Top 100 Glossary Terms Every Chiropractic Patient Should Know Before Booking a Spinal Adjustment in Canada
By Henry Tse, Driving Innovation in Para-Medical at RMT Clinic Network Organization
If you’re new to chiropractic care—or returning after years away—understanding the terminology can help you feel more informed, confident, and ready to get the best results from your treatment.
At RMTClinic.net, Canada’s #1 Para-Medical Directory for finding trusted Chiropractors, RMTs, and Physiotherapists near you, we believe education is the first step toward empowerment.
This glossary was created just for chiropractic patients in Ontario and across Canada. It’s designed to break down the most commonly used terms you’ll encounter during assessment, spinal adjustments, follow-up care, and insurance billing. Whether you’re dealing with back pain, recovering from a car accident, or simply optimizing your mobility—this is your chiropractic dictionary.
🗂️ Chiropractor Glossary: A–Z for Your Next Adjustment
| Term | What It Means (For You, the Patient) |
|---|---|
| Activator Method | A gentle, tool-assisted chiropractic adjustment technique that uses a handheld device to deliver low-force impulses. |
| Alignment | Refers to how your spine and joints are positioned. Misalignment can lead to pain, inflammation, or nerve issues. |
| Adjustment | A manual or mechanical technique chiropractors use to restore proper joint alignment and mobility. |
| Anterior Pelvic Tilt | A common postural imbalance where the pelvis tilts forward, often causing low back pain. |
| Assessment | Your initial evaluation—includes health history, posture analysis, range of motion, and orthopedic tests. |
| Atlas | The top vertebra (C1) in your neck, often involved in headaches or neck misalignments. |
| Axial Load | The force placed along the spine, often tested during postural or injury evaluation. |
| Back Pain | One of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care—can involve muscles, joints, discs, or nerves. |
| Cervical Spine | The top part of your spine (neck region), consisting of seven vertebrae (C1–C7). |
| Chiropractor (DC) | A licensed healthcare professional trained to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders. |
| Coccyx | Also known as the tailbone—can be adjusted if it’s misaligned or painful. |
| Compensation Pattern | How your body adjusts movement to avoid pain—can cause further misalignment elsewhere. |
| Cracking Sound | Also called cavitation—it’s the sound of gas bubbles releasing when a joint is adjusted. It’s normal and painless. |
| Degenerative Disc Disease | A condition where spinal discs wear down, causing pain, stiffness, or nerve compression. |
| Disc Bulge | When a spinal disc begins to protrude and possibly press on nerves—may or may not cause pain. |
| Diversified Technique | A hands-on chiropractic method that uses fast, targeted manual adjustments. |
| Dynamic Stretching | Movement-based stretches often recommended before exercise or rehab. |
| Electrotherapy | Modalities like TENS used to reduce pain or inflammation in conjunction with chiropractic care. |
| Facet Joints | Small joints along your spine that allow for flexibility. Common sources of back or neck pain. |
| Flexion-Distraction | A chiropractic table-assisted technique used to treat disc herniation and sciatica. |
| Gait Analysis | Observing your walk to detect biomechanical issues that affect the spine or posture. |
| Graston Technique | A tool-assisted soft tissue therapy to break up scar tissue and increase mobility. |
| Herniated Disc | A more severe disc injury where material leaks out and irritates nearby nerves. |
| Hip Alignment | Evaluated to ensure even leg length and balanced posture—key to spinal health. |
| HVLA (High-Velocity Low-Amplitude) | A quick, precise thrust used in traditional spinal adjustments. |
| Ice vs. Heat Therapy | Common at-home advice; ice reduces inflammation, heat loosens tight muscles. |
| Intersegmental Traction | A therapy bed that gently mobilizes the spine using rollers. Often used post-adjustment. |
| Joint Dysfunction | When a joint doesn’t move properly—may cause pain, stiffness, or compensatory issues. |
| Kinesiological Tape | Elastic tape applied to support muscles, joints, and posture correction. |
| Laminectomy | A surgical procedure some patients avoid through successful chiropractic care. |
| Laser Therapy | A painless treatment that uses light to promote healing in soft tissues. |
| Lateral Flexion | Side-to-side bending of the spine—often evaluated in mobility tests. |
| Leg Length Discrepancy | A common postural issue that can lead to pelvic or spinal imbalance. |
| Lordosis | Natural curve in the lower back—can be exaggerated (hyperlordosis) or diminished (hypolordosis). |
| Lumbar Spine | The lower back portion of your spine—often treated in cases of posture pain or injury. |
| Manual Therapy | Hands-on treatment used by chiropractors to manipulate joints or soft tissue. |
| MRI | Imaging that may be recommended to view spinal discs, nerves, and soft tissue. |
| Myofascial Release | A soft tissue technique used to relieve tension in the fascia (connective tissue). |
| Nerve Compression | When a spinal disc or joint irritates a nerve, causing numbness, tingling, or pain. |
| Neuroplasticity | The nervous system’s ability to adapt to changes—chiropractic care can positively influence it. |
| NSAIDs | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs—often discussed as alternatives to manual treatment. |
| Orthotics | Shoe inserts to support posture and spinal alignment, often recommended after assessment. |
| Palpation | Your chiropractor’s skillful technique of feeling your spine and muscles to detect tension or misalignment. |
| Pelvic Tilt | The angle of your pelvis in relation to your spine—can affect gait and posture. |
| PINs and Needles | A tingling sensation often caused by nerve irritation. Chiropractic care may help relieve it. |
| Postural Correction | A long-term goal of chiropractic care—achieved through alignment, exercise, and habit changes. |
| Radiculopathy | Pain that radiates along a nerve pathway, often from the neck or lower back. |
| Range of Motion (ROM) | Measurement of how much a joint or spinal segment can move. |
| Referral Pain | Pain felt in one area that originates from another—common in spinal issues. |
| Rehabilitation Plan | The treatment strategy created to restore spinal and muscular function over time. |
| Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) | Overuse injuries, such as from sitting or lifting, commonly treated with chiropractic. |
| Sciatica | Nerve pain that travels down the leg from the lower back—often helped by spinal adjustments. |
| Scoliosis | A lateral curvature of the spine—mild cases may benefit from chiropractic monitoring and care. |
| Segmental Dysfunction | Misalignment or lack of motion in a spinal segment that may need correction. |
| Sensation Testing | A neurological check to evaluate nerve health during your assessment. |
| Spinal Decompression | A therapy used to relieve disc pressure, often non-surgical and table-assisted. |
| Spinal Hygiene | The practice of maintaining good spine health—like brushing your teeth, but for your back. |
| Spinal Subluxation | A term used by some chiropractors to describe misalignment or functional joint blockage. |
| Spine Alignment Chart | A visual tool chiropractors use to explain spinal positioning and treatment goals. |
| Stiffness | A common reason patients seek chiropractic care—indicates reduced range of motion or joint restriction. |
| Stretching Plan | A customized program of stretches to improve posture and maintain chiropractic results. |
| Table Drop Technique | A method where the chiropractic table moves slightly to assist in gentle adjustments. |
| TENS Unit | A small device that delivers electrical pulses to reduce muscle pain—used at home or in clinic. |
| Therapeutic Exercise | Movements prescribed to support spinal health and posture improvement. |
| Thoracic Spine | The mid-back area of your spine—supports the rib cage and posture. |
| Torticollis | A painful neck condition causing stiffness or tilting—chiropractic adjustments may help. |
| Traction Therapy | Controlled stretching used to relieve pressure on the spine or improve alignment. |
| Trigger Point Therapy | Gentle pressure on tight areas in muscle tissue to relieve pain or referred discomfort. |
| Vertebrae | The bones that stack to form your spine—each segment is key to posture and movement. |
| Whiplash | A common injury after car accidents, involving neck strain and spinal misalignment. |
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Whether you’re seeking relief, recovery, or peak performance, knowing these terms will help you speak the same language as your chiropractor—and get more out of your care.
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Written by Henry Tse
Founder, RMT Clinic Network Organization
Helping Canadians connect with trusted para-medical professionals coast to coast.
