High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA) Back Treatment

Video Transcript

"Hi this is Dr. Simcha Shapiro for Expert Village. Want to talk a little about some of the techniques in Osteopathy now. I'm going to introduce probably the most well known technique in osteopathy which is the (HVAL) High Velocity Low Amplitude otherwise known as thrust techniques or in the common vernacular "they cracked my back". So this type of technique as implied by the name involves a high velocity. It's a quick movement, low amplitude over a very short distance that is very focused on one particular area and is going to bring all the force right there in order to move what needs to be moved. It's what's called an articulation technique which means it's used on joints. In order to move restricted joints in free upward movement. Now in osteopathy we have a specific way of doing it because there a lot of areas of specialty which use this technique in one form or another. We do what's called long lever techniques. Which is unique to osteopathy. Long lever if you remember your physics, means I'm going to imply force on one end and on the other end of the lever it's going to make a movement. So if you think of a wrench, the longer the wrench is when you grab on the end of it the less force you need to use in order to make a big effect on the other end. So we do the same thing. If I'm doing this type of treatment on somebody?s back. I'll apply the force on their elbows as you'll see and it will come all the way through to their back and I'll need to use very little force, specified very specifically in order to get really good effect to release things on the other side."