Kyphosis is an excessive forward curvature or “hunch” of the upper spine in older adults.

Your chiropractor may use a type of spinal manipulation—also called a spinal adjustment—to improve joint motion. Spinal manipulation is an active, hands-on treatment, and there are multiple variations of this technique.

Flexion-distraction technique is a gentle, non-thrusting spinal manipulation that is used for people with kyphosis that is associated with degenerative disc disease and/or motion restrictions in the thoracic spine (mid-back).

Specific spinal manipulation helps your chiropractor identify restricted joints or those that show abnormal motion. Using a gentle thrusting technique, he or she can rapidly stretch soft tissue and stimulate the nervous system to return normal motion to the spine.

Instrument-assisted manipulation is another non-thrusting spinal manipulation. Your chiropractor uses a hand-held instrument to apply force without thrusting into the spine.

Manual therapy treatments are also sometimes used to treat injured ligaments and/or muscles. Trigger point therapy helps the chiropractor identify specific tight, painful points on a muscle. He or she places direct pressure on these points to relieve tension.

Manual joint stretching and resistance techniques can also help reduce kyphosis symptoms. Muscle energy therapy—an osteopathic technique—is an example of a resistance manual joint therapy that has been used for decades.

For trouble with your spine—or any other joint—gentle, noninvasive chiropractic manipulation can help bring relief.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.