Instrument adjustments: Good for them, good for you

The day-to-day activities of a DC are physically demanding—manipulating bodies, bending, performing manual adjustments, being on your feet, and many other tasks require physical strength and stamina.

Unfortunately, over time, the nature of the work can wreak havoc on the body. Just as you would advise your patients, it’s important to find ways that will minimize the impact your work may have on your own physical well being.

One of the many advantages to instrument adjusting is that performing instrument adjustments takes less toll on the DC administering the adjustment. Consider the physical motions necessary to perform a specific manual adjustment, such as adjusting the thoracic spine. There are so many variables, such as the height of the table and your own position, to name just two, that could affect the physical impact. Those variables change drastically when you consider the motions necessary to deliver an instrument-assisted adjustment to the thoracic spine.

Over the course of a career, it’s likely that a DC will deal with a variety of personal health issues, as it is likely anyone in any profession will. A 30-year-old DC who is in tip-top health and has only been practicing for a few years has a far different set of concerns than a 55-year-old DC who has been practicing for many years. However, as with so many other things in life, youthful precautions can prevent later problems.

Using instruments when appropriate from early in your career may lead to less pain or fewer personal health issues later. How many patients do you see in a day? How many times do you perform the same adjustments? Are you at risk for repetitive motion injury? Could using an instrument lessen that risk?

Of course, it is critically important that the instrument you choose meets your expectations. Even if the instrument saves wear and tear on your body, if it does not provide the proper adjustments for your patients, it won’t be worth using. Many of the instruments available today are backed by careful research. Choose to purchase instruments from a reputable vendor, who is willing and excited to share the research on their products. Proper training is another part of making sure the tool will both help your patients and you.

In the long run, there are many valid reasons to choose instrument adjusting. Personal health is only one reason, but it is one that many DCs overlook. Being able to comfortably provide care for your patients for many years will benefit you and those you care for. Most instruments are reasonably priced, and the training is generally quick and can often be applied to continuing education.