Chiropractic Adjustment FAQs
Just what is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the primary form of care offered by chiropractors. Delivered with the hands or a small, hand-held instrument, chiropractic adjustments add a precise amount of energy at the right time and in the right place to specific spinal bones to improve spinal alignment and reduce nervous system interference.
What does a chiropractic adjustment feel like?
It feels great! It can be as subtle as a light touch, or as much as a small push on specific spinal segments. Chiropractors are familiar with a variety of adjusting techniques and attempt to use the least amount of energy possible to produce the desired effect of better spinal alignment.
Can I adjust myself?
No. While many people can move their body in such a way as to produce the popping sound that certain adjusting techniques produce, thats not an adjustment! Chiropractic adjustments are precise, chiropractic adjustments are specific, and chiropractic adjustments are delivered by chiropractors. Even chiropractors must seek out a peer to get adjusted properly.
What is the popping sound that adjustments make?
Not all chiropractic adjusting techniques produce the cavitation sound. Nor can you judge the quality or effectiveness of an adjustment based on the sound.
The popping sound is created by the shifting of the lubricating fluid and gas in a spinal joint. Think of it as the release of pressure that accompanies the opening of a can of soda or a bottle of champagne.
Are there side effects or risks associated with chiropractic adjustments?
Few. In fact, most side effects are positive effects!
Certain critics of chiropractic care will raise the issue of vertebral arterial dissection and the complications of stroke associated with getting a neck adjustment. Even after an extensive review of the scientific literature, only a handful of documented cases of this phenomenon can be found among many millions of chiropractic patients. Moreover, many of these instances are the result of neck manipulations delivered by poorly trained non-chiropractors.
Are all patients adjusted in the same way?
No. Each case is different and each spinal pattern is unique. Your chiropractor may use a similar technique, but there are subtle differences from patient to patient and visit to visit.
How many visits will I need?
Impossible to tell. The fewest number of visits will be needed to relieve your most obvious symptoms. But more visits are needed to retrain supporting muscles and ligaments, which happens after symptoms subside. And then many chiropractic patients, based on their stress levels, opt for a schedule of weekly or monthly visits to maintain their recovery, prevent little problems from becoming serious ones, and to be as healthy as possible. Just depends on what you want.