Chiropractic Tables

A chiropractic drop table is an adjusting table fitted with independently adjustable drop sections, typically cervical, lumbar, dorsal, and pelvic, each of which can be cocked to a slightly raised position before the adjustment. When the practitioner applies a thrust, the section releases and drops a short distance before stopping, adding controlled momentum to the technique. This is the mechanical principle behind the Thompson Technique, developed by Dr. J. Clay Thompson, and is also used in a number of other drop-assisted adjusting protocols. Drop tables allow practitioners to deliver specific spinal adjustments with lower applied force, which is particularly relevant for patients who are sensitive to high-velocity manipulation or who have presentations where gentler input is clinically preferred.

The drop mechanism exists to assist joint mobilisation through momentum rather than force alone. When a drop section is cocked and released under the practitioner's thrust, the brief downward movement creates a controlled impulse that facilitates vertebral movement with less manual force than a standard high-velocity low-amplitude adjustment. The audible sound associated with a drop table, often described as a pop or click, is the drop section reaching the end of its travel and stopping, not the joint cavitating. The two sounds can occur together, but the table mechanism and the joint response are separate events.

Yes. Chiropractic drop tables are purpose-designed clinical equipment manufactured to defined mechanical specifications. The drop force on each section is fully adjustable from either side of the table, and the mechanism cannot activate unintentionally during patient positioning. In clinical use, drop-assisted technique is widely used across chiropractic, osteopathic, and some physiotherapy settings. ABCO tables are manufactured in Australia and undergo quality testing before dispatch. The 5-year warranty covers mechanical components including the drop sections, reflecting confidence in the long-term reliability of the mechanism under daily clinical use.

Drop-assisted adjusting has been used in chiropractic practice for decades and forms the basis of the Thompson Technique, one of the most widely taught adjusting methods in chiropractic education. The mechanical principle, applying a controlled impulse through a dropping table segment to facilitate vertebral movement, is well established in clinical practice. For practitioners trained in Thompson or other drop-assisted protocols, the table is not an optional accessory but a required piece of clinical equipment. Patient experience is also relevant: many patients who find high-velocity manual adjustment uncomfortable report that drop-assisted technique feels lighter and more predictable, which can improve compliance and treatment outcomes over time.

The best starting point is your primary adjusting technique and your typical patient population. If you practise Thompson Technique or any drop-assisted method, you need a table with functioning drop sections. If your patient base includes presentations with limited mobility, post-surgical recovery, or acute presentations where standing and lowering to horizontal is clinically preferable, an elevation or hylo table significantly improves the patient experience and reduces manual handling demands on the practitioner. If you use the Activator Method as your primary technique, neither a standard drop nor elevation table is the right fit and you should review our activator table range. If you have a mixed-technique practice and see a broad patient demographic, a hylo table with integrated drops offers the most clinical flexibility, at a higher price point that most busy practices recover quickly through improved appointment efficiency. Contact our team to discuss your setup and we can help you narrow it down.