Various Chiropractic Techniques

Instrument Adjusting
Instrument adjusting often uses an activator adjusting instrument. It can be used in management of osteoporotic bone fragility, for children, for patients fearful of manual adjusting that result in joint cavitation (aka “cracking”), for extremity adjusting, and for those who prefer not to be touched physically. There has been some evidence that shows benefits for patients with spinal pain and trigger points similar to a manual adjustment of trigger point soft tissue therapy. There have been reports of clinically meaningful improvements in patients with acute and chronic low back or SIJ pain, acute and subacute neck pain, TMJ disorders and trigger points in the trapezius muscles.

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 Thompson Technique
Thompson technique (aka table assisted drop piece technique) uses a special table that “drops” during an adjustment.  This allows for a lighter adjustment for the patient while using gravity to assist the spinal joints and other joints to restore motion. This technique also helps protect the patient from being over-adjusted. It is great for those who are nervous about manual adjusting, great for kids who require lighter adjustments, and for anyone! 
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Diversified Manual Therapy
This is the most common type of chiropractic care provided. It is a skilled movement of the hands to cause movement of the joints to help improve tissue stretch, increased range of motion, encourage relaxation, decrease pain, and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation or restriction.  This movement of the joints may improve range of motion at the adjusted segment, decrease local inflammatory factors, and facilitate muscular control. Something that is associated with this type of adjustment is known as a cavitation.
 
Cavitation is the scientific name for the popping/cracking nose that is heard when many people move their joints or with some manual adjustments. The joints that make this noise are called synovial joints which hold lubricating fluid called synovia as well as dissolved gases such as CO2, oxygen and nitrogen. When these joints move the capsule containing these things stretch or compress and gases are rapidly released from the solution of synovia and form bubbles. This creates that popping or cracking noise (not bones cracking).

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Webster’s Technique
The Webster Technique is a chiropractic technique used mostly for prenatal care. It involves the analysis and adjustment of the pelvis and surrounding soft tissue that are effected by the biomechanical, structural and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. The main purpose of the Webster Technique is to reduce the pelvic (sacral and sacroiliac joint) dysfunction leading to improved biomechanical function of the sacrum and pelvis.

Pelvic biomechanics may play a role in the positioning of the infant in utero. With misalignments, the body compensates by creating tightening and torsion of the round ligaments that attach from the pelvic bone to the uterus. This may lead to constraint within the uterus that prevents baby from assuming the best possible position of birth. 

The Webster technique uses pregnancy pillows which allow pregnant patients to safely and comfortably lie face down during the analysis and adjustments. The Webster Technique also uses soft tissue therapy and joint work in the back, pelvis, and abdomen to allow for proper alignment and function of the spine and pelvis as well as surrounding tissues. Treatment is gentle but has impactful results including decreased pain and improved biomechanical function of the lower chain. 

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References 
Suvorova, Y. S., & Conger, R. (2017). MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN THE SOUNDS PRODUCED BY MANIPULATION IN SYNOVIAL JOINTS: POSSIBLE ROLE OF PH CHANGES IN LESSENING PAIN LEVELS. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 45(3).
 American Physical Therapy Association 2014 Guide to Physical Therapist Practice 3.0. Alexandria, VA, American Physical Therapy Association
Teodorczyk-Injeyan JA, Injeyan HS, Ruegg R 2006 Spinal manipulative therapy reduces inflammatory cytokines but not substance P production in normal subjects. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 29: 14–21.
Cooperstein R, Gleberzon BJ. Technique systems in chiropractic. St. Louis: Churchill Livingstone; 2004, p243-4.
Huggins T, Boras AL, Gleberzon BJ, Popescu M, Bahry LA. Clinical effectiveness of the activator adjusting instrument in the management of musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review of the literature. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012;56(1):49-57.
Pistolese, R.A. The Webster Technique: A Chiropractic Technique with Obstetric Implications. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2002; 25(6): 1-9.
Ohm, J. The Webster Technique: Definition, Application and Implications. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal and Family Health. 2012: 49-53.