The Five Step Approach
As chiropractors we can have all the tactics, campaigns, and systems in place to help our practice thrive. And all of that helps. But if we cannot deliver on the promise we make our patients and the service we provide, ultimately our practice will struggle.
Delivering a world class adjustment and striving to be the best should be the primary aim for any practitioner. However, this can be very frustrating and cause many to lose hope in the pursuit of excellence as we compare ourselves to others and hit a wall in our skills.
I’ve been there, when you think you have your adjustments figured out and that one patient stops us in our tracks and knocks our confidence.
Well the good news is, improvement is possible for all of us and no matter how good you already are, even the greats continue their pursuit in being the best, and in doing so fall in love with their craft and get real results.
To help us all improve I have developed a FIVE STEP approach to adjusting that can be used by nearly all techniques, because ultimately, I believe we should all practice the technique that is ours, not blindly follow another.
The Five Step approach puts the chiropractor first remember that you are no good to your people if you blow your own back out in the process. Which I have done, especially when you work at a higher volume.
The Five Step Approach
1. Assess and Choose
Here you can use any assessment tool you want. On my courses I teach my method but again this is something you have to be comfortable with and make your own.
But regardless, it is imperative that you make the conscious decision to assess properly and choose where you want to adjust.
Remembering that your adjustment ‘thrust’ is a destructive force to the body, therefore the more precise the focus the less harm and more good it will do.
2. Chiropractor Position
This step is so often missed, twisting torsos in side-posture and crippled kyphosis when delivering thoracic adjustments. The chiropractor’s body position should always come before the patient’s, you should always be in a relaxed, comfortable and appropriate position to deliver the adjustment with the best application possible.
To really make a difference and serve your people, you must serve yourself first. This comes with your health and body position first.
3. Line and Lock
Now comes the position, aiming to adjust just the segment chosen in step one, so often we chase that big ‘crack’ that satisfying crunch. But that is nothing more than a manipulation and a release of tension. Often to lock a segment of the spine takes far less motion than we attempt, then we must consider based on the type of vertebra, what line of drive is appropriate. This is based on the normal curvature for that area of the spine as well as the line of the facet joints.
4. Pause and Focus
Remember the monotasking involved in giving exceptional care to your people. Before you deliver your thrust, after you have completed the previous 3 steps, it is imperative that you pause, relax, clear your mind.
This puts you in the best position to deliver an adjustment with speed, love and intention. If your body position is wrong, if you are too tense from trying to lock the joint, it will be impossible to deliver the adjustment with speed necessary to reduce the force used, therefore making the adjustment more or less comfortable.
5. Adjust
Finally it is time to adjust. There is no going back, no second guessing. I see this often when chiropractors deliver a force, which doesn’t cavitate and immediately follow with a second thrust. This is damaging to the patient and simply comes from a lack of following the 5 steps and ultimately a lack of certainty on delivering the thrust.
When you are ready to adjust, do so without hesitation and maximum commitment.
Success at the highest level is not about multitasking and doing as much as you can, it is about precise MONOtasking. Being intently focused on the task in front of you right now.
How are you focusing and being all you can be as a chiropractor. What level of service are you showing up with and what legacy will you leave?
With love
Tom