The following questions are those most commonly asked by consumers contracting the American Chiropractic Association to learn more about the physical treatment referred to generally as manipulation. Manipulation is one of several forms of manual therapy. Manual therapy is treatment using any of a group of procedures by which the doctor's hands directly contact the patient's body to treat the joints and related soft tissues of the body. Manipulation is treatment using the doctor's hands to apply body leverage and a physical thrust to one joint or a group of related joints to restore joint and related tissue function. Through the use of manipulation, the doctor seeks to provide relief from symptoms, improve join and muscle function, and speed recovery.
Spinal manipulation is the most common form of manipulation.
Manipulation should not be confused with other forms of manual therapy such as mobilization and massage. As more of the benefits and safety of manipulation are made public, it is becoming more universally recognized as a safe and effective choice for the care of back problems. The most recent evidence of manipulation's effectiveness comes from a landmark study conducted by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, a federal government research organization. In this study, a panel of health care experts analyzed the scientific evidence available on all methods of examination and treatment used for acute adult low back problems and formed conclusions regarding their appropriateness and effectiveness. Among their most significant conclusions, they confirmed that spinal manipulation is a safe and effective initial form of treatment for this problem.