“Chiropractic is specific or it is nothing!”-B.J. Palmer Volume VI

Specificity within Chiropractic has been at the heart and soul of the 200 named techniques within the profession. Tools to analyze the Overall State of Condition, Results to Prove Adjustments worked and the list goes on.

Today we dive deeper into the Art of Chiropractic which relates to the Chiropractic Analysis and Adjustive Force being introduced to facilitate the adjustment.

Part one with your Chiropractic visit after the first visit evaluation has been completed involves a Chiropractic Analysis. Chiropractic Analysis is similar to visiting your dentist and the doctor analyzes every one of your teeth with that sharp tool to determine the functionality of the individual tooth. Chiropractors have over 200 named techniques/methods to determine the functionality of the individual segments of the spine to determine if and where to facilitate the adjective force for the facilitation of the chiropractic adjustment.

This analysis needs to be specific or it is not Chiropractic like B.J. Palmer the developer of Chiropractic was quoted. Specific not only in the realm of having individual indicators that that be valid and consistent, but also specific in the realm of purpose.

Specificity within Chiropractic Analysis and Adjustments matters most, because producing the most favorable outcomes are a result of having a specific procedure that produces one objective. If you have general procedures you will most likely produce general results. Specific procedures produces specific results.

Within chiropractic, if you agree that the objective is to correct subluxation to restore neurological freedom for the greater expression of the body’s inner recuperative powers or innate intelligence; then the procedure that can specifically analyze and address that objective will be specific and meet that objective if the way of doing it has been applied with effectiveness. 

In regards to the Chiropractic Analysis, I professionally believe that removing as many variables that can produce inconsistent indicators during the analysis is vital. For that reason, I have used a static palpation during the analysis to produce more consistent variables for the location and listing of vertebral subluxation. 

There is a philosophical and physiological issue I have for Chiropractic Analysis when inconsistent factors are being introduced into the spine for analysis that can add variability to be enough to render inconsistency within the physiology to detect the subtle characteristics necessary to detect subluxation. Static palpation, specifically while they are laying down without gravity at work, allows the subtle neurodynamic indicators to be present for greater observation.

Specificity within Chiropractic Technique requires specific analysis and specific forces that influence the body’s recuperative powers to restore control of a vertebral segment that was causing neurological interference. We refer to that procedure/process the Chiropractic Adjustment.

Let’s look at the definition of adjustment.

Adjustment defined: a small alteration or movement made to achieve a desired fit, appearance, or result or the process of adapting or becoming used to a new situation. 

Comparing and contrasting to a common word I hear often to describe what Chiropractors do in practice, is manipulation. Manipulation defined: the action of manipulating something in a skillful manner: examine or treat (a part of the body) by feeling or moving it with the hand: a system of healing based on manipulating the ligaments of the spine. 

Manipulation means movement, adjustment means restoration/adaptation. 

Movement occurs from the outside-in, restoration/adaptation from inside-out. Yes you need to make movement to see restoration/adaptation, but the movement being made by the chiropractor is facilitating it for the purpose or objective at hand.

Non-specific forces do correct subluxation. A fall down the stairs can correct subluxation. A fall down a well can correct subluxation. Good nutrition can correct subluxation. A supplement that supports joint and neurological physiology can correct subluxation. Good exercise can correct subluxation. A massage can correct subluxation. A good night’s sleep can correct subluxation. A roller machine in a chiropractor’s office can correct subluxation. An aspirin or prescription medication that removes the pain cycle from being noticeable can correct subluxation. Subluxation can and does get corrected by non-specific forces all day long and throughout the lifetime of the human body.

If non-specific forces correct subluxation, then why does B.J. Palmer the developer of Chiropractic states in his sixth volume that “Chiropractic is specific or it is nothing!”

What B.J. Palmer was referring to was Objectives and Outcomes. 

Joe Strauss states in his Blue Book The Pivot Review 1984-1991 “Specificity means having one procedure for one objective. A baseball bat is to be swing in such a manner so as to strike a baseball and propel it to a point where there are no opposing players. When you use a bat in this manner, that is specific. The techniques you use-open stance, closed stance, left-handed. right jammed. bat held high or low are individual preferences, but the objective is specific.”

Analysis and Adjustive Forces facilitated for the correction of vertebral subluxation need to be specific with the objective in mind in order to produce a specific outcome. What that specific outcome is after the chiropractic adjustment varies is results case by case, individual by individual, but the goal should always be restoration and greater adaptation by the body’s inner recuperative power for a higher quality of well-being to be experienced.