjustment more difficult to deliver and requires a much greater amount of force. The amount of reactive muscle spasm as well as patient anxiety produced with this method always necessitates a heavy handed adjustment.