An apparatus for treatment of certain physical conditions by a chiropractor or other health professional in which a patient support, such as a table with separate sections is used to apply a controlled, abrupt force, either singly or in programmed repetition, to assist the health professional in conducting certain procedures on the patient. Force is applied to the patient manually by the health professional but also through the cushion on a separate section of the patient support by means of a double-acting force applying means, such as a hydraulic cylinder. Both the force generated by the apparatus and the total force applied to the patient is displayed so that the health professional can accurately control the procedure and achieve the desired result. The system can be programmed so as to apply a selected number of successive forces at a relatively high rate.

A unique headpiece and headpiece coupling arrangement to be used in conjunction with a chiropractic treatment table, allowing the practitioner to select any one or more of five different modes of movement of the headrest relative to the main portion of the treatment table is disclosed. In addition to the somewhat conventional pivotal motion about a horizontal axis the present invention provides the practitioner with pivotal motion about a vertical axis, linear extension or traction, rotation of the headpiece about a longitudinal axis coinciding with the patient's spinal column and an abrupt limited motion for bringing a patient's head forward and downwardly, imparting a snapping action to the cervical spine portion.

A therapeutic treatment table includes a frame and a table section for supporting at least a portion of the body of a patient. The table section includes a body support and a drop mechanism that is mounted between the frame and the body support and adapted to drop the body support from an upper position to a lower position. A fluid actuator is mounted between the frame and the body support and adapted to raise the body support from the lower position to the upper position, and a mechanism is provided for controlling the flow of fluid to the fluid actuator in order to control the rate by which the fluid actuator raises the body support from the lower position to the upper position.

A chiropractic adjusting device for facilitating adjustments of the skull and cervical regions of a patient, comprising a base having relatively parallel post members spaced apart and being capable of moving on the base to adjust the spacing between the members, the post members being capable of being positioned in a first mode and a second mode; wherein in the first mode, the post members support a cervical region for facilitating the chiropractic adjustment of the cervical region; and wherein in the second mode, the post members support an upper cervical region for facilitating the chiropractic adjustment of the skull region.

A continuous passive motion cervical spine therapy device (10) for passively exercising the muscles surrounding the spine for postoperative and other rehabilitative therapy. The continuous passive motion cervical spine therapy device (10) includes a frame (12) for engaging a support surface (32). A body support (14) is provided for supporting the body a patient and includes at least a first stationary support (64) for supporting at least a portion of the back of a patient and a pivoting support (78) for supporting the head of a patient. A headrest (198) is carried by the pivoting support (78). A motor (92) is provided for driving a pivoting support oscillator (18), the oscillator (18) being provided to displace the pivoting support (78) a selected angle with respect to the horizontal. A displacement adjuster (20) is connected to each oscillator (18) for altering the amplitude of displacement. A control box (22) is provided for carrying the motor controls, including at least a patient control button (24) and an emergency stop button (26). Casters (170) with locking Wheels (172) are provided to aid in easily transporting the device (10).