The Thompson Technique utilizes a "Segmental Drop Table" to enhance the motion force imparted towards
the segment or area to be Adjusted. Dr. Thompson introduced the concept of adding motion by inventing a
headpiece that would drop away as the adjustive thrust was applied to the vertebral segment. Since the
new idea was such a success Dr. Clay then went on to invent a table with drop pieces for adjusting the
dorsal, lumbar and pelvic area.
The "Segmental Drop System" takes advantage of the spine's inherent design of the joints in order to move
the spinal segment in the direction that will improve the motion of the segment with the one above and
below. It just makes good sense that since the spinal joints face front to back and have an incline that
slopes more naturally backwards that we can effect increased motion by applying an adjustment from P to
A, (Posterior to Anterior) and with an inferior to superior line of correction. The majority of the spinal
adjusting utilizing the Thompson Technique has the patient lying prone. (face down.) This is the basis for Dr.
Clay's theory of proper spinal adjusting and the driving force that lead him to invent the drop table.