When you visit a chiropractor— especially after a car accident —you might hear some unfamiliar terms being tossed around. Words like “subluxation,” “adjustment,” or “vertebral misalignment” can sound more like something out of a medical textbook than something happening in your own body. But understanding the language of chiropractic care doesn’t have to be confusing or intimidating.
Whether you’re a first-time patient or just someone who wants to better understand your spine and how it heals, this guide is here to break down the jargon. In this glossary, we’ll decode the most common chiropractic terms in simple, easy-to-understand language. We’ll explain what they mean, how they relate to your care, and why they matter—especially if you’ve been injured in an auto accident. By the end, you’ll be able to follow along during your visits like a pro (and maybe even impress your chiropractor a little).
Chiropractic Terms Glossary
1. Activator Method
A gentle chiropractic technique that uses a handheld instrument to deliver precise, low-force adjustments.
2. Acute Pain
Pain that comes on suddenly and usually doesn’t last long. It’s often the result of an injury or accident.
3. Adjustment
A controlled, manual movement used by chiropractors to realign joints—commonly in the spine.
4. Alignment
The correct positioning of bones and joints in the body. Poor alignment can cause pain or limited movement.
5. Allodynia
A condition where normally non-painful touch or pressure feels painful—often linked to nerve issues.
6. Anatomical Position
A standard body position used to describe locations or directions—standing upright, arms at sides, palms forward.
7. Anterior
A directional term meaning “toward the front” of the body.
8. Atlas
The topmost vertebra in the spine (C1), located just under the skull. It supports the head and allows for nodding motions.
9. Autonomic Nervous System
The part of your nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing.
10. Axis
The second cervical vertebra (C2), located just below the atlas. It allows your head to rotate side to side.
11. Biomechanics
The study of how the body moves, including how joints, muscles, and bones work together.
12. Bone Spur
A small bony growth that can form on joints, often due to arthritis or long-term joint stress.
13. Bursa
A small fluid-filled sac that cushions joints and helps reduce friction during movement.
14. Cervical Spine
The upper part of the spine, located in your neck. It’s made up of seven vertebrae (C1–C7).
15. Chronic Pain
Pain that lasts for more than 3 months. It can persist after an injury has healed or exist without a clear cause.
16. Coccyx
Also known as the tailbone. It’s the small bone at the bottom of your spine.
17. Compression
Pressure applied to nerves, discs, or joints—often a cause of pain or tingling sensations.
18. Degenerative Disc Disease
A condition where spinal discs wear down over time, potentially causing pain or reduced mobility.
19. Disc (Intervertebral Disc)
The soft, cushion-like structure between vertebrae that helps absorb shock and allows for movement.
20. Diversified Technique
A common hands-on chiropractic technique that involves high-velocity, low-amplitude adjustments to the spine or joints.
21. Electrotherapy
A treatment that uses mild electrical currents to reduce pain, stimulate muscles, and promote healing.
22. Ergonomics
The science of designing tools, furniture, and workspaces to support healthy posture and prevent injury.
23. Extremities
Refers to the arms, legs, hands, and feet—areas that can also benefit from chiropractic care.
24. Facet Joint
Small joints located between each vertebra that help guide and limit spinal motion.
25. Fascial Release
A technique used to relieve tension in the fascia—the connective tissue that surrounds muscles and organs.
26. Flexion
A bending movement that decreases the angle between two parts of the body (like bending your elbow or spine forward).
27. Forward Head Posture
A common postural issue where the head juts forward from the spine, often caused by prolonged phone or computer use.
28. Gonstead Technique
A chiropractic approach that involves a detailed assessment of the spine and specific, manual adjustments.
29. Herniated Disc
A condition where the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer, potentially irritating nearby nerves.
30. Holistic Care
A treatment philosophy that considers the whole body—not just symptoms—when diagnosing and treating a condition.
31. Hot/Cold Therapy
Alternating heat and ice to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and improve healing after injury.
32. HVLA (High-Velocity, Low-Amplitude)
A quick, controlled thrust used in many spinal adjustments. It’s the classic “cracking” move.
33. Ice Pack Therapy
Using cold packs to reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain in an injured area.
34. Inflammation
The body’s natural response to injury or irritation, often causing redness, swelling, and pain.
35. Intervertebral Foramen
Openings between vertebrae where spinal nerves exit the spine and travel to the rest of the body.
36. Joint Fixation
When a joint becomes stuck or restricted in its normal movement—often the target of chiropractic adjustments.
37. Joint Dysfunction
A general term for joints not moving or functioning properly, which can lead to pain or stiffness.
38. Kinesiology Tape
A stretchy, therapeutic tape applied to the skin to support muscles, reduce pain, and improve movement.
39. Kyphosis
An excessive outward curve of the upper back, sometimes referred to as a “hunchback” posture.
40. Lordosis
The natural inward curve of the lower back. Excessive curvature can lead to pain or posture issues.
41. Manual Therapy
Hands-on techniques used to manipulate muscles and joints to reduce pain and improve mobility.
42. Massage Therapy
A soft tissue technique that helps relax muscles, improve circulation, and relieve pain—often used alongside chiropractic care.
43. Mechanical Traction
A therapy that uses machines to gently stretch the spine and reduce pressure on discs and nerves.
44. Mid-Back Pain
Discomfort in the thoracic spine, often caused by poor posture, joint dysfunction, or muscle strain.
45. Misalignment
When a bone or joint, especially in the spine, is out of its normal position, possibly leading to pain or nerve issues.
46. Mobilization
Gentle movements applied to joints to increase range of motion and reduce stiffness—less forceful than an adjustment.
47. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
A medical imaging technique that produces detailed images of soft tissues, often used to assess injuries to discs or nerves.
48. Muscle Spasm
An involuntary muscle contraction that can cause pain, stiffness, and limited movement.
49. Myofascial Release
A hands-on therapy that targets tight areas in the fascia to relieve tension and improve mobility.
50. Nerve Compression
When a nerve is pinched or irritated, often by a herniated disc or misaligned vertebra, leading to pain, numbness, or tingling.
51. Nerve Root
The initial segment of a spinal nerve as it exits the spinal cord through the vertebrae.
52. Neuromuscular
Refers to the relationship between nerves and muscles, often a focus of chiropractic treatment.
53. NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen used to reduce pain and inflammation.
54. Orthotics
Custom shoe inserts designed to support proper foot alignment and improve posture throughout the body.
55. Overcompensation
When one part of the body works harder to make up for weakness or injury elsewhere—often leading to new pain or strain.
56. Palpation
A diagnostic technique where the chiropractor feels the body with their hands to identify tension, misalignment, or abnormalities.
57. Pinched Nerve
A common issue where pressure on a nerve causes pain, tingling, or numbness—often treated through chiropractic adjustments.
58. Postural Assessment
An evaluation of how you stand and move to identify imbalances or misalignments in your posture.
59. Range of Motion (ROM)
How far a joint can move in different directions. Limited ROM often indicates injury or dysfunction.
60. Referred Pain
Pain felt in one part of the body that actually originates from another area—common with spinal issues.
61. Sacrum
A triangular bone at the base of the spine that connects to the pelvis—an important part of spinal alignment.
62. Sciatica
Pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, often from the lower back down through the legs, usually caused by nerve compression.
63. Scoliosis
A sideways curvature of the spine that can affect posture and lead to pain or limited mobility.
64. Soft Tissue
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments—structures that support joints and can be injured or inflamed.
65. Spinal Canal
The hollow space in the vertebrae that houses and protects the spinal cord.
66. Spinal Cord
The bundle of nerves running down the spine that carries messages between the brain and body.
67. Spinal Decompression
A non-surgical therapy that gently stretches the spine to relieve pressure on discs and nerves.
68. Spinal Manipulation
A hands-on chiropractic technique to adjust spinal joints and improve alignment and mobility.
69. Spine
Your body’s central support structure, made up of 33 vertebrae and essential for movement and posture.
70. Spondylolisthesis
A condition where one vertebra slips out of place over the one below it, potentially causing pain or nerve issues.
71. Stiffness
Reduced flexibility or difficulty moving a joint, often a symptom of joint dysfunction or muscle tightness.
72. Subluxation
A partial dislocation or misalignment of a vertebra that may affect nerve function and cause pain or dysfunction.
73. Tension Headache
A common type of headache caused by tight muscles in the neck, shoulders, or back—often treated by chiropractors.
74. Thoracic Spine
The middle section of the spine, connected to the ribcage and responsible for protecting vital organs.
75. Therapeutic Exercise
Movements prescribed by chiropractors to improve strength, flexibility, and recovery after injury.
76. Torticollis
A condition where the neck muscles contract abnormally, causing the head to tilt—can be sudden or congenital.
77. Traction
A therapy that applies gentle pulling to stretch the spine and relieve pressure on spinal discs and nerves.
78. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
A treatment that uses low-level electrical currents to relieve pain by stimulating nerves.
79. Trigger Point
A tight, tender area in a muscle that can cause pain locally or in a different part of the body.
80. Vertebra (plural: Vertebrae)
The individual bones that stack to form your spine, each separated by a disc.
81. Vertebral Artery
An important artery that runs through the cervical spine and supplies blood to the brain.
82. Whiplash
A neck injury caused by sudden movement—often due to car accidents—leading to pain, stiffness, or headaches.
83. X-Ray
A type of medical imaging used by chiropractors to see bones and detect issues like misalignment or fractures.
84. Y-Strap Adjustment
A chiropractic technique involving a strap placed under the skull to provide a strong decompression stretch along the spine.
85. Zone Therapy
A chiropractic philosophy that divides the body into six zones, each controlled by a section of the brain and spinal cord.
86. Zygapophysial Joint (Facet Joint)
Small joints in the spine that help stabilize vertebrae and guide motion.
87. Zero Gravity Chair
A reclining chair that reduces spinal pressure—often used in therapy or for spinal support at home.
88. Z-Track Pain Pattern
A term sometimes used to describe nerve-related pain that follows a winding or indirect path through the body.
89. Zinc Deficiency
A nutritional issue that may impact healing and inflammation—some chiropractors consider diet part of holistic care.
90. Zone of Apposition
An area related to diaphragmatic breathing and posture—important in core stability and spine health.
91. Zonal Flow
A chiropractic term used in some philosophies to describe energy or nerve flow through different regions of the body.
92. Z Joint Dysfunction
Another name for facet joint dysfunction, where the small joints in the spine don’t move properly.
93. Zygomatic Arch
The cheekbone—though not directly chiropractic, may be referenced in cranial or TMJ treatments.
94. Zero Balancing
A bodywork technique combining structure and energy balancing, occasionally used by chiropractors with holistic practices.
95. Zinc Oxide Tape
A type of rigid tape used to support joints and restrict motion during recovery or rehab.
96. Z Axis
In biomechanics, this refers to movement in the vertical direction (up and down)—relevant in spinal assessments.
97. Z-Line
Part of muscle fiber structure—sometimes referenced in deep soft tissue or kinesiology discussions.
98. Zen Chiropractic
A niche approach combining traditional chiropractic care with mindfulness or Eastern healing philosophies.
99. Z-Health
A neurological training system some chiropractors use to enhance brain-body connection and movement performance.
100. Zone Technique
A chiropractic method focused on balancing six systems in the body—similar to zone therapy.
Understanding the Lingo, Healing with Confidence
Now that you’ve cracked the code on chiropractic terms, you’re one step closer to becoming an informed, empowered patient. Whether you’ve recently been in an auto accident or you’re just curious about how chiropractic care works, understanding this terminology can make your visits more comfortable—and more effective. The more you know, the better you can communicate with your care team and take charge of your recovery journey.
At Doctor Wagner, we believe in educating our patients just as much as we believe in healing them. If you’re dealing with pain, stiffness, or lingering issues after a car crash, our team is here to help with compassionate, personalized care. We’ll explain everything in plain English (or spine-speak, if you prefer), and work with you to get back to feeling your best—one adjustment at a time.