Jeff Langmaid (YouTube) explains how chiropractic adjustments act via multiple mechanisms—at the joint, spinal cord, brain (including lateral thalamic neurons), and peripheral systems—and emphasizes that high-velocity adjustments produce different neural input compared with slow mobilizations. He notes the difference is important though not inherently 'better' in all contexts.
How does an adjustment actually work? Let's talk about lateral thalamic neurons. Chiropractic adjustments work through a variety of different mechanisms, including at the joint, at the brain, at the spinal cord, and through the peripheral. We're going to highlight some of those right here. And the top line here, it's a little bit small, but there is a difference between. I'm not getting into technique wars here, but there is a difference between a slow mobilization and a high velocity adjustment with how the body inputs that information. That's what this top line says. When you deliver an adjustment, there is something that happens that is different. That high velocity as opposed to low velocity, does it mean it's better? It depends on the application, but it is different and it is special, and that is really, really important.
