Anatomically, the body is divided into upper extremities and lower extremities. The upper extremity or arm is a functional unit of the upper body and consists of three primary sections, the upper arm, forearm, and hand. It contains 30 bones, extending from the shoulder joint to the fingers.
The lower extremity or leg is the functional unit of the lower body and consists of three primary sections as well, the upper leg, lower leg, and foot. It also contains 30 bones, extending from the hip to the toes. In most circles, the hip and pelvis are generally considered part of the spine when discussing chiropractic treatments.
One of the prime components of spine and sports chiropractic is extremity adjusting. Extremity adjustments are defined as manipulation of areas outside of the spine for the purpose of restoring normal joint function, increasing joint mobility, and reducing symptoms (ie. pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness).
Manual manipulation performed by a chiropractor is typically called an adjustment, while manipulation performed by other healthcare professionals is considered a mobilization. While most chiropractors strictly adjust the spine as their core practice, some have specialized training in extremity adjusting or sports chiropractic.
What Extremities Do Chiropractors Adjust?
Some chiropractors are skilled in adjusting joints in the extremities, including the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. By employing specialized techniques, chiropractors can enhance joint mobility, alleviate pain, and improve overall function in these peripheral areas. Whether it’s addressing issues related to repetitive strain, sports injuries, or musculoskeletal imbalances, finding a chiropractor who adjusts extremities is an important part of overall wellness.
“As a practicing chiropractor for over 20+ years, I have adjusted the wrists of patients nearly a dozen times a day. I have personally saved countless patients from unnecessary surgeries. The problem is growing due to an increase in computer use and abnormal positions of the arm while sleeping. I typically find that one or more of the bones of the wrist are misaligned causing a ‘click’ or ‘grinding’ that can become sharp or cause a sensation similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. A quick manipulation of the wrist typically resolves the complaint in 1 or 2 visits. Obviously, some scenarios require surgery, however, I have witnessed many times where surgery was performed and the problem remained. A quick adjustment could have saved the patient so much time and money.” – Dr. Don Aivalotis, Chiropractic Physician
Wrist Adjustments
Probably the most common and most impactful extremity adjustment is of the wrist. Typical symptoms mimic those of carpal tunnel syndrome and can lead many down the path of unnecessary surgery. The biomechanics of the wrist are complicated and misalignment of any of the eight carpal bones can cause impingement, localized pain, radiating nerve pain, numbness, or weakness in the wrist and/or forearm.
Foot And Ankle Adjustments
Another common extremity adjustment is of the foot and ankle. While there are several bones that can cause foot problems, the navicular is the most commonly adjusted bone to address arch pain and fallen arches (pes planus). The navicular is the “keystone” of the medial arch of the foot. When this bone drops from either congenital flat feet or trauma, the arch becomes painful and can precipitate plantar fascitis.
Adjustments of the foot and arch are simple and most often painless. A quick adjustment or two coupled with a good-fitting pair of orthotics and many problems with foot pain and arch pain are resolved.
Shoulder Adjustments
Shoulder pain and restricted mobility is a common problem, especially for athletes like swimmers. Poor posture, extreme repetitive movements, and old injuries can cause a misalignment of a number of different structures that make up the shoulder.
Shoulder adjustments by a skilled chiropractor can, in many instances, restore proper joint function and improve mobility. You may be wondering how a chiropractor can adjust a misalignment of a joint that doesn’t have a true socket. Intra-articular gases that have built up in the shoulder capsule from restricted movement is released when a chiropractor adjusts the shoulder.
The “crack” you hear is a collapse of the gas pocket as those trapped gasses are released from the joint. This allows for a more fluid range of motion and improved function of the joint.