Chiropractic is often simplistically referred to as cracking and popping of the back to help relieve pain. Many people are unfamiliar with what causes the popping noise often accompanied with the chiropractic adjustment. Some people even take it into their own hands to crack their own neck or have someone walk on their back. So, what really is a chiropractic adjustment and why can it be such an effective form of treatment when done properly?
The chiropractic adjustment is an art and not simply brute strength. That is why women my size and smaller can perform very effective adjustments. The art requires skill and training in order to get the proper angle, force, and location. The popping noise often heard is simply a release of gas from a joint. It is not bones rubbing together or anything breaking. An absence of pop doesn’t always mean an ineffective adjustment as the presence of a pop doesn’t always mean a successful adjustment. Chiropractors aim to get motion into the joint complex that is not moving properly in order to “unlock” the bone from its improper position. Many times, there is an audible “pop” that can be heard. This adjustment allows the spine to move more freely the way it is meant to move and improve the overall function of surrounding tissues.
There are other types of adjustments than just the manual “popping” kind. Bones can be aligned using other tools such as an Activator (a small, spring-loaded, handheld tool), blocks, and different types of tables to name a few. Regardless of which technique the chiropractor uses, the object of the adjustment is to get movement into the joint that is not moving properly to help improve motion and function of the body.
