The idea of seeing a chiropractor may be daunting. It often conjures images of the body being forcefully pulled and twisted and of sounds of bones cracking and popping.

While some chiropractors may apply an abrupt force on the joints, a technique known as High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA), many practitioners use gentler methods and combine other treatments to relieve pain.

At Lind Wellness Center in north Salem, chiropractor Peter Lind takes several paths to diagnose and treat patients. He uses computers to measure balance of the nervous system and oxygen concentration on tissues.

The center offers nutrition advice, homeopathy, ionic cleansers to pull free radicals out of the system and low-level lasers to increase ATP production and speed healing by communicating to damaged tissues.

"We take a holistic approach. People with chronic back problems have multiple areas of stress in their lives. We take care of the back problem but we take care of the whole person, too" explained Lind, whose clinic treats anything from hormone imbalances to chronic pain problems.

As far as spine adjustment goes, Lind said "I am totally gentle. I don't really crack or manipulate the spine. I use instruments."

Doctors of osteopathy (D.O.s), like chiropractors, are manual therapists. They diagnose and treat illnesses or injuries using Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (O.M.T.), a gentle technique of applying resistance, stretches and pressure. Osteopathy can help bring about rapid healing. "Usually within a few visits, the treatment is either going to work or it's not. My favorite thing to do during an appointment is an examination, treat the patient, and see them walk out the door happy," said Mark Scherlie, a D.O. and primary care doctor at West Salem Family Practice.

"A technique I use a lot is counterstrain, where the muscles totally relax and things that are out of position gently go back into place," he said.

Osteopaths hold medical degrees and are comprehensive practitioners. They are licensed to write prescriptions and perform surgeries.

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