While instrument assisted adjustments are not new, the use of a hand held adjusting tool is. Instrumented adjusting involves the use of one of several types of mechanical devices instead the use of the doctor's hands to effect movement of a problematic joint.
To be certain, the restoration of normal joint movement is the goal whether done by adjustive instrument or by hand. However, certain circumstances may make instrumented adjusting advantageous.
While some conditions may respond best to the precise, directional application of the instrumented adjustive thrust, more often it is simply a patient preference issue. Instrumented adjustments are more subtle in their effects while hands on techniques are often more immediate. Both manual, hands on adjustments and instrumented adjustments enjoy an incredibly safety record.
If a patient presents in such an acute state that any or all movement creates extreme pain, the only suitable chiropractic treatment may be an instrumented adjustment.
Some chiropractors and some patients embrace instrumented adjusting as a "technological improvement" of an already effective style of health care.I myself find patients with arthritic conditions, post surgical procedures and anxiety issues to be especially suitable for instrumented adjustive techniques.