Spinal manipulation

Spinal manipulation is a treatment that uses pressure on a joint of the spine to improve pain and function. It is also called spinal adjustment.

The manipulation can be done with the hands or a special device. The careful, controlled force used on the joint can range from gentle to strong and from slow to rapid. Sometimes other joints of the body are also worked on to help treat the spine.

If you have tight muscles or muscles that spasm, your health care provider may first use heat, ultrasound, or electrical current. This helps relax your muscles before you receive spinal manipulation.

This treatment is safe when done by a trained health professional. Some people feel tired or sore after spinal manipulation. But serious problems are very rare.

Spinal manipulation can work as well as other treatments for back pain, whether the pain is new or has lasted a long time. But pain relief from this treatment may only last for a short time.

Like most back pain treatments, spinal manipulation works for some people but not for others.

You might consider spinal manipulation if:

• Your back pain hasn't improved after a few weeks of other treatments, such as heat or ice, pain medicine, or physical therapy.
• You want a treatment that involves hands-on contact.
• You want to avoid medicines and their possible side effects.
• You've had spinal manipulation before, and it helped.