Chiropractic Words You'll Hear At Your Visit, In Plain English

If you've watched one of our videos with the sound on, you've heard it: “deep breath, breathe out, good job.” It might be the line Dr. Currington says most. Chiropractic has a few words of its own too, so here's what you'll hear at a visit, in plain English.

Deep Breath, Breathe Out

On the table, Dr. Currington will often ask you to take a deep breath and let it out right before an adjustment. [Dr. C to confirm: one line on why you ask patients to breathe out] You don't have to know the timing. He'll talk you through it.

Adjustment

An adjustment is a quick, controlled movement to a spinal joint that has stopped moving the way it should. Dr. Currington does it by hand or with a specialized instrument, depending on your spine, your condition and your overall health. The adjustment itself takes only a moment. There's more on our adjustments page.

The Pop

That popping sound has a name: joint cavitation. It's the release of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint, and it sounds like cracking your knuckles.

Subluxation

When a vertebra moves out of its normal position, chiropractors call it a subluxation. It can come from anything from a minor slip or bump to a car accident, and it can put pressure on the nerves, blood vessels and tissue around it.

Range of Motion

How far a joint can move. You'll hear it when we check your neck, back or shoulders, and when we talk about rehab. A joint that's misaligned or locked up can't move the way it should, and restoring that motion can improve range of motion. Rehab exercises often work on it too.

X-Ray and Posture Analysis

Your first visit includes a physical exam and any X-rays needed to find the cause of your pain. For corrective care like CBP, X-rays and a posture analysis show the shape of your spine and how to bring it back toward its normal position.

CBP

Short for Chiropractic Biophysics, a method for moving the curves of your spine back toward their natural positions. It combines traction with adjustments, specific exercises and focused stretching, all chosen for the shape of your spine. Later X-rays show how your spine has changed.

Traction

Part of CBP. Traction helps put the forward curves back into the neck and lower back. Over the length of a plan, traction and exercise help guide those curves toward normal.

Decompression

Spinal decompression uses a specialized table to gently stretch the spine and take pressure off a herniated or bulging disc. You're fitted with a harness, and a computer program, set up and supervised by our staff, alternates between stretching and relaxing. Our post What Is Spinal Decompression, and Who Is It For? goes deeper.

Instrument Adjusting

For patients with osteoporosis, advanced age or serious health issues, Dr. Currington uses a gentler instrument adjusting tool in place of a traditional adjustment.

Good Job

It means exactly what it sounds like.

Ask Anything

If you hear a word you don't know, ask. As one patient put it in a review, Dr. Currington “really listens to your questions and concerns.” (Sharon F.) Our FAQ has more answers too.

If you'd like to hear it all in person, book a visit or call (214) 520-1006. We're at 4228 N Central Expy, Suite 104, Dallas, TX 75206.