How do chiropractic adjustments work?

Chiropractic adjustments work by restoring the spine's natural mobility in the vertebral column in the neck, mid-lower back, sacrum and pelvis.

The cracking and popping heard during a chiropractic adjustment are caused by the capsules around the vertebral facet joints being reset. The vertebral capsules contain synovial joint fluid and gases. Adjusting the spinal vertebrae restores the synovial fluid pressure and releases a build-up in gases that may cause pressure, pain, inflammation, and tightness in and around the spine and muscles.

As the synovial joint pressure decreases during a chiropractic adjustment, gas is released. This causes something called cavitation, which is the cracking or popping sound you hear.

Why do chiropractic adjustments treat pain?

Joint capsules around the facets can also become entrapped, causing sharp, sometimes severe pain in the neck, mid and lower back. Joint capsule fibers are very sensitive to pain, and when entrapped in the spinal facet joints, can become a very bothersome condition. Very often, chiropractic adjustments are able to successfully relieve this pain.

The re-setting of the vertebral facet joints can decrease the irritation and inflammation on the compressed nerves that are pressed on or around the spine, which leads to relief of the pain being caused by the ligaments and muscles that have been irritated by the vertebral joints not functioning with full mobility.

When vertebral joints experience dysfunction and inflammation, this also affects the spinal discs which can become irritated and inflamed. The cracking, popping, and realigning of the spinal vertebral column can take unnecessary weight distributions off of the spinal discs and lead to a decrease in pain and increase in function and mobility.

In summary, Chiropractic adjustments have been used for over 100 years as an effective way to manage musculoskeletal pain with minimal side effects in comparison to many medications such as NSAIDS and Opiates.

Chiropractic adjustments are covered by most insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Below is an example of a recent chiropractic adjustment and physical therapy performed on a patient experiencing neck and back pain caused by her job…Enjoy the cracks and pops!

In Health,

Dr. Jeffrey Gerdes, D.C.