An ever-increasing number of chiropractors are adopting Drop Piece mechanism (DPM) as an option for adjusting their clients. Unfortunately, a good understanding of how to use your drop piece correctly will make your treatments more effective.
The first thing to understand is that all spinal adjustments should be done with a controlled force. In other words, there should never be any sudden jerking or dropping movements applied to the spine. The reason for this is simple: if we apply too much force to the spine at one time, then we can cause damage to the vertebrae and discs in our back. If we do not have enough control over the force used, then we may even damage bones in a spine!
It’s important to remember that the amount of pressure needed for an adjustment varies from person to person. Some people need less pressure than others more depending upon their body morphology. Also, the position of the patient on the table affects the amount of pressure required. There are many different ways to determine what level of pressure is appropriate for a particular patient.
This is the loading phase of the table to prepare the client for the Drop Piece adjustment. Many chiropractors make the error of using the hold component to instigate the Adjustment phase of the Drop Piece table .
The tension for a client should be enough for the practitioner to load the table; and ensure enough tension to not release the table while the practitioner places their hands to set for their adjustment and their line of drive.
It is most helpful to set the tension on the table to suit your average client (e.g. 80kg), then if you have a lighter or heavier client it is a simple process of turning the tension knob one or two turns up (100kg client) or down (60kg client).
It is important to reset your table back to the Midpoint for your average client (e.g. back to 80Kg). This should occur once that lighter/heavier client’s adjustment is completed. If your table is releasing with the client weight, and/or your hands being placed on the client to set your line of drive, then your tension is too light. Alternatively, if you need a reasonable tension to commence the Release phase then your tension is too high.
Please note: springs are the main way tables increase and decrease the tension on a table. If you have your tension too high your spring can compress and reduce the life of the Drop Piece springs on your table.
This phase requires the least amount of pressure to get the clients body moving and the Drop Piece Mechanism (DPM) to release. The practitioner holds a constant pressure on the client. Note, the adjustment does not occur during this phase but is the preparatory phase for the adjustment.
During this phase, the movement of the client and pressure from the practitioner creates a some proprioception which acts as a distraction. It is important to release the table smoothly.
At the point the table stops moving suddenly and a noise occurs (percussion) when the DPM meets the main body of the table, stopping the downward movement. At this point the proprioception of the client increases and then the practitioner only needs a small amount of pressure in the correct line of drive to complete the adjustment.
The combination of movement, noise, and sudden stop all help distract your client so that this gentle technique can create a great adjustment and outcome for your clients.
Finesse over force, should be your motto. Some of the best technicians and adjusters are smaller females chiropractors. They tend to refine their skill early due to their size as they cannot muscle their way through their adjustments. Hopefully these insights guide you to improving your adjusting skills and maintaining your DPM Table as long as possible, remember refinement is improvement.
We must always remember that we are dealing with living tissue. It is important to always use an appropriate controlled force when adjusting the spine. Different areas of the body react differently depending on the force is being applied.
For example, applying more force than necessary to adjust the spine can actually cause muscle spasms and trigger pain signals from the brain. On the other hand, applying less force than needed or the wrong line of drive can result in a subluxation becoming worse instead of better.
When using a Drop Piece Mechanism (DPM), we need to work within certain parameters. We must start by understanding that every person has different biomechanical needs. Some people require more force than others to get a given adjustment. Others need less force. Thus, the amount of force and line of drive required to adjust the spine varies substantially from patient to patient.
In addition, each individual has a unique reaction to your adjustment. Some people feel immediate relief after getting adjusted whereas others don’t feel anything until hours later.
There are also individuals who respond well to manipulations but have a tendency to move around during treatment. These patients often become frustrated with the process because they cannot stay still for long periods of time.
In order to properly treat such individuals, we must adjust them carefully so that there is no unnecessary stress placed upon the tissues of the spine.
To accomplish this, we must always be cognizant of each clients differences and learn how to adjust appropriately for each body type. When performing a proper DPM, we must use the least amount of pressure to safely adjust the spine. This means that we do not apply too much force or impulse else it will be difficult to control the adjustments.
The first thing we should address is the fact that we want to avoid applying excessive force. If we do, we run the risk of causing damage to the tissues of the back.
As we discussed earlier, the tissues of the spine are delicate. They can easily bruise or tear if we apply too much force. Since we are trying to achieve a safe, gentle procedure, we must exercise caution whenever we perform an adjustment.
Another common problem encountered when performing a DPM is that some practitioners apply too much force. This results in a quick, violent motion with a sudden stop. Such motions can cause damage to the tissues of one’s back.
The most common reason why a practitioner applies too much force is because he/she does not understand the principles behind the technique or lack of skills.
Omni Tables Australia was created as there was a distinct lack of high quality maintenance free and durable tables in our marketplace.
Many overseas manufacturers have been bringing tables into Australia, but we must pay high shipping costs to get them here. We were also being inundated with cheaper inferior quality tables coming from other countries. In addition, once you bought a table you were stuck with it. The only way to improve or upgrade that table was to sell it and buy another table better suited to your needs. We chose to make our table modular, so it could be a true investment and grow as your practice grew.
Ultimately this would save you time and money. These are just some of the reasons we commenced producing Omni tables in Australia.
The heavy steel frame used on all Omni Tables makes it far superior to the competition. The Heavy-duty elevation motor on the Omni has a maximum lift rating of 400kg, and the three-stage column provides Omni Tables with greater stability and side loading for increased table life. The base of the Omni Tables is designed for the doctor to be able to move around the table without having the base interfere with movement.
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Watch the following video to learn more about the Omni Total Drop Chiropractic Table Operation.
I have 30 years’ experience as the Principal Chiropractor in my multiple clinics throughout Southeast Queensland for over 30 years.
We have been manufacturing the range of Omni Tables Australia on the Gold Coast Australia since 2012. We are continuously improving and adding to our range of tables which includes our new Automatic Flexion-Distraction table. We ship our Tables internationally which include the UK, Ireland, Europe, India, Southeast Asia and New Zealand, plus all states of Australia.
