Often the chiropractic lexicon is changed to that of another profession for acceptance or maybe just expedience or convenience. A word that could fall into this category could be ‘manipulation’. This word is commonly used in chiropractic and especially in chiropractic research. I suggest that in this context it comes about as a plea to get certain research published.
Manipulation in general usage has connotations of twisting things to get control, whether its controlling a person, situation, tool, spine, mechanism of information – it is about control from the outside in against a resistant force.
The word that manipulation has devolved from in chiropractic language is adjustment. Adjustment has had its place in the chiropractic lexicon from its conception. Even though the main dictionaries don’t give credit to adjustment as being a valid chiropractic word, common usage and the study of its derivation would suggest that it is indeed valid for the chiropractic context.
The dictionary definition of ‘Adjustment’ is ”A small alteration or movement made to achieve a desired fit, appearance, or result”. If we were to look at adjustment in its parts we would find that “ad” is towards, “just is align and “ment” is mind. To bring the mind to centre is a pretty accurate description for what occurs when a person and a chiropractor connect during an adjustment.
Adjustment is the best word to describe the interaction that a chiropractor has with a person. An adjustment is the little ‘tweak’ that occurs that keeps the person aligned to their higher purpose and greatest intent as a living being. Adjustments only happen when the body takes a force and uses it where it is lacking the internal forces for the necessary change. Adjustments involve no control (other than exquisite technique that initiates the process). The ‘control’ that occurs in an adjustment is driven by the person’s internal wisdom.
Do you Twist or do you Tweak?
P.S.
The discussion on the chiropractic lexicon started out to be a single opinion piece and it has morphed into a reasonably deep, significant and important discussion. The feedback that has been coming in is satisfying to know that the words that appear on these pages are thought and action provoking and have relevance in your life and practice. If you have any pet words that are used in chiropractic that are not chiropractic’s and make you cringe send me your opinion and I will publish it.
