Y-strep or Ringdinger manipulation- Potential danger points | Shanghai Chiropractic

Understanding Ringdinger Manipulation in Chiropractic Care: A Comprehensive Analysis

Introduction

Hello everyone, Dr. Joe here. Today, we delve into a highly debated topic within the chiropractic community: Ringdinger manipulation. This technique has gained significant attention on social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, prompting many patients to question its safety and effectiveness. In this article, I aim to clarify these concerns and provide valuable insights for both current and future patients.

What is Ringdinger Manipulation?

Ringdinger manipulation involves a specific technique where the patient lies face-up, and a towel or Y-straps is placed around the neck. The chiropractor then applies a quick, forceful pull along the spine's long axis, often aiming to create audible popping sounds.

Safety Concerns

One of the primary concerns surrounding this technique lies in its impact on the cranio-cervical junction. The atlas condyles support the skull, but the ligaments connecting the head and neck are relatively weak, and the musculature in this area is not robust. As a result, the Ringdinger technique can potentially lead to sprains or strains in the cranio-cervical region.

In my opinion, this method does not qualify as a legitimate chiropractic adjustment. Effective chiropractic care should involve identifying segments with restricted motion and applying adjustments based on subluxation patterns derived from thorough examinations and X-rays. Unfortunately, Ringdinger manipulation does not adhere to these essential principles.

The Importance of Specificity in Chiropractic Care

While many patients may experience popping sensations during Ringdinger manipulation, it's crucial to understand that this feeling does not equate to effective treatment. Such manipulation could place undue stress on the entire spinal cord.

In my practice, I prioritize Gonstead Chiropractic and rehabilitation guided by chiropractic biophysics. Gonstead chiropractors utilize comprehensive diagnostic methods, including examinations, palpation, instrumentation, and X-rays, to accurately assess spinal issues. We recognize that significant spinal misalignments typically occur posteriorly, necessitating precise corrections based on specific data.

Diversify Chiropractic Techniques

Another method involves the patient lying face-up while adjustments are made in a rotational manner, primarily focusing on the facet joints. This approach is supported by the presence of 19 ligaments that stabilize the segmental unit, protecting delicate nerve tissues from excessive stretching or twisting.

While I am not here to debate the merits of different chiropractic styles, it is important to note that reputable chiropractic schools emphasize the significance of specificity in adjustments. Skilled chiropractors customize their techniques for each patient, as the direction and segments involved can vary greatly.

Common Misconceptions

A common practice known as "flying 7" involves applying the same technique to all patients, which can be considered a form of gross manipulation and carries inherent risks. This raises an important question:

Does a precise spinal adjustment have a higher chance of causing a ligamentous sprain while correcting a subluxated segment, or does global fast axial traction pose a greater risk of creating a cervical sprain? Clearly, the latter is riskier and poses a threat to our profession.

Conclusion

In a chiropractic office, we can assess neck hypermobility using flexion and extension X-rays. Life experiences can lead to subluxations, often followed by compensatory changes in hypermobile segments. Pulling axially on a hypermobile segment that has previously sustained a ligamentous sprain can lead to further damage.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Remember, when it comes to you and your family, safety and effective results should always be the top priority!

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