Not all chiropractic care looks the same. At Family Health Chiropractic Clinic, our primary technique is the Koren Specific Technique (KST), and every adjustment is delivered with the Arthrostim, a gentle handheld instrument. There is no cracking, twisting or manual manipulation. This page explains how KST works, how we use the Arthrostim, and the supporting care that goes with it.
Our Primary Technique: Koren Specific Technique (KST)
Koren Specific Technique was developed by Dr Alan Koren. It is a precise system for finding where the spine, pelvis and skull are under stress, and for correcting those areas gently. Rather than adjusting the same areas every visit, your chiropractor checks your body at each session and adjusts only what needs it.
Dr Kelvin Ng is a mentor for the Koren Specific Technique and has used it as the clinic’s primary technique for many years. Because KST is gentle and specific, it suits patients who are nervous about chiropractic, children, seniors, pregnant women and people with osteoporosis, as well as active adults and athletes.
Best for: patients new to chiropractic, children, seniors, pregnant women, those with osteoporosis, headaches, jaw (TMJ) problems, and back and neck pain
How We Adjust: the Arthrostim Instrument
Every KST adjustment at our clinic is made with the Arthrostim, a handheld instrument that delivers a series of light, rapid, controlled impulses to a specific point on the spine or a joint. Because the impulse is small and precise, there is no need to twist, crack or forcefully move your body. Most patients feel a light tapping sensation.
The Arthrostim is used for patients of all ages. For newborns, we use only very light fingertip contact. Read more about what an Arthrostim adjustment feels like.
Webster Technique for Pregnancy
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment for pregnancy that focuses on the sacrum and pelvis. At our clinic, the adjustments are made with the Arthrostim, together with gentle soft tissue release of the round ligament. A balanced pelvis helps reduce pelvic and lower back discomfort and gives the baby room to move into a good position for birth. Dr Kelvin Ng and Dr Ashley Liew are both long-time members of the International Chiropractic Paediatric Association (ICPA) and certified in the Webster Technique. See our pregnancy chiropractic care page for more.
Best for: pregnant women in any trimester, pelvic girdle pain, symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), supporting optimal foetal positioning
Supporting Care
Soft tissue release
Tight muscles often develop around an area of the spine that is under stress. Where helpful, your chiropractor uses gentle soft tissue release, such as trigger point and myofascial release, alongside your adjustment so the correction holds better.
Posture rehabilitation and corrective exercise
Adjustments correct the problem; the right exercises help it stay corrected. Dr Kelvin Ng is a Certified Ergonomist, and we give you a small number of targeted exercises rather than a generic programme, such as chin tucks for tech neck, thoracic extension for upper back rounding, and bird-dog and dead bug for lower back stability. We also offer a separate posture exercise program.
Best for: posture correction, scoliosis management, long-term rehabilitation, preventing back and neck pain from returning
How We Tailor Your Care
At your first visit, your chiropractor takes a full health history and performs a thorough examination, including posture, range of movement, orthopaedic and neurological tests, before recommending care. Several factors shape your care plan:
- Nature and severity of the problem: an acute disc problem is managed differently from long-standing postural pain
- Age and bone density: the Arthrostim setting is adapted for children, seniors and people with osteoporosis
- Pregnancy: pregnancy-safe positioning and the Webster Technique are always used for expectant mothers
- Your response to care: we reassess at every visit and adjust your plan to your progress
We always explain what we plan to do and why, and you can ask questions at any time.
Conditions We Commonly Help With
KST and Arthrostim adjusting help with a wide range of conditions, including:
- Back pain — acute and chronic, disc-related and muscular
- Neck pain — tech neck, cervicogenic headache, cervical disc problems
- Sciatica — nerve pain radiating down the leg from lumbar compression
- Headaches and migraines — tension-type and cervicogenic headaches
- Shoulder pain — rotator cuff dysfunction, frozen shoulder, cervical referral
- Posture correction — forward head carriage, thoracic kyphosis, scoliosis management
- Pregnancy care — pelvic girdle pain, SPD, third-trimester positioning
- Paediatric care — infant adjustments, colic, growing pains, teen posture
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Technique
Do your adjustments involve cracking or popping?
No. Every adjustment at our clinic is made with the Arthrostim instrument, so there is no cracking, popping or twisting. Most patients feel a light tapping sensation.
What is the Koren Specific Technique (KST)?
KST is a gentle, precise chiropractic technique developed by Dr Alan Koren. Your chiropractor checks which areas of the spine, pelvis and skull are under stress at each visit and corrects only those areas. At our clinic, KST is our primary technique and every adjustment is delivered with the Arthrostim.
Is your technique safe for children and babies?
Yes. Children and teenagers are adjusted with the Arthrostim on a gentle, age-appropriate setting, and newborns receive only very light fingertip contact. Our chiropractors are trained in paediatric chiropractic care.
How do I know if KST is right for me?
Your chiropractor will assess you at your first visit and explain the recommended approach, with reasons, before any care begins. You do not need to decide in advance.