How It Works
Chiropractic care is often associated with the spine, but the same principles apply to the joints of the arms and legs. Extremity techniques are the methods we use to assess and care for the joints of the limbs — the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, and the hip, knee, ankle and foot — which can become stiff, painful or restricted just as the spine can.
What it is
Extremity techniques are a group of hands-on approaches — including gentle mobilisation, adjusting and soft-tissue work — adapted to the particular joints of the limbs. Each joint behaves differently from the spine and from one another, so these techniques are tailored to the structure being treated, whether that is a stiff shoulder, a painful knee or a restricted ankle. The shoulder, for example, is built for mobility and needs careful handling, while the foot and ankle form a complex of many small joints that work together — and the techniques we use reflect those differences.
How it works
When a limb joint is not moving freely, the surrounding muscles and tissues can become irritated and the joint can feel stiff or sore. By restoring movement to the joint and addressing the soft tissues around it, extremity care aims to ease discomfort and improve how the limb moves and functions. The approach is matched to the joint and the problem: some joints respond well to gentle adjusting, others to mobilisation and soft-tissue techniques, and many to a combination alongside rehabilitation. Restoring good movement and strength to a limb joint can also take strain off neighbouring areas, since the body tends to compensate for a joint that is not pulling its weight.
What it is used for
Extremity techniques are used for a wide range of limb problems, including shoulder pain, knee pain, wrist, hand and elbow pain and ankle and foot pain. Because the limbs and the spine influence one another, caring for an extremity often goes hand in hand with attention to the spine and posture, and with a programme of strengthening and rehabilitation.
Who it suits
Anyone with a joint problem in an arm or leg may benefit from extremity care, and the approach is readily adapted to suit the individual and the joint. It is often valuable for sports-related and overuse injuries, where the limbs take much of the load. As always, whether and how we use these techniques depends on a careful assessment of your particular problem.
Our approach at Back in Action
Being comfortable working with the whole skeleton, not just the spine, means we can care for the joints of the limbs as readily as the back and neck. After assessing you, we will explain what we have found and how extremity techniques fit into your overall plan, which will usually also include soft-tissue work and a tailored programme of exercise and rehabilitation to restore strength and function. Where a problem needs onward referral or imaging, we will arrange that too, so you get the right care for the joint involved.
If a shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist or other limb joint is giving you trouble, we are happy to talk through whether chiropractic care could help. A thorough assessment always comes first, so any care suits you. You can get in touch to book an appointment, or see our new patients page for what to expect from your first visit.
