From Pain to Prevention

Adjustments are usually the central part of Chiropractic treatment and are also known as manual manipulation or spinal manipulation. The chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic procedure that uses controlled force, leverage, direction, amplitude, and velocity directed at specific joints to improve and/or correct abnormal movement patterns, reduce nerve irritability, improve range of motion, and improve function. Usually, an accompanying “pop” or audible release from the joints may be heard due to the release of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide which releases joint pressure. This is followed by a relieving sensation most of the time. Minor discomfort has been reported occasionally that usually lasts for a short time if the surrounding muscles are in spasm or the patient tenses up during the chiropractic care. It should be known that the “popping” or “cracking” sound does not always occur at times typically as a result of significant muscle splinting or the patient not being adequately relaxed during the chiropractic adjustment.

We will often make these adjustments to the spine, but also might adjust other joints, such as the ankle, knee, wrist, elbow, or shoulder in order to restore structural alignment or to improve joint function. Again, proper structure is necessary for proper function, and proper extremity function is an important part of healthy daily living.

When being treated for a complaint such as back or neck pain, you will most likely receive a series of adjustments, separated by either a day or a few days, to incrementally reduce the irritation and improve normal function. This might continue for several weeks, usually diminishing in frequency.

If you can’t tolerate the manual adjustment, you may instead receive mild or low force techniques like Activator, Drop table, Flexion Distraction, Sacro-Occipital technique, or gently joint mobilization. Our goal is to improve joint alignment and motion, optimizing nervous system function, and creating a happier and healthier you!