Chiropractor glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a chiropractor provider in Klang Valley.
- What is a cervicogenic headache?
- A cervicogenic headache is pain that originates from dysfunction in the neck's joints, muscles, or nerves rather than from the brain itself. It typically results from poor posture, trauma, or degenerative changes in the cervical spine.
- What is a chiropractic X-ray (radiographic analysis)?
- Radiographic imaging used by chiropractors to evaluate spinal structure, alignment, and bone health, and to identify conditions that may contraindicate manual adjustment.
- What is a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree?
- A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is a regulated health professional qualification requiring 4 years of accredited chiropractic college education and clinical training in spinal manipulation, anatomy, and patient care.
- What is a spinal adjustment?
- A spinal adjustment is a manual or instrument-assisted technique chiropractors use to apply controlled force to vertebrae, restoring joint movement and alignment.
- What is a subluxation complex?
- A subluxation complex is a model describing the functional relationship between vertebral misalignment, nerve interference, and muscle imbalance that chiropractors treat as an integrated system rather than a single joint problem.
- What is a subluxation?
- In chiropractic practice, a subluxation is a partial misalignment or restricted movement of a spinal vertebra that chiropractors believe interferes with nerve function and requires spinal adjustment.
- What is cavitation (joint popping sound)?
- Cavitation is the sudden release of gas bubbles from synovial fluid in joints, which produces the audible cracking or popping sound commonly heard during chiropractic adjustments.
- What is chiropractic certification and registration in Malaysia?
- Chiropractic certification and registration in Malaysia refers to the professional credentials and regulatory approval required for chiropractors to practice legally, typically recognized through tertiary qualifications and registration with relevant Malaysian health authorities.
- What is chiropractic manipulation?
- Chiropractic manipulation is a hands-on technique where a chiropractor applies a swift, controlled force to a joint to improve alignment, reduce restrictions, and restore normal movement.
- What is diversified technique?
- Diversified technique is a general manual adjustment method that uses direct thrust adjustments across the entire spine, making it the foundational approach taught in most chiropractic educational programs.
- What is extremity adjusting?
- Extremity adjusting involves applying chiropractic manipulation techniques to non-spinal joints like the shoulder, knee, wrist, or ankle to restore alignment and function.
- What is kinesio taping?
- Kinesio taping is a method using elastic therapeutic tape applied directly to skin to support and stabilize muscles and joints during movement and recovery.
- What is motion palpation?
- Motion palpation is a hands-on examination where a chiropractor uses their hands to feel and assess the movement and mobility of individual spinal segments to identify restrictions or excessive movement.
- What is myofascial release?
- Myofascial release is a manual therapy technique that applies sustained pressure and movement to the fascia (connective tissue surrounding muscles) to reduce tension and restore mobility.
- What is sciatica?
- Sciatica is pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates along the sciatic nerve pathway, typically caused by compression or irritation in the lower spine or pelvis.
- What is self-manipulation and why chiropractors warn against it
- Self-manipulation is the deliberate cracking, twisting, or forceful movement of your own neck or spine, distinct from professional chiropractic adjustments performed by a trained practitioner.
- What is subluxation-based vs evidence-based chiropractic?
- Subluxation-based chiropractic treats spinal misalignments as the root cause of most health problems, while evidence-based chiropractic focuses on treating musculoskeletal complaints supported by clinical research and conventional medical standards.
- What is the Activator method?
- The Activator method uses a spring-loaded handheld instrument to deliver quick, low-force impulses to the spine, providing an alternative to manual chiropractic adjustments.
- What is the difference between subluxation and herniation?
- Subluxation refers to partial misalignment of vertebrae, while herniation is rupture or bulging of the intervertebral disc material; they involve different spinal structures and require different clinical approaches.
- What is the flexion-distraction technique?
- Flexion-distraction is a hands-on chiropractic technique using a specialized table that gently flexes and elongates the spine to decompress intervertebral discs and relieve nerve pressure.
- What is the Gonstead technique?
- The Gonstead technique is a specific chiropractic method that combines x-ray line marking, hands-on palpation assessment, and controlled single-segment adjustments to address spinal misalignments.
- What is the Thompson drop table technique?
- A chiropractic adjustment method that uses a specially designed table with drop-away sections that fall slightly when pressure is applied, allowing gravity to assist the correction of spinal segments with reduced force.
- What is the Webster technique?
- The Webster technique is a chiropractic analysis and adjustment protocol that uses specific sacral and ligament adjustments to balance pelvic function during pregnancy.
- What is trigger point therapy?
- Trigger point therapy is a hands-on treatment that uses sustained pressure on hyperirritable muscle knots to release tension, reduce referred pain, and restore normal muscle function.