01/18/2026
The Hammering Chiropractic Adjustment!
Chiropractic care with a mallet and wedges is a technique that uses a mallet (hammer) to deliver gentle, targeted taps to a wedge-like tool placed against specific areas of the body, such as the spine or pelvis. This method is designed to provide controlled, low-force adjustments.
How it Works: The technique involves using the patient's own body weight and gravity in combination with the tools to facilitate alignment. Low-force pulses: The mallet delivers a fast, low-force pulse through the wedge. This speed is intended to adjust the joint before the surrounding muscles have a chance to tense up and resist the treatment, which often happens with manual adjustments.
Targeted pressure: The wedge acts as a contact point, allowing the force from the mallet to be directed precisely to the targeted joint or muscle group.
Relaxation and alignment: The rhythmic tapping helps relax muscles, break up adhesions (scar tissue), stimulate nerve endings, and improve blood flow, which in turn aids in correcting spinal or pelvic misalignments.
Purpose and Benefits: This method is generally considered gentle and can be suitable for a wide range of patients, including the elderly, infants, or those who are uneasy about the "twisting and popping" associated with traditional manual manipulation.
Key benefits include: Muscle relaxation and chronic pain relief. Pelvic stabilization and the reduction of nerve tension, which can help with conditions like sciatica. Improved joint mobility and nervous system function. Precise adjustments that target specific areas of the body.
Professional supervision: Hammer & Wedges should only be used as part of a treatment plan under the direct supervision of a trained chiropractor.
Not a standalone treatment: The wedges work in conjunction with the chiropractic adjustment and should not be used alone.
Chiropractic "hammer" therapy is similar to shockwave therapy because both use rapid pressure waves to stimulate healing, break down scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and increase circulation, addressing musculoskeletal pain; while traditional manual adjustments fix joint mechanics, these wave therapies treat soft tissues and promote cellular repair, often used together for comprehensive, drug-free relief.
How They Work Together (Synergy) Manual Adjustments: Address joint stiffness and nerve pressure (mechanical issues). Hammer/Shockwave Therapy: Address soft tissue damage, adhesions, and inflammation (biochemical issues). Key Similarities Mechanical Stimulation: Both therapies apply physical force (waves or impacts) to tissues, triggering natural healing responses (mechanotransduction).
Pain Relief: They reduce pain by decreasing nerve signals, breaking down fibrotic tissue, and improving blood flow.
Tissue Regeneration: They encourage the body to repair damaged tissues, break down scar tissue, and promote new cell growth. Non-Invasive & Drug-Free: Both offer natural, non-surgical alternatives for pain management, avoiding opioids.
Improved Mobility: By reducing pain and stiffness, they help restore natural movement and function.
The "Hammer" Aspect: this chiropractic tool delivers acoustic (sound) waves that feel like rapid impacts. It's a form of radial pressure wave (RPW) therapy, which, while distinct from focused shockwave, uses similar mechanisms to treat surface-level issues like tight muscles and inflammation, often complementing deep-tissue work.
