What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Are you planning to visit a chiropractor? You can type chiropractor near me online to find the best local clinics. Experienced chiropractors can perform an adjustment during the initial visit. The chiropractor will begin by discussing your symptoms and medical history. You'll then undergo a comprehensive diagnosis involving physical examination and x-ray imaging. Once the chiropractor identifies the issue, they'll recommend an adjustment.

A chiropractic adjustment, joint adjustment, spinal adjustment, or spinal manipulation is a therapeutic procedure/treatment performed by a trained specialist (chiropractor). The chiropractor uses their hands or small instruments to manipulate the joints in your spine. Chiropractic adjustments involve applying a controlled, sudden force to the affected spinal joint. When performed correctly, chiropractic adjustments can improve spinal motion.

Other goals of chiropractic adjustments include relieving lower back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Spinal manipulation also improves your physiological functions. The chiropractor will use pressure to manipulate the joints and realign the spine. Spinal adjustments complement traditional medical care to alleviate pain and other symptoms of misalignments. You might feel a bit sore but have an almost immediate sense of relief after an adjustment.

Chiropractic adjustments involve manipulating the spine to increase the range of motion and release trapped gases and pinched nerves. Before the adjustments begin, the chiropractor will perform a diagnosis to determine where the pain stems from. The diagnosis can be a physical exam to test the range of motion and pain points. Your chiropractor may also perform imaging tests to gain insight into the misalignment. Here's what happens during a spinal adjustment:

Your chiropractor will place you in positions that provide the most access to the affected area. Since many people visit the chiropractor for back and neck pain, the facedown position is the most common. You'll lie on a padded chiropractic table specially designed for chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and other physical treatments.

Typical chiropractic adjustments involve applying controlled, sudden force to the affected joint, pushing it beyond the usual range of motion. The chiropractor may use their hands or a small instrument to move your joints during treatment. You may hear cracking, popping, or crunching noises. The sounds result from cavitation, which releases oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases within the joint spaces.

You may receive one or more adjustments during your first treatment. The adjustments aim to gently realign the spine, increase the range of motion, and reduce pain, stiffness, and weakness. You’ll encounter many chiropractic adjustments when you search for chiropractor near me online, but most procedures involve similar techniques. The best chiropractors adapt the treatment to meet your specific needs. Below are popular joint manipulation techniques:

The HVLA Thrust method applies a short, high-velocity thrust to the affected area. Your chiropractor will put you in a specific position to gain the best access and apply a controlled, sudden thrust to the joint. HVLA Thrust often results in an audible pop due to joint cavitation. Most chiropractors use HVLA Thrust to treat profound spinal misalignments.

Some chiropractic adjustments involve gentler approaches and low-force techniques like spinal mobilization. Chiropractors may choose such techniques due to pathological conditions or patients' preferences, comfort, and size. You may also need gentler approaches if you've been diagnosed with osteoporosis and other degenerative diseases.

First-time patients who receive spinal manipulation may experience initial aching, soreness, or discomfort in the surrounding joints and muscles. Soreness and aching show that your muscles have been in a spasm and are returning to their natural position. Chiropractic adjustments don't cause any lasting discomfort. You'll feel slightly sore within the first few hours after the adjustment and fully recover within 24 hours.

Drink lots of water after treatment to speed up recovery. Chiropractic adjustments seek to relieve neck pain, upper and lower back pain, and headaches and migraines. You may feel fatigued after the first adjustment because your body needs time to react to the manipulation. Subsequent adjustments will result in little to no discomfort. If you have an active lifestyle, you may not experience any fatigue.

Finding the best chiropractic adjustments involves comparing reputable clinics pulled from a chiropractor near me online search. Stick to reputable chiropractic companies with multiple clinics, experienced professionals, and a focus on spinal adjustments. You can look up reviews from past and current clients/patients. The best chiropractors are skilled, trained, licensed, experienced, and have a clean track record.