Trauma to the body, from various types of accident or injury, is frequently the cause behind sacroiliac joint dysfunction, sciatica, disc injuries, herniation, lumbar plexus disorder and other pathologies. In addition, the neck and mid-back are often also injured and can be accompanied by their own set of disorders.

Often these conditions present with greatly reduced mobility, high sensitivity and pain. Therefore, conventional manual spinal adjustments are not always possible—or even necessary. Gentle chiropractic treatments, such as drop table techniques, are designed to feature slower, low-velocity movements that allow the affected joint to stay within its passive range of motion, thereby reducing possible discomfort and irritation to an already sensitive area.

Also sometimes referred to as the Thompson Technique, the drop table approach uses a special chiropractic table, which has segments that can be lifted up and then dropped when a thrust is applied by the chiropractor. The drop allows gravity to assist and work in combination with the manual adjustment. This provides a lighter, more comfortable adjustment than what might be experienced with some other techniques, such as those that involve twisting positions.

To further clarify, the table has various sections that are raised between 1 to 2 inches relative to the rest of the patient’s body. Once the section of the table is lifted, it is fastened in place and the stiffness of the table is altered based on the patient’s body weight. When the chiropractor applies a gentle thrust to the area needing adjustment, the table releases and drops down, causing that segment of the body to fall too. The drop table comes to a rest, but the patient’s body momentum continues for a short period. The subtlety of this method is in this minute momentum, as that is where the necessary force for the adjustment is provided.