Does A Chiropractic Adjustment Hurt?

The simple answer is no. Chiropractic adjustments do not hurt and are completely safe when preformed by a docotr of chiropractic care. We’ve heard countless stories from patients who have been terrified from misconceptions and misunderstandings about chiropractic care. They have only resorted to chiropractors when everyone else they have seen can’t help them.

Here we’ll dispel two of the reasons why people think chiropractic adjustments hurt and explain exactly what happens.

Spine cracking videos

One misconception when people have with chiropractic adjustments is that they “sounds painful”. That is, in part, due to the chiropractic adjustment videos that have gained millions of views on YouTube. If your first encounter with chiropractis adjustments is through these videos, there’s a good chance you’ll be turned off from chiropractors. But adjustments aren’t painful, they just sounds like they are.

The “popping” sound originates in the synovial joint, which is a connection between two bones consisting of a cartilage lined cavity filled with fluid. When the joints are forced apart, gasses are trapped in the joint forming gas cavities.

During chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor applies a thrust with a measured amount of force to release the gasses, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which rapidly escape from the joint with a “popping” sound. It’s totally normal to have cavitations, and they’re found in places other than the spine – the knuckles for example. Chiropractors focus on spinal cavitations because chiropractic medicine is rooted in the belief that optimal health would be achieved through a healthy spine. So, if you’re terrified by the cracking videos on Youtube, you don’t have to be, because chiropractic adjustments do not hurt.

Neck cracking videos

Neck adjustments are next to back adjustments in being the most well-known cervical procedures that a chiropractor performs. However, your chiropractor only applies it in situations where it is necessary. When it’s part of your treatment plan, you might think of backing off, especially when its other names are “neck twisting” and “neck cracking”. But, like the cracking sounds from an adjustment, it’s nothing to be afraid of.

Located on the signs of your neck are facet joints, and what happens is like what happens to your spine, where pockets of gas get trapped in the joints. And just like back adjustments, you’ll also hear cracks during a neck adjustment. At most you’ll feel a little sore, but later you’ll feel substantially better. Given that neck adjustment are rarely administered, it should not be a reason to deter you from visiting a chiropractor.

Chiropractic adjustments do not hurt and are completely safe when done by a doctor of chiropractic care.