The goal of this series is to define briefly certain general principles that underlie almost all chiropractic adjustive technics. Some may be new to the reader, yet their basis is as old as chiropractic itself. Parts I and II of this series reviewed depth of drive, the articular snap, segmental distraction, timing the thrust, the disadvantage of some drop-support tables, the advantages of placing the patient's spine in an oval posture, correct table height, and patient positioning objectives. The Factor of Time in the Clinical Approach To produce an effective articular adjustment, it is first necessary to evaluate the degree of joint motions and end plays present. Adjustive ojectives are generally achieved by dynamic manual articular mobilization unless such a technic is contraindicated in a specific situation.
Correct application takes time.
In addition, traumatized and pathologic tissues characteristically have low endurance and high biomechanical fatigue properties. These form a substantial part of the scientific foundation of our art. Neuromusculoskeletal tissues are organic viscoelastic substances. All musculoskeletal structures, thus, have a time-dependent stability factor, which is usually structurally adapted to in living tissue if the time element is prolonged. We witness this in bone with the trabecular redesign from chronic stress according to Wolff's law.