Chiropractic adjustments are the primary clinical tool of chiropractic practice — a precisely controlled, manually delivered force applied to specific joints in the spine or extremities to restore normal motion, reduce mechanical irritation, and support the body's ability to recover from pain and dysfunction.
At Maan Chiropractic in Coral Springs, chiropractic adjustments are performed by Dr. Maan Dhanjal, a Doctor of Chiropractic with over 10 years of clinical experience and more than 7,500 patients treated in Broward County.
Every adjustment at Maan Chiropractic begins with a thorough examination. Technique selection is based on your specific diagnosis, your imaging when available, and your comfort and tolerance — not a single method applied universally to every patient regardless of condition.
A chiropractic adjustment — also called spinal manipulation — is a therapeutic procedure in which a trained clinician applies a controlled force to a joint that has lost its normal range of motion. The goal is to restore proper movement to the affected joint, reduce the associated muscle tension and nerve irritation, and improve the mechanical environment of the surrounding structures.
Joints become restricted for a variety of reasons — cumulative postural stress, acute injury, disc degeneration, inflammation, or repetitive movement patterns that load certain segments more than others. When a joint stops moving through its normal range, the surrounding muscles compensate, the local nerve supply becomes sensitized, and the altered mechanics begin to affect adjacent structures over time. This is why a restricted joint in one segment of the spine frequently produces symptoms at another level — or in structures far removed from the original restriction.
Chiropractic adjustments address this mechanical dysfunction directly. By restoring motion to a restricted joint, the adjustment reduces the compensatory muscle guarding, decreases the local inflammatory response, and normalizes the neurological input from that segment.
One of the most common questions patients ask before their first adjustment is about the sound — the audible pop or crack that often accompanies a spinal manipulation. It is also one of the most misunderstood aspects of chiropractic care.
The sound is produced by the rapid release of dissolved gas — primarily carbon dioxide and nitrogen — from the synovial fluid inside the joint when the joint surfaces are briefly separated during the adjustment. This phenomenon is called cavitation. It is the same mechanism that produces the sound when someone cracks their knuckles.
The sound is not bone cracking, joints breaking, or anything being forcibly displaced. It is a pressure change within the joint fluid and has no clinical significance on its own. Some adjustments produce an audible release and some do not — the therapeutic effect is not dependent on whether the sound occurs.
Adjustment Techniques Used at Maan Chiropractic
One of the distinguishing features of care at Maan Chiropractic is technique diversity. Dr. Maan is trained in multiple adjustment methods and selects the appropriate technique based on your specific clinical presentation, your comfort level, and the nature and location of the restricted joints.
Patients who have had a negative experience with manual adjustments elsewhere — or who have been told they cannot receive chiropractic care because of a prior procedure or a specific diagnosis — often find that an alternative technique is appropriate and effective for their situation.
Diversified Technique
Diversified Technique is the most widely used chiropractic adjustment method. It involves a precise, high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust delivered by hand to a specific spinal segment in a specific line of drive. It is the technique most people picture when they think of a chiropractic adjustment, and it is highly effective for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar joint restriction when appropriately indicated.
Activator Method
Activator Method uses a small, spring-loaded instrument to deliver a targeted, low-force impulse to a specific joint. It is a gentler technique that is particularly appropriate for patients who prefer to avoid the rotational positions required for manual adjustment, for patients with osteoporosis or significant degenerative changes, for older patients, and for pediatric patients.
The Activator produces the same neurological and mechanical effect as a manual adjustment without the audible release or the manual thrust.
ArthroStim
ArthroStim is an instrument-assisted adjustment technique that delivers a series of controlled, rapid impulses to a joint rather than a single thrust. The multi-impulse approach allows for precise force delivery with less patient positioning requirement and is often preferred for patients with acute pain presentations, sensitivity to manual techniques, or for adjustment of extremity joints where instrument precision is advantageous.
Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP)
Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) is a technique focused on correcting structural spinal alignment over time — not just restoring segmental joint motion but addressing the curvature and posture of the spine as a whole. CBP involves specific adjustment vectors combined with traction and rehabilitative protocols designed to produce measurable structural change in the position of the spine over a course of care.
It is particularly relevant for patients with forward head posture, loss of cervical lordosis, and scoliotic patterns where the structural component is a significant driver of their symptoms.
Chiropractic adjustments are appropriate for a wide range of musculoskeletal and neuromusculoskeletal conditions.
Conditions commonly addressed with chiropractic adjustments at Maan Chiropractic include:
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Back pain from joint restriction, muscle strain, or disc-related dysfunction
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Neck pain and cervical joint restriction including tech neck and whiplash
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Sciatica and lumbar radiculopathy from nerve compression
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Herniated and bulging disc conditions in the cervical and lumbar spine
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Headaches and cervicogenic headaches driven by upper cervical joint dysfunction
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Thoracic spine pain and rib-related discomfort
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Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
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Hip pain with pelvic and lumbar involvement
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Shoulder, elbow, wrist, and knee dysfunction when joint restriction is a contributing factor
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Auto accident injuries including whiplash and spinal trauma
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Work injury and workers' compensation cases
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Arthritis-related joint restriction where manual care is clinically appropriate
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Posture-related pain from forward head posture and spinal misalignment
Before your adjustment, every new patient at Maan Chiropractic undergoes a thorough evaluation. This includes a detailed health history, orthopedic and neurological testing, postural and range-of-motion assessment, and digital X-rays when clinically indicated. The evaluation identifies which joints are restricted, what technique is appropriate, and whether any contraindications to specific methods are present. You will understand your diagnosis and the rationale for your treatment plan before the first adjustment is performed.
During your adjustment, the experience varies depending on which technique is used. Manual adjustments with the Diversified Technique involve lying on the adjustment table in a specific position while Dr. Maan delivers a controlled thrust to the target segment.
The procedure takes seconds per segment and is generally well-tolerated. Instrument-assisted adjustments with the Activator or ArthroStim involve less positioning and produce a click or tapping sensation rather than a manual thrust. Most patients find the adjustment itself far less dramatic than they anticipated.
After your adjustment, it is common to experience one of several responses. Many patients notice immediate improvement in mobility and a reduction in discomfort. Some experience mild soreness in the adjusted areas for 24 to 48 hours — similar to the soreness felt after a workout — particularly after the first few visits when the joints are being moved through a range they have not accessed in some time.
This soreness typically resolves quickly and is not a sign that the adjustment caused harm. Some patients with acute presentations initially feel somewhat worse before improving — this is also a recognized response and generally resolves with continued care.
Chiropractic adjustments have a well-established safety record in the peer-reviewed literature when performed by a trained clinician following appropriate examination and screening. Serious adverse events from spinal manipulation are rare. The most common adverse response is temporary local soreness, which is minor and self-resolving.
Not every patient is a candidate for every type of adjustment. Contraindications to high-velocity manual adjustments include certain fractures, severe osteoporosis, some vascular conditions, specific inflammatory presentations, and a small number of other clinical situations. This is precisely why thorough examination and clinical screening before the first adjustment is non-negotiable.
Adjustments are not withheld from patients with complex histories — they are modified. The instrument-assisted techniques available at Maan Chiropractic make it possible to provide effective adjustment care to patients who are not candidates for manual thrusting techniques.
Patients who should discuss their specific situation with Dr. Maan before assuming chiropractic adjustments are not for them include those with:
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A history of spinal surgery
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Severe osteoporosis or a recent fracture
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Known or suspected spinal cord compression
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Severe degenerative changes on imaging
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A history of stroke or vertebrobasilar vascular concerns
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Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis
In many of these situations, a modified approach is appropriate and effective. Ruling yourself out before an evaluation may mean missing care that could help you.
If you are dealing with back pain, neck pain, sciatica, disc problems, or joint-related discomfort and want to find out whether chiropractic adjustments are appropriate for your specific condition, our team is ready to help.
New patients begin with a thorough evaluation — not a sales presentation. By the end of your first visit you will have a clear understanding of your diagnosis, what care involves, and what realistic improvement looks like for your presentation.
Most major insurance accepted. Benefits verified before your first visit. Same-week appointments often available.
