10 Common Chiropractic Techniques

If you’re exploring chiropractic care, chances are you have a specific goal in mind—easing back pain, healing a sports injury, or simply moving without that daily neck pinch. A quick online search for “best chiropractic technique” can open a firehose of unfamiliar names and opinions. Diversified, Gonstead, Activator—are these separate specialties? Do you have to pick just one?

The truth is that every chiropractor builds a slightly different toolkit. Some rely on classic hands-on adjustments; others favor gentle, instrument-assisted nudges; many blend several methods depending on what your body needs that day.

With dozens of providers in any metro area, it helps to understand the major techniques so you can match their strengths to your own goals.

Below, you’ll find a straightforward tour of 10 widely practiced chiropractic techniques, plus a quick look at where each approach really shines. Use it as a compass when you’re comparing clinics, chatting through treatment plans, or simply deciding what feels right for your spine and lifestyle.

 

Chiropractic Techniques

Ready to peek inside the chiropractor’s toolbox? Below, you’ll find ten common types of chiropractic adjustments, what each looks like in practice, and the types of patients who usually see the biggest payoff.

 

1. Diversified Technique

The Diversified Technique is the “classic” hands‑on spinal manipulation most people picture when they think of the chiropractor. Your doctor delivers a quick, precise, high‑velocity, low‑amplitude thrust to realign a joint.

Because it can be applied nearly anywhere along the spine or extremities, Diversified is the backbone—pun intended—of many care plans.

Best for: General low‑back stiffness, athletic maintenance, desk‑job posture fatigue.

 

2. Gonstead Technique

The Gonstead system treats the spine as a tall stack of individual joints. After a thorough analysis, your chiropractor makes a highly specific chiropractic adjustment to the exact segment causing joint dysfunction.

The adjustment uses precise hand placement or a special neck-support chair to correct misalignments without twisting the rest of the spine. This pinpoint focus can improve nerve flow and symmetrical weight distribution, helping the body heal efficiently.

Best for: Disc or pelvic issues that need measurable, spot‑on correction.

 

3. Activator Method®

Not everyone enjoys manual thrusts. The Activator Method employs a spring‑loaded, hand-held adjusting tool about the size of a TV remote, often called a “chiropractor gun.” The tool delivers a low‑force, high‑speed impulse faster than your muscles can tense, making the correction both gentle and precise.

Studies show the Activator can produce comparable outcomes to manual care for many conditions while minimizing post‑adjustment soreness. It’s ideal when we want to reduce the tensing of muscles that comes with anticipating an adjustment.

Best for: Sensitive patients, elders with osteoporosis, children, or those who simply prefer a softer touch.

 

4. Cox® Flexion‑Distraction

Think of flexion distraction as a rhythmic seesaw for the spine. You lie facedown on a specialized table, which guides your lower half up and down in a controlled, rhythmic motion. This action gently stretches discs and spinal ligaments, creating gentle suction that helps re-hydrate spinal discs.

Because it avoids rotation, flexion distraction therapy is helpful for lumbar disc herniations, stenosis, and post‑surgical patients who need careful decompression without forceful thrusts.

Best for: Sciatica, lumbar disc bulges, and anyone who says, “Please don’t twist me!”

 

5. Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT®)

SOT recognizes that the sacrum (base of the spine) and the occiput (base of the skull) function as a pump, moving spinal fluid. By placing padded pelvic wedges under specific angles, the doctor lets gravity help realign the pelvis while light adjustments to the head balances tension—restoring smoother joint function from head to toe.

Patients often report whole‑body relaxation, improved sleep, and relief from chronic tension headaches once the sacro‑cranial rhythm normalizes.

Best for: Pelvic imbalances, TMJ or headache sufferers, prenatal comfort.

 

6. Thompson Drop‑Table Technique

A drop table has segmented cushions that release downward about a quarter‑inch when the thrust is delivered. This quick drop uses gravity to assist the adjustment, meaning less force is needed on the patient’s body while still achieving the desired spinal adjustment.

The mechanism makes for a fast, comfortable visit and is especially useful when working on the pelvis or mid-back without excessive torsion.

Best for: Patients who like Diversified results but prefer a softer impact; pelvic and rib cage restrictions.

 

7. Webster Technique

Developed for pregnancy, the Webster technique focuses on balancing the sacrum, pelvis, and surrounding ligaments. A gentle combination of manual manipulation and massage eases uterine tension so the baby has optimal room to move.

While no adjustment guarantees fetal position, many moms report decreased hip and neck pain and a smoother birth experience.

Best for: Pregnant patients seeking pelvic alignment and back‑pain relief.

 

8. Manual Mobilization & Therapeutic Stretching

Sometimes the goal isn’t to “crack” a joint but to coax it. Small controlled movements combined with therapist‑guided stretches help re‑educate tight muscles, boost circulation, and gradually restore healthy motion without sudden thrusts.

These sessions also teach you how to care for your body with at-home exercises between visits. Over time, this approach lays a flexible foundation so more specific adjustments last longer.

Best for: Post‑injury rehab, seniors easing into care, chronic muscle tightness limiting range.

 

9. Instrument‑Assisted Soft‑Tissue Techniques (Graston‑style)

Using small instruments to apply smooth, gliding pressure across the skin, your provider detects and breaks down fascial adhesions (sticky tissues) that restrict motion. The mild, pinpoint pressure helps promote new collagen and speeds tissue repair.

Patients often pair this with traditional chiropractic treatment for stubborn tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, or post‑surgical scar tissue that just won’t budge.

Best for: Tendonitis, repetitive‑strain injuries, athletes chasing a full, pain‑free swing.

 

10. Pettibon System

The Pettibon approach begins with full-spine X-rays taken while the patient stands naturally. Those images highlight spinal curves, head balance, and any looseness in supporting ligaments. Guided by these findings, the care plan usually blends hands-on adjustments with balance-boosting warm-ups (think wobble-board drills) and adds simple traction or stretching tools to keep progress rolling between visits.

By addressing soft tissue and bony alignment together, Pettibon aims for long‑term structural change rather than short‑term symptom chasing—perfect for patients serious about correcting the root cause, not just the flare‑up.

Best for: Postural syndromes, scoliosis management, tech‑neck warriors who want proof of progress.

 

Which Chiropractic Technique Is Best?

No single chiropractic technique is universally superior. Each method serves a distinct purpose for particular conditions and stages of recovery, and the optimal choice can change as pain levels, tissue healing, and mobility needs evolve.

The most reliable path is to work with a chiropractor who is skilled in a broad range of techniques. A practitioner who can move seamlessly from gentle manual manipulation in the acute phase to adjusting instruments or soft-tissue work later on is better equipped to match care to your body’s changing requirements and deliver sustainable improvement.

 

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

At its heart, chiropractic care is about helping joints move the way they’re meant to. When a chiropractor performs an adjustment, tight spots loosen, irritated nerves calm down, and supporting muscles can finally relax. Most people feel this as reduced pain—often right on the table—and a welcome sense of “I can turn my head again” or “my back isn’t grabbing every time I stand up.”

Those changes aren’t just about comfort at the moment. Freer joints let you gently stretch without resistance, which increases range of motion and supports better posture. Whether you’re twisting to check your blind spot, chasing a toddler, or working on your golf swing, restored joint function makes movement smoother and less tiring. 

Today’s chiropractors study biomechanics in depth, use modern imaging, and often collaborate with family physicians, physical therapists, and athletic trainers. For many patients, chiropractic treatment is a first-line, drug-free way to stay active and address everyday aches before they snowball into bigger problems.

In short, chiropractic isn’t a last-ditch fix or a one-size-fits-all cure; it’s a practical, hands-on approach to keeping your body moving the way life asks it to—comfortably, confidently, and with fewer limits.

 

Move the Way Life Asks You To

Every spine tells its own story—and the best chiropractic care listens.

By choosing a clinic that works with a range of techniques, you give yourself the freedom to start gently, progress safely, and keep every joint pulling its weight as you heal and grow stronger. Whether your goal is fewer flare-ups, a longer golf drive, or simply getting through the workday without that nagging pinch, a well-rounded chiropractor can tailor each visit to what your body needs most.

Ready to feel the difference personalized care can make?

Book your first assessment with Oviedo Chiropractic today, and let’s find the right mix of techniques to keep you moving—comfortably, confidently, and on your terms.