What happens during an adjustment?

Chiropractic Adjustments: A Natural Way to Relieve Temporary Discomfort

Have you ever heard a popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment? Contrary to popular belief, the sound is not your bones moving back into place. Instead, it's a release of gas from the synovial fluid in your joint - a phenomenon called cavitation.

During a chiropractic adjustment, a trained chiropractor applies a specific force to your spine or other joints to restore normal joint function and improve range of motion. This manipulation technique involves increasing the joint space temporarily, which causes an air bubble to form from the dissolved gas in the joint fluid. As the gas is released, you hear the characteristic popping sound. This is the same process that happens when you crack your knuckles or open a pop can! A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that chiropractic care is an effective treatment for low back pain, neck pain, and other related musculoskeletal conditions.

But who should seek a chiropractic adjustment? Anyone can benefit from chiropractic care, whether you're an athlete looking to enhance performance, someone with chronic pain, or simply seeking natural ways to improve your overall well-being.

It's important to note that a chiropractic adjustment should only be performed by a healthcare practitioner with the right training. This could be a licensed chiropractor or a physiotherapist who has completed the required additional education and training.

Chiropractic adjustments are a natural and effective way to relieve temporary discomfort and improve joint function. The popping sound associated with the adjustment is not bone realigning, but rather a harmless release of gas from the joint fluid. So, next time you hear that sound, rest assured that it’s just a release of gas, otherwise known as a ‘joint fart’!