What do chiropractors do when they “crack” my back?
You’ve probably heard that sound when people “crack” their knuckles or their neck. The more accurate term for the “crack” is an adjustment. What exactly is that sound?
That sound is gas being released from the joint. It isn’t painful and no, your bones are not being broken!
There are many reasons why a chiropractor will “crack” you when you go to see them for a treatment. Every joint in your body can benefit from an adjustment, whether it is your back, wrist, foot, neck, or even the ears! Yes, there are joints in your ears as well.
Sometimes, your joints don’t function as they should, causing pain or decreased range of motion. This can cause muscles to tighten to protect the joints from further damage. When you have decreased range of motion, your joints are not bearing the loads as they should and nearby joints have to work harder to help take that weight. This is why it is important to have your joints looked at early on before more damage can be caused. Leaving it alone can lead to further injuries, some being severe enough that you may not be able to carry out the same daily functions or play the sports you want.
What your chiropractor will do when they find these joints that are essentially “stuck” and not moving well, is adjusting the joint. This means there is a quick (high-velocity, low amplitude) thrust being given to those joints to restore full motion. This is where you may hear the “crack” noise. The adjustment itself is not painful. This in turn will relax those muscles and decrease pain.
It is always good to go to a chiropractor annually for a checkup before things get worse. If something minor goes unchecked, it could lead to much more pain down the road.
Adjustments are not for everyone. It is not safe to perform an adjustment on yourself or have someone do it for you. It needs to be done by a trained chiropractor. Adjusting yourself can actually cause more damage as the joints that you can adjust on yourself are already moving too much, causing further instability to unstable joints.
Book an appointment with me today to see if you are a candidate for chiropractic adjustments and you can have these great benefits.