In the treatment approach used by the Isokinetic medical group for restoring optimal function after an injury, the role of the chiropractor is included.
Getting to know the chiropractor
Primarily known for joint releases or the so-called ‘cracks,’ the chiropractor doesn’t aim to simply fix joints, but to optimize communication between the brain and the various parts of the musculoskeletal system. This is achieved mainly through work on the spine. The back—or more precisely, the spine with its discs, ligaments, and muscles—functions like a tensegrity structure, transferring forces between the limbs and allowing for both stability and mobility. In simpler terms, the back works like a spring that transfers forces between the hips and shoulders, almost like an engine.
In the late 1980s, engineer Serge Gracovetsky, in his book The Spinal Engine, described how movements of the spine are the main driving force behind the motion of the pelvis and lower limbs during walking. This happens naturally, following the species-specific motor pattern—something as simple and automatic as walking itself. Walking, or gait, is in fact an involuntary mechanism based on non-conscious neuromotor coordination. In other words, we decide where to go and how fast, but the sequence of muscle activation and their coordination happens automatically.
To give an example, everyone has witnessed a child’s first steps: humans don’t really learn to walk—when the nervous system gains control over the structures involved in gait, the child simply stands up and walks. And in the same way, when something breaks down, we instinctively limp, automatically following innate compensation patterns and adapting to the inability to move freely.
As the body adapts, it changes its normal way of moving and brings stability to areas that once had free movement. For example, when using crutches, the shoulder blades need to be stabilized, and the neck and upper back must stiffen in order to allow movement. Over time, this leads to fatigue and pain. But that’s not all—it also alters how the brain perceives the body in space and affects how it will manage the recovery of mobility in the future.
What does the chiropractor do?
The chiropractor, through careful analysis of movement, checks that all segments of the spine are fulfilling their role and works to mobilize the areas that have adapted by reducing their ability to move, in order to support balance during walking.
Techniques can be vigorous or gentle. The choice depends on the integrity of the tissues being treated, the patient’s sensitivity, and the level of pain at the time of treatment. The ‘crack’ is not a necessary condition for achieving results.
The integration of neuromotor function is the foundation of chiropractic care. Since its origins, the profession has defined its clinical act not as spinal manipulation, but as an adjustment, to emphasize the central role of the integration between joint mechanics and the nervous system that controls them.
Since 2017, the Isokinetic medical group has been studying the close relationship between the brain and movement through the introduction of the Green Room, with the goal of optimizing function during recovery. A movement that is optimized both in joint mobility and muscle control should help prevent relapses and avoid re-injury.
